MONROE - An 8-1 loss to Fort Atkinson all but pushed the Cheesemakers out of title contention in the Badger South this season. However, Monroe has bigger fish to fry.
"We have a lot to play for," Cheesemakers coach Dale Buvid said. "Our conference race is pretty much over, but at the beginning of the year we didn't think we had a team that could win a conference championship anyway because we're pretty young. Our plan is to really get going and make another tournament run."
Fort Atkinson (11-3, 6-1) moved up to Division 1 this season and Brodhead (11-1) moved down to Division 3. That leaves Monroe (7-5, 4-4), Edgerton (9-1) and River Valley (9-1) as the lone powers in a newly weakened WIAA Division 2 Evansville Sectional.
"We haven't lost to a Division 2 school yet, and that's where we're playing in the tournament," Buvid said. "Are there good team's in our sectional? Sure, but at the beginning of the year we knew Brodhead, who is outstanding, and Fort were changing divisions. It couldn't have fallen any better for us."
A year ago the Cheesemakers lost to Fort Atkinson in the sectional final 14-2 and then lost 3-2 earlier this season to the Blackhawks. Monroe senior Kristin McArdle admitted there was a bitter taste in her mouth coming into the game.
"Especially after the way the last game ended in the bottom of the seventh. We kind of wanted revenge," McArdle said.
A state qualifier a year ago, Fort Atkinson boasts one of the finest lineups up the middle in the state.
"They have three kids that are All-State caliber players out there," Buvid said. "Shortstop, second base and centerfield are all high-caliber players."
Lauren Pfeifer finished 4 for 4 with two doubles to lead the offensive charge for the Blackhawks. Maddy Bare was 3 for 4 with a triple and double, Maddy Podmolik had two hits with a triple, Amber Foerster had a pair of hits, Karissa Powers was 3 for 3 and Lexie Weigand finished with a pair of RBIs.
"Becca just left too many balls up enough on them. Good hitters will get all over that," Buvid said. "At that 43-foot distance, if you don't spot it well, that 55 (mile per hour) down the gut pitch is going to get creamed. She's got to get it to 57-58, which I think she's capable of."
Sophomore Becca Armstrong did her best to limit damage on the hill through the first four innings. Fort Atkinson got a run in the first off of a pair of Cheesemaker errors. The Blackhawks scored two more in the second, but Armstrong settled in over the next two innings. At that point, Monroe's offense was just starting to figure out Kaitlyn Hollman, Fort Atkinson's finesse pitcher who finished with eight strikeouts.
"I don't know if it was the speed differential, but she was throwing changeups and locating well. She was throwing outside, but kept hitting the places that she wanted to," McArdle said. "We need to get a lot more consistent up at the plate."
Kelsey Erickson picked up Monroe's first hit with one out in the fourth. Two batters later, McArdle tripled on a deep shot to right field that went over the defender's head. The RBI made it a 3-1 ball game, and Buvid thought his team may be able to rebound from a two-run deficit.
"At 3-1 you still have a chance. We could have made it a competitive game. You may look a little shaky, but you stay within distance and had a chance," Buvid said.
But the wheels fell off in the fifth for the Cheesemakers. A walk, two hits and an error allowed for three more runs to score. Fort Atkinson then added a run in both the sixth and seven innings to close the door.
"They tack those on and against a good team, if you give up six or seven runs you're not going to win," Buvid said.
Erickson and McArdle each finished with two hits.
"They played a better game and were the better team today," McArdle said.
"We have a lot to play for," Cheesemakers coach Dale Buvid said. "Our conference race is pretty much over, but at the beginning of the year we didn't think we had a team that could win a conference championship anyway because we're pretty young. Our plan is to really get going and make another tournament run."
Fort Atkinson (11-3, 6-1) moved up to Division 1 this season and Brodhead (11-1) moved down to Division 3. That leaves Monroe (7-5, 4-4), Edgerton (9-1) and River Valley (9-1) as the lone powers in a newly weakened WIAA Division 2 Evansville Sectional.
"We haven't lost to a Division 2 school yet, and that's where we're playing in the tournament," Buvid said. "Are there good team's in our sectional? Sure, but at the beginning of the year we knew Brodhead, who is outstanding, and Fort were changing divisions. It couldn't have fallen any better for us."
A year ago the Cheesemakers lost to Fort Atkinson in the sectional final 14-2 and then lost 3-2 earlier this season to the Blackhawks. Monroe senior Kristin McArdle admitted there was a bitter taste in her mouth coming into the game.
"Especially after the way the last game ended in the bottom of the seventh. We kind of wanted revenge," McArdle said.
A state qualifier a year ago, Fort Atkinson boasts one of the finest lineups up the middle in the state.
"They have three kids that are All-State caliber players out there," Buvid said. "Shortstop, second base and centerfield are all high-caliber players."
Lauren Pfeifer finished 4 for 4 with two doubles to lead the offensive charge for the Blackhawks. Maddy Bare was 3 for 4 with a triple and double, Maddy Podmolik had two hits with a triple, Amber Foerster had a pair of hits, Karissa Powers was 3 for 3 and Lexie Weigand finished with a pair of RBIs.
"Becca just left too many balls up enough on them. Good hitters will get all over that," Buvid said. "At that 43-foot distance, if you don't spot it well, that 55 (mile per hour) down the gut pitch is going to get creamed. She's got to get it to 57-58, which I think she's capable of."
Sophomore Becca Armstrong did her best to limit damage on the hill through the first four innings. Fort Atkinson got a run in the first off of a pair of Cheesemaker errors. The Blackhawks scored two more in the second, but Armstrong settled in over the next two innings. At that point, Monroe's offense was just starting to figure out Kaitlyn Hollman, Fort Atkinson's finesse pitcher who finished with eight strikeouts.
"I don't know if it was the speed differential, but she was throwing changeups and locating well. She was throwing outside, but kept hitting the places that she wanted to," McArdle said. "We need to get a lot more consistent up at the plate."
Kelsey Erickson picked up Monroe's first hit with one out in the fourth. Two batters later, McArdle tripled on a deep shot to right field that went over the defender's head. The RBI made it a 3-1 ball game, and Buvid thought his team may be able to rebound from a two-run deficit.
"At 3-1 you still have a chance. We could have made it a competitive game. You may look a little shaky, but you stay within distance and had a chance," Buvid said.
But the wheels fell off in the fifth for the Cheesemakers. A walk, two hits and an error allowed for three more runs to score. Fort Atkinson then added a run in both the sixth and seven innings to close the door.
"They tack those on and against a good team, if you give up six or seven runs you're not going to win," Buvid said.
Erickson and McArdle each finished with two hits.
"They played a better game and were the better team today," McArdle said.
