MONROE - The showdown between two of the state's top 10 ranked Division 2 teams - Monroe and Delavan-Darien became a battle of No. 2 pitchers Friday.
Since the teams could play again in the regional semifinals in five days, both teams held their ace pitchers back until the tournament starts. Delavan-Darien (19-5), ranked No. 9 in the Division 2 Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association state poll, committed five errors, but they did enough on offense against Monroe sophomore pitcher Carly Upmann to hand the Cheesemakers a 7-3 loss. In the nightcap, Monroe (15-7, 9-2 Badger South) beat Kenosha Tremper 11-1 in five innings.
"For us, Natalie wasn't going to pitch all five games," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said of Monroe's final five games. "We didn't want to pitch her against a team we could play again in five days. I think that was their mindset too."
Delavan-Darien junior ace pitcher Jennah Speth is 16-5 and already has a scholarship offer to the University of Illinois-Chicago.
"Carly pitched well enough in the first game to give us a chance," Buvid said. "We were anemic on offense. Jaida Speth hit her spots, kept the ball down and she has a good changeup. Some of it was their pitching and some of it was on us. We didn't get the timely hits."
It also marked an opportunity for Monroe to have a Strike Out Cancer fundraiser. Before Delavan-Darien played Kenosha Tremper, Buvid had the fans take a moment of silence to honor those who have battled breast cancer and the families that have been affected. Softball players roamed Twining Park with empty ice cream buckets to collect money. Buvid said all the money raised will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Race for a Cure.
"We raised about $500 for cancer research," Buvid said. "There are hundreds of thousands of people affected by this disease. We want to raise money to find a cure."
Delavan-Darien jumped on the Cheesemakers with a four-run first inning. Delavan-Darien junior Katlyn Gonzalez singled off Upmann. Upmann then walked Jennah Speth and Morgan DeLara reached on an error to lad the bases. The big blow came from Delavan-Darien senior Brooke Boss delivered a three-run double to give the Comets a 3-0 lead.
The Comets led 6-0 entering the third before the Cheesemakers got anything going. Delavan-Darien committed four errors in the bottom of the third and that led to two unearned runs for the Cheesemakers. Dillon reached on an error leading off the third. One batter later, senior Kari Jordan reached on an error. Junior Kylea Ambrose drove in a run on a groundout. Junior teammate Hannah Vetterli reached on an error and Jordan scored to cut the Comets' lead to 6-2.
Monroe junior Natalie Dillon went 2-for-4 with two doubles. Dillon lined an RBI double to center in the fifth.
In the second game against Kenosha Tremper, the Cheesemakers scored three runs in the first to take a 3-1 lead.
Ambrose had an RBI single and Cassidy Pivonka walked with the bases loaded to force in a run. Upmann, who went 2-for-2, had a key RBI single.
The Cheesemakers extended the lead with a four-run second. Teasdale doubled and Dillon came through with a sacrifice bunt. The big blow in the second came on Vetterli's two-run double that gave the Cheesemakers a 6-1 lead.
Dillon pitched a complete game to get the win. She gave up one earned run on five hits. She struck out five and didn't issue a walk.
"She got into a little trouble in the first inning, but she settled down after that and threw some good changeups," Buvid said.
The biggest part of the night for Monroe was getting a chance to gain more information on Delavan-Darien with the regional tournament set to start Tuesday. Monroe hosts Edgerton Tuesday and if they win, they could play at No. 2 seed Delavan-Darien Wednesday.
"You chart them," Buvid said of the game against the Comets. "We get tendencies and see who has the speed and arms. It's nice to have a little more information. It still comes down to making pitches and putting the bat on the ball."
Since the teams could play again in the regional semifinals in five days, both teams held their ace pitchers back until the tournament starts. Delavan-Darien (19-5), ranked No. 9 in the Division 2 Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association state poll, committed five errors, but they did enough on offense against Monroe sophomore pitcher Carly Upmann to hand the Cheesemakers a 7-3 loss. In the nightcap, Monroe (15-7, 9-2 Badger South) beat Kenosha Tremper 11-1 in five innings.
"For us, Natalie wasn't going to pitch all five games," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said of Monroe's final five games. "We didn't want to pitch her against a team we could play again in five days. I think that was their mindset too."
Delavan-Darien junior ace pitcher Jennah Speth is 16-5 and already has a scholarship offer to the University of Illinois-Chicago.
"Carly pitched well enough in the first game to give us a chance," Buvid said. "We were anemic on offense. Jaida Speth hit her spots, kept the ball down and she has a good changeup. Some of it was their pitching and some of it was on us. We didn't get the timely hits."
It also marked an opportunity for Monroe to have a Strike Out Cancer fundraiser. Before Delavan-Darien played Kenosha Tremper, Buvid had the fans take a moment of silence to honor those who have battled breast cancer and the families that have been affected. Softball players roamed Twining Park with empty ice cream buckets to collect money. Buvid said all the money raised will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Race for a Cure.
"We raised about $500 for cancer research," Buvid said. "There are hundreds of thousands of people affected by this disease. We want to raise money to find a cure."
Delavan-Darien jumped on the Cheesemakers with a four-run first inning. Delavan-Darien junior Katlyn Gonzalez singled off Upmann. Upmann then walked Jennah Speth and Morgan DeLara reached on an error to lad the bases. The big blow came from Delavan-Darien senior Brooke Boss delivered a three-run double to give the Comets a 3-0 lead.
The Comets led 6-0 entering the third before the Cheesemakers got anything going. Delavan-Darien committed four errors in the bottom of the third and that led to two unearned runs for the Cheesemakers. Dillon reached on an error leading off the third. One batter later, senior Kari Jordan reached on an error. Junior Kylea Ambrose drove in a run on a groundout. Junior teammate Hannah Vetterli reached on an error and Jordan scored to cut the Comets' lead to 6-2.
Monroe junior Natalie Dillon went 2-for-4 with two doubles. Dillon lined an RBI double to center in the fifth.
In the second game against Kenosha Tremper, the Cheesemakers scored three runs in the first to take a 3-1 lead.
Ambrose had an RBI single and Cassidy Pivonka walked with the bases loaded to force in a run. Upmann, who went 2-for-2, had a key RBI single.
The Cheesemakers extended the lead with a four-run second. Teasdale doubled and Dillon came through with a sacrifice bunt. The big blow in the second came on Vetterli's two-run double that gave the Cheesemakers a 6-1 lead.
Dillon pitched a complete game to get the win. She gave up one earned run on five hits. She struck out five and didn't issue a walk.
"She got into a little trouble in the first inning, but she settled down after that and threw some good changeups," Buvid said.
The biggest part of the night for Monroe was getting a chance to gain more information on Delavan-Darien with the regional tournament set to start Tuesday. Monroe hosts Edgerton Tuesday and if they win, they could play at No. 2 seed Delavan-Darien Wednesday.
"You chart them," Buvid said of the game against the Comets. "We get tendencies and see who has the speed and arms. It's nice to have a little more information. It still comes down to making pitches and putting the bat on the ball."
