FORT ATKINSON — In the final game before the playoff brackets were released, the Cheesemakers knocked off Fort Atkinson 6-5 May 10. With the win, Monroe, which picked up a surprising No. 3 seed, also takes a 2.5 game lead in the Badger South standings.
Monroe fell behind 1-0 in the first inning to Fort and trailed 2-1 after four innings. In the fifth inning, the Cheesemakers found a way to put four runs on the board.
Olivia Bobak and Katie Hayes each walked, and Lizzy Snider hit an infield single to load the bases. Sloane Ambrose then hit an RBI single to tie the game at 2. Sarah Prien grounded into a fielder’s choice, with courtesy runner Karis Paulson getting thrown out at home for the second out. Alyse Maurer then laced a 2-run single to center, and Hailey Betthauser followed suit with her own RBI single up the middle to make it 5-2.
Fort Atkinson’s Autumn Congdin homered to right field for the second time in the game in the bottom of the frame to trim Monroe’s lead by one, but Hayes got it back with a solo fly to left of her own in the top of the sixth.
The Blackhawks would add two runs in the bottom of the seventh with a one-out error by Sydney Updike, but Bobak struck out the final two batters looking to end the threat and seal the victory.
Betthauser finished the game 3 for 5, while Updike and Ambrose each had a pair of hits. Hayes was 1 for 1 with a pair of walks. Congdin was 3 for 3 for Fort (6-11, 5-7), while teammate Alex Theriault finished 2 for 3. Congdin and Theriault scored Fort’s only runs.
Bobak tossed a complete game for the win, allowing four earned runs on nine hits and three walks. She also struck out nine batters.
Monroe (16-2, 10-0 Badger South) leads Watertown (11-5, 7-2) in the chase for the conference title with just four games remaining in the regular season. Monroe was scheduled to play at Oregon (12-7, 5-7) May 13, then at Edgewood (11-8, 7-6) the next day. A doubleheader May 16 at Watertown will cap the regular season.
After the WIAA seeding meeting, the Cheesemakers, ranked No. 4 in the state in Division 2 according to the Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association, were given the No. 3 seed in their sectional. Jefferson (18-3), ranked ninth in the state, was given the No. 2 seed. Whitnall (12-3), ranked third, was given the top seed. Monroe received a bye for the first round and will open postseason play against Beloit Turner (16-6) at 5 p.m. May 21 at Twining Park. A win would pit Monroe either at Jefferson or home against either East Troy (18-4) or Big Foot (2-19).
On the other side of the sectional, unranked Edgewood was given the No. 2 seed, while Portage, with an honorable mention ranking, was given the top seed. The sectional championship is scheduled for May 30 at Evansville, with the state tournament opening June 7.
McFarland 17, Brodhead 1
BRODHEAD — Bailey Matthys and Hannah Myhre each had two hits for the Cardinals in a tough loss to the Spartans May 9.
Nataley Bump took the loss on the hill, tossing four innings and allowing 14 earned runs on 13 hits and four walks. Madisyn Kail allowed just one earned run on three hits in one inning of work.
Pecatonica 9, Benton-Shullsburg 0
BENTON — The Vikings collected just two hits in a tough loss May 9.
Tessa Green doubled and Nivaeh Gross added a single for Pecatonica. The Vikings didn’t walk and struck out five times.
Green pitched a complete game for Pecatonica, allowing five earned runs on 11 hits and four walks with five strikeouts. The Vikings committed four errors in the field.
Nicolet 16, Pecatonica 1
ITHACA — In the first game of the Ithaca Tournament May 11, the Vikings were one-hit by Division 2 Nicolet.
Sam Ihm had Pecatonica’s only hit. Green was tagged for the loss, allowing 14 earned runs on 14 hits and three walks in 4.2 innings of work. She gave up four home runs. Abigail Loomis got the final out of the fifth inning.
Hillsboro 15, Pecatonica 5
ITHACA — The Vikings had just one error but collected only two hits in their second game of the Ithaca Tournament May 11.
Lily Busser score two runs, Loomis had a hit, a run and an RBI and Emma Stietz added a hit. Pecatonica walked four times and stuck out seven.
Green pitched four innings, allowing 10 runs on 10 hits and three walks. Loomis allowed five runs on four hits and two walks in an inning of work in the pitchers’ circle.
In other area action, Juda-Albany lost to Racine Lutheran 3-2 at the Juda Invitational, while Monticello lost to Racine Lutheran 16-0.
Clinton 9, Darlington 4
BOSCOBEL — Taylor Crist went 3 for 3 but the Redbirds came up a bit short in a nonconference loss to Clinton at the Boscobel Tournament May 11.
Crist scored two runs and had three doubles batting in the seventh spot in the lineup. Kaylyn McGuire was 2 for 3 with two RBIs in the nine-hole.
Darlington led 3-1 after the second inning, but the Cougars tied it in the third. Clinton then scored six runs between the fourth through the sixth innings, before Darlington could scratch another.
Alyssa Tuescher pitched six innings for Darlington, allowing 12 hits and four walks. McGuire got the final three outs of the day for Darlington.
Southwestern 8, Darlington 2
BOSCOBEL — Southwestern scored five runs in the first inning to take a commanding lead on the Redbirds from the start. The Wildcats led 8-0 after the fifth, and Darlington scored its only two runs in the seventh inning.
Tuescher was tagged for seven earned runs in seven innings of work. She struck out two, walked one and gave up 12 hits.
Darlington’s 1-3 hitters each had two hits — Bethany McDonald, Brittney Johnson and Holly Ray, who also had a pair of RBIs.
Waterloo 4, New Glarus 1
NEW GLARUS — The Pirates scored three runs in the fifth inning to break a 1-1 tie during a May 11 Capitol South game.
Maci Carney was charged with the loss, allowing six hits and three earned runs with two strikeouts and a walk.
Zoe Moen was 2 for 3 with a double for New Glarus.
