MONROE — The Cheesemakers extended their winning streak to nine games with two victories in their Cancer Quad on Saturday, April 22. The event, which is normally a tournament format, was shortened to poor weather.
Monroe opened with a 9-2 win over Tomahawk, scoring in all but two innings. Sophie Golembiewski went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and three RBIs. Teammate Kate Kundert also recorded two hits. In the circle, Kaegann Paulson didn’t allow an earned run, while striking out nine batters.
In the nightcap, Monroe pulled out a 10-8 extra-inning win over Kenosha Tremper. With runners on first and second in the top of the eighth, Alexis Herbst moved them over with a sacrifice bunt. Olivia Feller was hit by the pitch to load the bases, and Katie Witt hit a ground ball that scored Paulson and Feller on a fielding error.
The Cheesemakers got two hits from four different players: Sydnee Conway, Paulson, Feller and Golembiewski. Pitching six innings in relief, Golembiewski picked up the win.
MONROE 8, EDGEWOOD 7
MONROE — The Cheesemakers walked off Edgewood in the bottom of the ninth inning on Thursday, April 20 thanks to an RBI single from Sydnee Conway that plated Haydn Field.
Kate Kundert led off the ninth with an infield single, and Chesney Slotten moved her courtesy runner, Field, into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. On the second pitch of her at-bat, Conway roped a single to right to win the game.
Monroe pounded out 18 hits with five players having a multiple-hit game. Conway went 4-for-4 with the game-winning RBI and one run scored. Brinley Roidt tallied three hits with a double, as did Feller. Katrina Sathoff and Golembiewski tallied two hits each.
Paulson pitched all nine innings to collect the win. She gave up just four earned runs on eight hits. She struck out four and walked four.
RAIDER INVITE
BELLEVILLE — The Sugar River girls soccer team took second in its annual Raider Invite on Saturday, April 22.
The Raiders opened the invite with a 3-0 win over Edgerton. Sugar River scored all its goals in the first half — two from Anya Brenkman and one from Hannah Boldebuck. Jenna Gentilli and Brenkman were credited with the assists. Addison Lutz recorded one save.
With the win, Sugar River advanced to the championship game against Monona Grove. The Eagles had defeated Platteville 5-0 in their respective semifinal game.
The trio of Gentilli, Boldebuck and Brenkman went to work again in game two. Boldebuck scored in the 33rd minute to put the Raiders on the board first. Thirty seconds later, Monona Grove tied the game. Brenkman broke the tie with an assist from Gentilli, but the Raiders had no response for Delaney Bracken’s goals late in the game. Lutz recorded 10 saves in net compared to Sadie Wendt’s four.
In the third-place match, Edgerton and Platteville tied 1-1.
SUGAR RIVER 1, LAKE MILLS 0
LAKE MILLS — Despite the home-field, turf advantage for the L-Cats, the Raiders came away with the shutout on Thursday, April 20.
Brenkman scored the lone goal in the fifth minute, assisted by Gentilli. Lutz recorded six saves.
Monroe softball has been hosting a cancer tournament for nearly 10 years, honoring members in the community who have suffered from or are still suffering from cancer — Margaret Buvid, former head coach Dale Buvid’s mother; Kelly Burns, former high school science teacher who passed away in 2014; and Molly Babler, who teaches 4K at Abe Lincoln.
This year, the cause hit even further home, as the team honored Toby Golembiewski.
In November, Toby led the Monroe football team to its first state title since 1994. He currently still teaches physical education in Orangeville.
Toby was diagnosed with colon cancer shortly before Christmas 2022. Since then, it has spread to his lymph nodes and liver, forcing a series of chemo treatments. Toby is nearing the end of his treatments, so now he only has to go every three weeks instead of every other week. The scans and blood work shows his tumor is clearing up.
During his treatment, Toby has received an outpouring of support from both Monroe and Orangeville communities.
“We are getting a lot of support from the Orangeville and Monroe communities,” Toby said. “There are a lot of great people praying, checking in and helping out. Everyone is willing to do something. It’s a really special thing to have this type of community around you.”
Sophie, Toby’s daughter who pitches and plays first base for the Cheesemakers, appreciates seeing her father behind the fence at each game.
“It’s pretty cool to see him here, knowing he loves to watch softball along with coaching,” Sophie said. “I love seeing his smile out there.”
Sugar River girls soccer played their annual Raider Invite for five-year-old Masey “Moose” Farrell who passed away on Thursday, April 20. Masey was diagnosed with Pleuropulmanory Blastoma (PPB) on October 13, 2020, a form of cancer that has been diagnosed in less than 500 patients — ever.
Masey underwent surgery, chemo treatment, bone marrow transplants and spent countless days in the hospital. For an in-depth account of her story, visit her Caring Bridge website: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/maseyfarrell/journal.
During Masey’s journey, her mother Meagan created hashtags to document Masey’s treatment and invite others to support her daughter.
The hashtag #moveformoosemonday became an opportunity for people to appreciate their body’s ability to move, knowing other people’s bodies couldn’t move. Some days, Masey would participate in the movement, and other days she couldn’t. When the days were tough, others would post their exercise photos with the hashtag to show their support.
On Monday, April 24, Belleville community members and those in the surrounding areas participated in one last #moveformoosemonday. Follow Masey’s journey with the hashtags #moveformoosemonday #moveformoose #forever5 and #moosemobstrong.
To honor their friend, the Sugar River soccer team will play a game for pediatric cancer at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 20.
