MADISON - A nightmarish 9-run sixth inning was all that was needed to keep the Cheesemakers from collecting the second gold trophy in program history. Monroe (23-5) lost to Seymour (26-1) 9-1 in the WIAA Division 2 state championship June 8 at Goodman Diamond in Madison.

"One inning doesn't define our whole season - we had a great season," Monroe head coach Joe O'Leksy said.

The game had been a scoreless pitcher's duel through the first five innings. Seymour's top hitter Chloe Evans then opened the sixth with a wind-aided bloop single over the head of Monroe second baseman Alyse Maurer. A series of poor decisions and four errors allowed nine runs to cross the plate. Just two of those runs were earned.

Monroe went down in order in the sixth and scored its only run in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI single by Sydney Updike. Senior Olivia Bobak grounded out to second to end the game.

"I was just trying to put something in play trying to get it through (the infield). It just hit off the end of my bat," said Bobak, who struck out eight on the mound. As the final out was recorded, Bobak buried her face into her hands and hugged assistant coach Noel Herbst with tears in her eyes. "I knew running down the baseline that I knew that was it for my high school career."

The Cheesemakers outhit Seymour 9-7. Earlier in the game the Cheesemakers had a similar situation with the bases loaded and the top of the order coming to the plate, but Seymour pitcher Paige Weyer was able to escape the inning.

"We went after some bad pitches and got a little anxious," O'Leksy said.

For a full recap of the championship game, as well as the June 7 semifinal win over New Berlin West, check out the Wednesday, June 12 edition of the Monroe Times.