Cheesemakers blast Lakeside Lutheran In regional semifinal

MONROE — Designated hitter Maddi Rueggsegger smacked two doubles and drove in four runs as the No. 2 seed Monroe Cheesemakers overwhelmed No. 7 seed Lakeside Lutheran 13-1 in five innings in a Division 2 regional quarterfinal on Tuesday, May 27. 

Monroe (20-7) scored 12 runs in the third inning to secure the lopsided win. Starting pitcher Kaegann Paulson went 3x3 with two RBIs and scored a run. Catcher Brinley Roidt went 2x4 with a double and had two RBIs. Sophomore Paizley Kundert got two hits, an RBI, and scored two runs. 

The Cheesemakers were scheduled to face Rock Valley Conference rival Brodhead in the regional semifinal on Thursday, May 29 at Twining Park in Monroe. The winner will play either Lake Mills or top-seeded Jefferson in the sectional semifinal on Tuesday, June 3.

Cardinals stay alive with 2-1 win over McFarland

BRODHEAD — The Brodhead Cardinals were six outs away from being eliminated from the WIAA softball playoffs, but kept their season alive with a sixth inning rally to win 2-1 over No. 6 seed McFarland. Trailing 1-0 to the Spartans, the third-seeded Cardinals rallied for two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Brodhead (18-4) got only four hits in the game, but one of those hits came from freshman SS Mady Henning, who scored. The Cardinals got another run when first baseman Tatum Ceslok got a base hit. Sophomore Emberly Ast came on as a pinch runner for Ceslok and stole second base. Ast scored the Cardinals’ second run of the inning on an error which proved to be the winning run. 

Senior pitcher Ava Risum was rock solid as she allowed just one run on two hits, no walks and 14 strikeouts.