DELAVAN - The Monroe softball team's season came to an end in a nail-biting 4-2 loss to Delavan-Darien in a WIAA Division 2 regional semifinal game Wednesday.
Monroe (17-9) led 2-1 going into the sixth inning and the Comets scored three runs to win it.
"We didn't give the game away or lose it," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said. "They (Delavan-Darien) went out and earned it. When it came to crunch time, their big guns got it done."
Delavan-Darien junior Jennah Speth went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. Speth, who has verbally committed to play softball at the University of Illinois-Chicago, pitched a complete game four-hitter to get the win. She struck out nine and walked four.
"Speth is the real deal," Buvid said. "She has all the pitches. She has pitches that move."
Speth hit a solo home run in the first inning. In the sixth, Delavan-Darien junior Katlyn Gonzalez singled on a changeup off the plate by Natalie Dillon. With Speth coming to bat, the Cheesemakers had a choice.
"We had a decision to intentionally walk her or pitch to her," Buvid said.
The Cheesemakers chose to pitch to Speth and she delivered a game-tying RBI single.
"We tried not to throw her (Speth) a strike and Natalie threw it off the plate and she's so athletic."
Delavan-Darien senior Brooke Boss then came through with an RBI double to give the Comets a 3-2 lead. Dillon pitched six innings and gave up four earned runs on seven hits. She struck out four and didn't issue a walk.
"She (Dillon) threw what we considered reasonably good pitches," Buvid said. "Sometimes it's a game of inches."
Early on, the Cheesemakers got to Speth. Monroe sophomore Carly Upmann, who went 2-for-3, doubled down the left field line leading off the third. Monroe junior Kaya Teasdale moved Upmann into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Junior teammate Brooke Adams delivered a game-tying RBI single to tie the game at 1. Senior Kari Jordan and junior Kylea Ambrose both walked. Junior teammate Hannah Vetterli reached on an error and Adams scored to give the Cheesemakers a 2-1 lead. It stayed that way until the Comets' comeback in the sixth.
The Cheesemakers had one final chance in the seventh. Upmann singled and Dillon walked with one out. With the game-tying run on base, Speth wiggled out of the jam.
"Jennah was just a little bit too tough," Buvid said. "We didn't go down without a fight."
Monroe (17-9) led 2-1 going into the sixth inning and the Comets scored three runs to win it.
"We didn't give the game away or lose it," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said. "They (Delavan-Darien) went out and earned it. When it came to crunch time, their big guns got it done."
Delavan-Darien junior Jennah Speth went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. Speth, who has verbally committed to play softball at the University of Illinois-Chicago, pitched a complete game four-hitter to get the win. She struck out nine and walked four.
"Speth is the real deal," Buvid said. "She has all the pitches. She has pitches that move."
Speth hit a solo home run in the first inning. In the sixth, Delavan-Darien junior Katlyn Gonzalez singled on a changeup off the plate by Natalie Dillon. With Speth coming to bat, the Cheesemakers had a choice.
"We had a decision to intentionally walk her or pitch to her," Buvid said.
The Cheesemakers chose to pitch to Speth and she delivered a game-tying RBI single.
"We tried not to throw her (Speth) a strike and Natalie threw it off the plate and she's so athletic."
Delavan-Darien senior Brooke Boss then came through with an RBI double to give the Comets a 3-2 lead. Dillon pitched six innings and gave up four earned runs on seven hits. She struck out four and didn't issue a walk.
"She (Dillon) threw what we considered reasonably good pitches," Buvid said. "Sometimes it's a game of inches."
Early on, the Cheesemakers got to Speth. Monroe sophomore Carly Upmann, who went 2-for-3, doubled down the left field line leading off the third. Monroe junior Kaya Teasdale moved Upmann into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Junior teammate Brooke Adams delivered a game-tying RBI single to tie the game at 1. Senior Kari Jordan and junior Kylea Ambrose both walked. Junior teammate Hannah Vetterli reached on an error and Adams scored to give the Cheesemakers a 2-1 lead. It stayed that way until the Comets' comeback in the sixth.
The Cheesemakers had one final chance in the seventh. Upmann singled and Dillon walked with one out. With the game-tying run on base, Speth wiggled out of the jam.
"Jennah was just a little bit too tough," Buvid said. "We didn't go down without a fight."
