MONROE - Softball coach Joe O'Leksy preached to the Monroe softball team to look changeup first against a trio of Watertown pitchers in a doubleheader Thursday.
It didn't take long for the Monroe players to take their coach's advice to heart and with them to the plate. The bats for the Monroe stayed hot and the Cheesemakers slugged their way to a doubleheader sweep over Watertown Thursday at Twining Park.
Monroe sophomore Grace Tostrud had a game-winning RBI single in the sixth inning of the first game to give the Cheesemakers a 4-3 win. In the nightcap of the twinbill, Monroe pounded out 16 hits and survived a rally by the Goslings to hang on for a 12-9 win.
"We talked about it before the second game to look changeup and fastball second," O'Leksy said. "That's not normally what you do. They were throwing a lot of changeups because we were very aggressive at the plate. Once we kept our hands back, we were able to drive the ball through the infield and we got ahead. We needed to get ahead because I know they can score. They have been scoring all year long."
Monroe (14-1, 7-0 Badger South), ranked No. 6 in the Division 2 Wisconsin Softball Coaches Association state poll, entered the game as one of three unbeatens in a jumbled conference race at the top with Watertown and Oregon. With the sweep, the Cheesemakers moved into first place in the conference after Fort Atkinson defeated Oregon 5-3. Monroe has a two-game lead on Watertown and a one game lead on Oregon and Fort Atkinson. Halfway through the conference season, the Cheesemakers are in the driver's seat to win the Badger South title.
"Once we won that first game a lot of pressure was off of us because a split is O.K., but a sweep is awesome at this point because they were undefeated coming into this and we were too," O'Leksy said.
Monroe freshman Alyse Maurer had a big doubleheader, going 5-for-9. Senior teammate Madison Katzenberger went a combined 4-for-7 in the two games, and senior Alysha Witt and Tostrud each were a combined 4-for-8 in the two games.
"Watertown was a tough team and I'm very proud of our team for winning," Maurer said. "It gives us a lot more confidence. It feels great. I feel like we played really well and our defense was really solid."
In the first game, Monroe broke the game open in the third. Maurer singled, junior Olivia Bobak then delivered an RBI double to center to score Maurer. Witt had a clutch two-out RBI single that gave the Cheesemakers a 2-0 lead. Tostrud then singled to left. Freshman Katie Hayes then came through with an RBI single to give the Cheesemakers a 3-0 edge.
Despite going 4-for-11 hitting with runners in scoring position, the Cheesemakers left 13 on base in the first game. Tostrud had a game-winning RBI single to left to score Leah Peterson to give the Cheesemakers a thrilling win.
"I was just trying to track the ball and get on base," Tostrud said. "I thought we tracked the ball pretty well, but I think we can still hit better."
Bobak pitched a complete game to get the win. She gave up three runs on five hits struck out six and walked one.
The Cheesemakers wasted no time jumping on board in the second game of the twinbill. Monroe senior Meredith Hose, who went 3-for-5, singled to left leading off the first. Maurer lined a single to center to help set the table. Bobak then smoked a two-run single to center to give the Cheesemakers a 2-0 lead. Witt, who went 3-for-4, lined an RBI single to right center to extend the lead to 3-0. The Cheesemakers knocked Watertown starting pitcher Payton Zubke out of the game after just 1/3 of an inning after she gave up three runs on three hits.
A change of pitchers didn't slow down Monroe. The Cheesemakers scored four runs off Shay Dunn who came in as a relief pitcher. Katzenberger belted a double to left off Dunn to lead off the second. Hose then singled to center and took second on a throw to third. Maurer lined an RBI single to center. Bobak again came through with a two-run single to give Monroe a 6-2 lead. Witt then had an RBI double to give the Cheesemakers a five-run lead at 7-2.
The Goslings battled back with Hannah Thompson delivering a two-run single in the bottom of the second and Paige Bacchi coming through with a two-run single in the fifth to slice the Cheesemakers' lead to 8-6.
Monroe scored three runs in the top of the seventh. Hose knocked in a run on a sacrifice fly and the Cheesemakers scored a second run on an error. Maurer then lined an RBI double to left to make it 12-6.
Watertown's Veronica Guadalajara, who went 2-for-4 with three RBI, had an RBI double in the bottom of the seventh. Watertown's Kaitlyn Linskens then crushed a two-run home run to center that cut the Cheesemakers' lead to 12-9. Bobak then got Bri Hendricks to pop out to the mound to end the game.
"We knew they (Watertown) are a great hitting team," O'Leksy said. "It doesn't matter how hard you throw. They are going to hit it. They just hit shots in that game. The second game she (Bobak) wanted to win so much so she just amped it up."
Bobak pitched her second straight complete game against the Goslings to get the win giving up nine runs on 12 hits, while striking out three and walking one.
"They are a very good hitting team and they have a very good program," Bobak said. "I think all of the hits that were hits tonight were very well deserved. It's a really big win for us. I think both teams worked really hard. We just pulled through in the end. It was really nice on my part having a defense to back me up because I really rely on them."
Monroe had two errors in both games, but also turned in some dazzling plays.
"Everyone gutted it out," O'Leksy said. "Our outfield made so many outstanding plays. Erica Snider, Hailey Betthauser and (Sydney) Updike made so many plays."
Monroe won't practice today and hostsOregon Tuesday.
"My arm gets a little sore, but I know how to push through it," Bobak said. "It will be nice having a little break this weekend."
It didn't take long for the Monroe players to take their coach's advice to heart and with them to the plate. The bats for the Monroe stayed hot and the Cheesemakers slugged their way to a doubleheader sweep over Watertown Thursday at Twining Park.
Monroe sophomore Grace Tostrud had a game-winning RBI single in the sixth inning of the first game to give the Cheesemakers a 4-3 win. In the nightcap of the twinbill, Monroe pounded out 16 hits and survived a rally by the Goslings to hang on for a 12-9 win.
"We talked about it before the second game to look changeup and fastball second," O'Leksy said. "That's not normally what you do. They were throwing a lot of changeups because we were very aggressive at the plate. Once we kept our hands back, we were able to drive the ball through the infield and we got ahead. We needed to get ahead because I know they can score. They have been scoring all year long."
Monroe (14-1, 7-0 Badger South), ranked No. 6 in the Division 2 Wisconsin Softball Coaches Association state poll, entered the game as one of three unbeatens in a jumbled conference race at the top with Watertown and Oregon. With the sweep, the Cheesemakers moved into first place in the conference after Fort Atkinson defeated Oregon 5-3. Monroe has a two-game lead on Watertown and a one game lead on Oregon and Fort Atkinson. Halfway through the conference season, the Cheesemakers are in the driver's seat to win the Badger South title.
"Once we won that first game a lot of pressure was off of us because a split is O.K., but a sweep is awesome at this point because they were undefeated coming into this and we were too," O'Leksy said.
Monroe freshman Alyse Maurer had a big doubleheader, going 5-for-9. Senior teammate Madison Katzenberger went a combined 4-for-7 in the two games, and senior Alysha Witt and Tostrud each were a combined 4-for-8 in the two games.
"Watertown was a tough team and I'm very proud of our team for winning," Maurer said. "It gives us a lot more confidence. It feels great. I feel like we played really well and our defense was really solid."
In the first game, Monroe broke the game open in the third. Maurer singled, junior Olivia Bobak then delivered an RBI double to center to score Maurer. Witt had a clutch two-out RBI single that gave the Cheesemakers a 2-0 lead. Tostrud then singled to left. Freshman Katie Hayes then came through with an RBI single to give the Cheesemakers a 3-0 edge.
Despite going 4-for-11 hitting with runners in scoring position, the Cheesemakers left 13 on base in the first game. Tostrud had a game-winning RBI single to left to score Leah Peterson to give the Cheesemakers a thrilling win.
"I was just trying to track the ball and get on base," Tostrud said. "I thought we tracked the ball pretty well, but I think we can still hit better."
Bobak pitched a complete game to get the win. She gave up three runs on five hits struck out six and walked one.
The Cheesemakers wasted no time jumping on board in the second game of the twinbill. Monroe senior Meredith Hose, who went 3-for-5, singled to left leading off the first. Maurer lined a single to center to help set the table. Bobak then smoked a two-run single to center to give the Cheesemakers a 2-0 lead. Witt, who went 3-for-4, lined an RBI single to right center to extend the lead to 3-0. The Cheesemakers knocked Watertown starting pitcher Payton Zubke out of the game after just 1/3 of an inning after she gave up three runs on three hits.
A change of pitchers didn't slow down Monroe. The Cheesemakers scored four runs off Shay Dunn who came in as a relief pitcher. Katzenberger belted a double to left off Dunn to lead off the second. Hose then singled to center and took second on a throw to third. Maurer lined an RBI single to center. Bobak again came through with a two-run single to give Monroe a 6-2 lead. Witt then had an RBI double to give the Cheesemakers a five-run lead at 7-2.
The Goslings battled back with Hannah Thompson delivering a two-run single in the bottom of the second and Paige Bacchi coming through with a two-run single in the fifth to slice the Cheesemakers' lead to 8-6.
Monroe scored three runs in the top of the seventh. Hose knocked in a run on a sacrifice fly and the Cheesemakers scored a second run on an error. Maurer then lined an RBI double to left to make it 12-6.
Watertown's Veronica Guadalajara, who went 2-for-4 with three RBI, had an RBI double in the bottom of the seventh. Watertown's Kaitlyn Linskens then crushed a two-run home run to center that cut the Cheesemakers' lead to 12-9. Bobak then got Bri Hendricks to pop out to the mound to end the game.
"We knew they (Watertown) are a great hitting team," O'Leksy said. "It doesn't matter how hard you throw. They are going to hit it. They just hit shots in that game. The second game she (Bobak) wanted to win so much so she just amped it up."
Bobak pitched her second straight complete game against the Goslings to get the win giving up nine runs on 12 hits, while striking out three and walking one.
"They are a very good hitting team and they have a very good program," Bobak said. "I think all of the hits that were hits tonight were very well deserved. It's a really big win for us. I think both teams worked really hard. We just pulled through in the end. It was really nice on my part having a defense to back me up because I really rely on them."
Monroe had two errors in both games, but also turned in some dazzling plays.
"Everyone gutted it out," O'Leksy said. "Our outfield made so many outstanding plays. Erica Snider, Hailey Betthauser and (Sydney) Updike made so many plays."
Monroe won't practice today and hostsOregon Tuesday.
"My arm gets a little sore, but I know how to push through it," Bobak said. "It will be nice having a little break this weekend."
