SPRING GREEN - When the topic of discussion is about Monroe Cheesemaker softball and regional championships, the word "three-peat" can now be part of the conversation.
The No. 2 seed Cheesemakers claimed their third straight Division 2 regional championship Thursday with an 8-3 victory over the top-seeded River Valley Blackhawks.
River Valley came into the game with an impressive 15-4 record and scored the game's first run in the first inning.
The Cheesemakers responded in a big way, scoring the next six runs and providing freshman pitcher Becca Armstrong with plenty of run support. Three of those runs came in the third inning.
The Blackhawks got the lead to 6-3 with a pair of runs in the fifth inning, but Monroe got two insurance runs in the top of the seventh.
"Becca pitched well," Monroe head coach Dale Buvid said. "She kept the walks down and we played great behind her."
Armstrong walked just two batters and struck out one. She gave up three runs on seven hits. Four of those hits were doubles.
"I'm really proud of our kids and our seniors really stepped up," Buvid said.
Seniors Brandi Trewartha and Gwen Sutter went a combined 6-for-7 and another senior, Abby Kennison, ripped a double to lead the Cheesemakers' 11-hit attack against River Valley's Shannon McGuire, who had come into the game giving up 72 hits in 92 innings and had a 1.74 earned run average.
Monroe still has a losing record at 11-13, but will play in a Division 2 sectional semi-final next week.
"If you can't play well all year, you might as well play great in the postseason," Buvid said.
The Cheesemakers' postseason run continues Tuesday against Sauk Prairie. The game is tentatively scheduled for 5 p.m. in Prairie du Chien.
The No. 2 seed Cheesemakers claimed their third straight Division 2 regional championship Thursday with an 8-3 victory over the top-seeded River Valley Blackhawks.
River Valley came into the game with an impressive 15-4 record and scored the game's first run in the first inning.
The Cheesemakers responded in a big way, scoring the next six runs and providing freshman pitcher Becca Armstrong with plenty of run support. Three of those runs came in the third inning.
The Blackhawks got the lead to 6-3 with a pair of runs in the fifth inning, but Monroe got two insurance runs in the top of the seventh.
"Becca pitched well," Monroe head coach Dale Buvid said. "She kept the walks down and we played great behind her."
Armstrong walked just two batters and struck out one. She gave up three runs on seven hits. Four of those hits were doubles.
"I'm really proud of our kids and our seniors really stepped up," Buvid said.
Seniors Brandi Trewartha and Gwen Sutter went a combined 6-for-7 and another senior, Abby Kennison, ripped a double to lead the Cheesemakers' 11-hit attack against River Valley's Shannon McGuire, who had come into the game giving up 72 hits in 92 innings and had a 1.74 earned run average.
Monroe still has a losing record at 11-13, but will play in a Division 2 sectional semi-final next week.
"If you can't play well all year, you might as well play great in the postseason," Buvid said.
The Cheesemakers' postseason run continues Tuesday against Sauk Prairie. The game is tentatively scheduled for 5 p.m. in Prairie du Chien.
