FORT ATKINSON - Monroe senior Meredith Hose delivered the crushing blow to Fort Atkinson, smashing a two-run home run over the left field fence to give the Cheesemakers a thrilling 10-9 win Monday.
"She absolutely hit a rocket over the left field fence," Monroe coach Joe O'Leksy said of Hose's game-winning home run. "It was a bomb. It was just a hitting day. It was the warmest day we have had and the ball was just flying in the ballpark."
The game itself was an offensive slugfest as the two teams combined to hit five home runs. Monroe (11-1, 4-0 Badger South) pounded out 14 hits and every player in the Cheesemakers' lineup had at least one hit.
Fort Atkinson, the Badger South Conference champion last year, came from behind to beat the Cheesemakers twice last season. On Monday, Monroe led 8-3 Monday and again the Blackhawks came roaring back thanks to Sara Vander Mause's two home runs - including a solo shot in the sixth to tie the game at 8.
"We blew two leads to Fort Atkinson last year," O'Leksy said. "This time we got up 8-3 and they came back, but we didn't flinch. We didn't hang our heads. It was amazing to see their composure. They were going to win the game."
Monroe junior Olivia Bobak went 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs. Sophomore teammate Grace Tostrud went 2-for-3 and freshman Sydney Updike was 2-for-4 with one RBI. Hose finished 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs. Freshman Katie Hayes also drove in two runs.
The Cheesemakers jumped out to an early lead in the first on two-out RBIs by Bobak (single) and Updike (double) that gave Monroe a 2-0 lead. The Cheesemakers added to their lead with a three-run third when senior Alysha Witt had an RBI single and Hayes came through with a two-run single up the middle that made it 6-2.
Hose walked leading off the fourth and junior teammate Hailey Betthauser moved her into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. The fireworks came on Bobak's two-run home run that gave the Cheesemakers an 8-3 advantage.
Fort Atkinson's Sarah Pfeifer later hit a solo home run in the sixth. Then, Bettahuser made a diving catch in center field before Vander Mause followed with her solo shot that tied the game.
"Hailey's diving catch saved us and took an extra base hit away from (Kat) Brandl," O'Leksy said.
That's when Hose smashed her game-winning blast in the eighth. But even still, the game wasn't quite over.
Vander Mause hit her second home run on a solo shot in the bottom of the eighth to cut the Cheesemakers' lead to one-run. Updike then made a running catch in right field and Hayes caught a ball with her glove up against the fence in left field for the second out. Bobak then struck out Natalie Bosch to end the game.
"Katie Hayes made a catch with her glove above the yellow line on the fence," O'Leksy said. "It was just the second time she has played in the field. Everyone stepped up. Fort Atkinson is one of the best teams in the Badger South."
The two teams combined for 23 hits and 19 runs.
"I don't think it was bad pitching," O'Leksy said. "It was just a good hitting day. It was two good teams going at it."
Bobak pitched eight innings after throwing all 21 innings in the Monroe Invitational Saturday. She gave up six earned runs on nine hits, struck out six and walked four.
"She really battled for us," O'Leksy said. "We were rubbing her arms between innings."
"She absolutely hit a rocket over the left field fence," Monroe coach Joe O'Leksy said of Hose's game-winning home run. "It was a bomb. It was just a hitting day. It was the warmest day we have had and the ball was just flying in the ballpark."
The game itself was an offensive slugfest as the two teams combined to hit five home runs. Monroe (11-1, 4-0 Badger South) pounded out 14 hits and every player in the Cheesemakers' lineup had at least one hit.
Fort Atkinson, the Badger South Conference champion last year, came from behind to beat the Cheesemakers twice last season. On Monday, Monroe led 8-3 Monday and again the Blackhawks came roaring back thanks to Sara Vander Mause's two home runs - including a solo shot in the sixth to tie the game at 8.
"We blew two leads to Fort Atkinson last year," O'Leksy said. "This time we got up 8-3 and they came back, but we didn't flinch. We didn't hang our heads. It was amazing to see their composure. They were going to win the game."
Monroe junior Olivia Bobak went 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs. Sophomore teammate Grace Tostrud went 2-for-3 and freshman Sydney Updike was 2-for-4 with one RBI. Hose finished 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs. Freshman Katie Hayes also drove in two runs.
The Cheesemakers jumped out to an early lead in the first on two-out RBIs by Bobak (single) and Updike (double) that gave Monroe a 2-0 lead. The Cheesemakers added to their lead with a three-run third when senior Alysha Witt had an RBI single and Hayes came through with a two-run single up the middle that made it 6-2.
Hose walked leading off the fourth and junior teammate Hailey Betthauser moved her into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. The fireworks came on Bobak's two-run home run that gave the Cheesemakers an 8-3 advantage.
Fort Atkinson's Sarah Pfeifer later hit a solo home run in the sixth. Then, Bettahuser made a diving catch in center field before Vander Mause followed with her solo shot that tied the game.
"Hailey's diving catch saved us and took an extra base hit away from (Kat) Brandl," O'Leksy said.
That's when Hose smashed her game-winning blast in the eighth. But even still, the game wasn't quite over.
Vander Mause hit her second home run on a solo shot in the bottom of the eighth to cut the Cheesemakers' lead to one-run. Updike then made a running catch in right field and Hayes caught a ball with her glove up against the fence in left field for the second out. Bobak then struck out Natalie Bosch to end the game.
"Katie Hayes made a catch with her glove above the yellow line on the fence," O'Leksy said. "It was just the second time she has played in the field. Everyone stepped up. Fort Atkinson is one of the best teams in the Badger South."
The two teams combined for 23 hits and 19 runs.
"I don't think it was bad pitching," O'Leksy said. "It was just a good hitting day. It was two good teams going at it."
Bobak pitched eight innings after throwing all 21 innings in the Monroe Invitational Saturday. She gave up six earned runs on nine hits, struck out six and walked four.
"She really battled for us," O'Leksy said. "We were rubbing her arms between innings."
