MONROE - Kayla Updike and the Monroe softball team continued to post video-game-like numbers in rolling to a 13-1 win over Fort Atkinson in the home opener Tuesday at Twining Park.
Monroe (3-0, 1-0 Badger South) pounded out 15 hits, including five doubles en route to the win. Updike, a Monroe senior, went 3-for-3 with one RBI. Every player in the Cheesemakers' lineup had at least one hit and they put the game away with a seven-run third inning.
"I feel like we came out ready to play," Updike said. "We were ready to play because we wanted this win. I think once one person gets a hit everyone gets comfortable and confident and we all start getting those hits."
Hitting may seem contagious at times, but Monroe coach Dale Buvid said it's a mental game and laying off the high rise balls that are unhittable. The Cheesemakers are in a groove. Monroe is averaging 13.6 hits and 5.3 extra base hits per game through the first three games.
"It's nice to be able to bash the ball," Buvid said. "We have a lot of power and speed up and down the lineup. We have a lot of weapons. It's as good of a hitting team as we have ever had. There is no doubt about that. As long as we keep our head and don't think we are God's gift to softball, we will score some runs."
It didn't take the Cheesemakers long to strike as they came through with a three-run first. Monroe senior Chandra McGuire, who went 2-for-3 with two RBI, singled and then stole second. Updike lined a single to left and then stole second. Monroe senior Taylor O'Leksy then rocketed a two-run double to right to give the Cheesemakers a 2-0 lead. Senior Kirsten Vetterli added an RBI single.
O'Leksy went 2-for-3 with two RBI and Vetterli went 2-for-3 with one RBI. Monroe senior Katie Holmes went 2-for-3 with one RBI and made a running catch against the fence near the Cheesemakers' dugout in the third.
"I was thinking you have to make that catch and get an out," Holmes said. "Another thing I was thinking not to face-plant in to the fence."
Monroe sophomore Natalie Dillon was just as dominant pitching as the Cheesemakers' lineup was hitting. Dillon picked up her third win. She pitched four innings and gave up one run on two hits. Dillon struck out six and didn't issue a walk. Senior Sam Hose pitched one shutout inning and struck out two.
"She (Dillon) had better pace on her fastball and more movement on her riseball," Buvid said. "She struggled getting her change-up over. She needs to get a lot better earlier in the count. She has to change speeds and get movement. We are always talking about being good enough to beat the best."
The Cheesemakers broke the game open batting around the order in a seven-run third. Updike led off with a single and O'Leksy singled. That set the stage for Monroe junior Kari Jordan, who lined a two-run double to right to give the Cheesemakers a 5-0 lead. Hose singled and Holmes followed with a bloop RBI single. Other big hits in the third included McGuire's two-run double and Updike's RBI double.
"We just started to get comfortable in the box, we laid off the rise ball and we struck it well," Holmes said. "In recent years we have fallen into (hitting) slumps. This year we are ready to come out strong."
Monroe will host Monona Grove Thursday before leaving Saturday for a Florida trip where they will play four games during spring break.
"We should continue to hit the ball," Updike said. "We know MG will be tough. Hopefully, we can come out with the win. If we continue playing like we did today, we should be fine."
Monroe (3-0, 1-0 Badger South) pounded out 15 hits, including five doubles en route to the win. Updike, a Monroe senior, went 3-for-3 with one RBI. Every player in the Cheesemakers' lineup had at least one hit and they put the game away with a seven-run third inning.
"I feel like we came out ready to play," Updike said. "We were ready to play because we wanted this win. I think once one person gets a hit everyone gets comfortable and confident and we all start getting those hits."
Hitting may seem contagious at times, but Monroe coach Dale Buvid said it's a mental game and laying off the high rise balls that are unhittable. The Cheesemakers are in a groove. Monroe is averaging 13.6 hits and 5.3 extra base hits per game through the first three games.
"It's nice to be able to bash the ball," Buvid said. "We have a lot of power and speed up and down the lineup. We have a lot of weapons. It's as good of a hitting team as we have ever had. There is no doubt about that. As long as we keep our head and don't think we are God's gift to softball, we will score some runs."
It didn't take the Cheesemakers long to strike as they came through with a three-run first. Monroe senior Chandra McGuire, who went 2-for-3 with two RBI, singled and then stole second. Updike lined a single to left and then stole second. Monroe senior Taylor O'Leksy then rocketed a two-run double to right to give the Cheesemakers a 2-0 lead. Senior Kirsten Vetterli added an RBI single.
O'Leksy went 2-for-3 with two RBI and Vetterli went 2-for-3 with one RBI. Monroe senior Katie Holmes went 2-for-3 with one RBI and made a running catch against the fence near the Cheesemakers' dugout in the third.
"I was thinking you have to make that catch and get an out," Holmes said. "Another thing I was thinking not to face-plant in to the fence."
Monroe sophomore Natalie Dillon was just as dominant pitching as the Cheesemakers' lineup was hitting. Dillon picked up her third win. She pitched four innings and gave up one run on two hits. Dillon struck out six and didn't issue a walk. Senior Sam Hose pitched one shutout inning and struck out two.
"She (Dillon) had better pace on her fastball and more movement on her riseball," Buvid said. "She struggled getting her change-up over. She needs to get a lot better earlier in the count. She has to change speeds and get movement. We are always talking about being good enough to beat the best."
The Cheesemakers broke the game open batting around the order in a seven-run third. Updike led off with a single and O'Leksy singled. That set the stage for Monroe junior Kari Jordan, who lined a two-run double to right to give the Cheesemakers a 5-0 lead. Hose singled and Holmes followed with a bloop RBI single. Other big hits in the third included McGuire's two-run double and Updike's RBI double.
"We just started to get comfortable in the box, we laid off the rise ball and we struck it well," Holmes said. "In recent years we have fallen into (hitting) slumps. This year we are ready to come out strong."
Monroe will host Monona Grove Thursday before leaving Saturday for a Florida trip where they will play four games during spring break.
"We should continue to hit the ball," Updike said. "We know MG will be tough. Hopefully, we can come out with the win. If we continue playing like we did today, we should be fine."
