MONROE — The Monroe Cheesemakers (No. 2 seed) staged a 2-run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat the Portage Warriors (No. 3 seed) 3-2 and win the regional championship on Thursday, May 28.
Portage scored two unearned runs in the third inning, but the Cheesemakers pulled to within 2-1 with a run after two were out in the fourth inning. Pinch runner MacKenzie Anglin scored on a base hit by Kaya Holverson.
The Cheesemakers entered the seventh inning down 2-1 and three outs from elimination. Pinch hitter Amaria Collins started the rally with a base hit to center. Jayde Hawkinson hit into a fielder’s choice with Collins forced out at second base. Maddie Ruegsegger followed with an RBI double that scored Hawkinson and tied the game at 2-2. With first base open, Kaegann Paulson was walked intentionally, putting runners at first and second. That brought Ivie Ellenson to the plate and she hit a ground ball to 2B Josie Krueger, who retired tried to tag out Ellenson and get double play, but the ball was thrown away and Ruegsegger made a mad dash to the plate and scored the winning run.
Paulson pitched another great game, going all seven innings and allowing two unearned runs on one hit. Paulson walked five and struck out five.
Monroe is now 19-9 and advanced to the Division 2 sectional semifinal at No. 1 seed Mount Horeb on Tuesday, June 2. The winner plays for the sectional championship on Thursday, June 4 at Portage.
Lodi 3, Monticello-New Glarus 2 (8 innings)
The Monticello-New Glarus Ponies had their season come to an end as the Lodi Blue Devils scored a run in the bottom of the eighth inning to win 3-2 in a WIAA Division 3 regional championship on Thursday, May 28 at Lodi.
The Ponies (No. 3 seed) scored a sun in the fifth inning when Eliza Legris walked, moved to second on a sacrifice by Brooke Ryan and advanced to third on a ground out. Legris scored on Molly Olson’s base hit to left. Lodi (No. 2 seed) took the lead 2-1 with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
The Ponies were down to their last three outs in the seventh inning, but Ryan led off the inning with a double. She moved to third on a ground out and scored to tie the game 2-2 on Olson’s second RBI single in the game.
The game went into extra innings and Lodi won it in the bottom of the eighth. After one out, Brielle Burros singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Burros moved to third on a ground out and scored the winning run on a base hit by Elise Krumpen.
Molly Olson was 3x3 with a double and two RBIs and Annie Olson was 2x4. Malorie Miller also had a double and Mabel Jordan had a triple for the Ponies.
Monticello-New Glarus closes its season with a record of 18-6.
Juda-Albany 7, Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah 0
Ryleigh Brown threw a complete game one-hit shutout to lead Jubany to a 7-0 win over the Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah Resorters in a Division 5 regional championship on Thursday, May 28.
Anna Bartels and Lexi Eastwood each drove in two runs and Olivia Brooks hit a double, walked and drove in a run to lead the Panthers. A four-run third inning helped the Panthers take control.
Brown struck out 12 and walked none to help the Panthers reach the sectionals and get to within two wins from making the State Tournament for the first time since 2021.
Jubany, 17-8-1, faced No. 2 seed Cambria-Friesland at home in the Division 5 sectional semifinal on Tuesday, June 2. The winner advances to the sectional championship on Thursday, June 4 at Almond-Bancroft.
Belmont 8, Argyle-Black Hawk 1
The defending Division 5 state champion Belmont Braves defeated the Argyle-Black Hawk Orioles 8-1 in a Division 5 regional championship on Thursday, May 28 to win its seventh regional championship in the past eight years. Belmont smacked four home runs to power their way past ABH as Claire Runde hit two homers and Lexi Riechers and Carsyn Ramaker each went deep for the Braves.
The Orioles tied the game at 1-1 in the third inning, but the Braves responded with three runs in the bottom of the third and three more runs in the fifth to pull away.
Brianna Wilhelmson went 3x4 and Kylie Butler got on base three times with a hit and two walks for Argyle-Black Hawk.
The Orioles finished their season with a record of 14-13.
