MONROE — A youthful Monroe softball team proved up to the task in its doubleheader sweep of Madison West on Saturday, April 15. The Cheesemakers pounded out 22 hits and scored 34 runs in two games.
“It was unusual. Our No. 1 and No. 2 hitters were not getting all the hits like they normally do, so it was nice to get contributions from a lot of people — even people on the bench,” Monroe head coach Joe O’Lesky said. “We came out and took care of business.”
Sophie Golembiewski led off the second inning with a single and base error. Kate Kundert reached on another error, setting Chesney Slotten up. On the third pitch of the at-bat, Slotten hit a double over the center fielder’s head, plating Golembiewski and courtesy runner Emma Tran. Slotten then used her speed to steal third and scored on the wild throw. Olivia Feller drove in the fourth run of the inning on a sacrifice fly to center.
Monroe tacked on three more runs in the third with singles from Brinley Roidt, Sydnee Conway and Golembiewski.
The Regents scored two runs in the top of the fourth, taking advantage of Monroe’s youth and inexperience. Starting pitcher Kaegann Paulson gave up back-to-back hits for one run. After a strikeout, she walked two batters. Although she induced a groundout to shortstop Katrina Sathoff, Paulson allowed another run. She struck out the next batter to escape the inning.
“We can stay with anybody, but starting one freshman and five sophomores we are going to have a lot of learning-lesson games,” O’Lesky said.
In response, Monroe scored 10 runs without recording an out. The Cheesemakers drew five walks, were hit by pitch six times and recorded two hits. Golembiewski’s triple plated three runs, while Conway infield single drove in Golembiewski.
Paulson pitched four innings to get the win. She scattered two hits, struck out eight batters and walked two. Golembiewski was 3-for-3 at the plate with five RBIs and three runs scored.
In game two, Monroe picked up right where it left off in game one. The Cheesemakers scored four runs on two hits, two walks and one error.
Paulson started game two, giving up one run in the bottom of the first. Her teammates picked her up in the top of the second, though, scoring another four runs. Roidt and Slotten both hit RBI singles.
With an 8-1 lead and 17-2 run-rule win in game one, O’Lesky knew he didn’t need Paulson to pitch any additional innings. He subbed in Sathoff, who was last year’s starter. She gave up three runs on three hits. Sathoff settled in during the third frame, throwing a three-up, three-down inning with one strikeout.
With four more hits in the fourth, Monroe extended its lead to 13-4.
Golembiewski pitched the remaining three innings, striking out four batters without giving up a run. In that time, the Cheesemakers scored eight runs to enforce the run-rule.
Sathoff, Roidt and Slotten recorded three hits each in game two, while Roidt drove in four runs. Golembiewski, having pitched the most innings, picked up the win.
MONONA GROVE 12, MONROE 7
MONONA — The Eagles outhit Monroe 14-10 in its high-scoring Badger Conference victory on Thursday, April 13. Eleven of their 12 runs were earned, 10 of which were charged to starting pitcher Paulson. At the plate, the Cheesemakers received two hits each from Paulson and Feller.
