MONROE - Chandra McGuire has the perfect remedy to kill a hitting slump.
With one swing McGuire and the Monroe broke out of a recent slump, bashing Oregon 10-0 in six innings Friday at Twining Park on Senior Night. McGuire went 2-for-4 and crushed a solo home run to left center. The Cheesemakers (19-3, 9-1 Badger South) rocked Oregon pitcher Lacey Fluckinger. Eight of the Cheesemakers' 15 hits were for extra bases. McGuire hit a home run in the second that went just foul over the left field fence and senior Kayla Updike, who went 3-for-4 and was just a home run short of hitting for the cycle, also just missed a home run, hitting it wide left of the foul marker in left.
"We had been in a little bit of a hitting slump," McGuire said. "It felt good coming off the bat. It's really frustrating hitting all those long foul balls so far because they don't count for anything. It felt good to hit it that far fair."
Monroe has a one-game lead on Milton in the conference. The Cheesemakers will host Milton in a doubleheader showdown at 4:30 p.m. Monday with a Badger South Conference championship on the line. The Cheesemakers just need a split to repeat as conference champions. The Cheesemakers can clinch the conference title outright by sweeping the doubleheader against the Red Hawks.
"It's definitely a special experience," McGuire said of winning a conference title. "There are not a lot of teams that get to do that. Milton is a good team, and we will have our work cut out for us."
The Cheesemakers set the tone early with a five-run first inning. Monroe junior Kari Jordan walked and Updike ripped an RBI triple to left. Monroe senior Taylor O'Leksy, who went 3-for-4 with two RBI, came through with a clutch RBI single up the middle to give the Cheesemakers a 2-0 lead. Monroe senior Kirsten Vetterli ripped an RBI double off the fence in right. Three of the six doubles the Cheesemakers hit were off the fence. Senior Ellie Grossen singled and sophomore Natalie Dillon knocked in a run with a groundout. Senior Sam Hose then smoked an RBI double off the fence in left to give the Cheesemakers a 5-0 lead.
Monroe coach Dale Buvid was encouraged to see the Cheesemakers hit the ball hard like they have done most of the season.
"We have been in a slump for about four games," Buvid said. "We haven't been hitting on all cylinders. It was good to see some run production early. It was good to see kids taking the ball to the opposite field."
Vetterli went 2-for-3 with two RBI and Grossen was 2-for-2. Every player on the team played and each player got at least one at-bat. The Cheesemakers have increased their team school record for home runs in a season.
"I'm just blessed with this senior group," Buvid said. "The power display for a high school softball team; I could coach another 30 years and not see this again. They are obviously some very talented kids. It's a once in a career type of deal."
The Cheesemakers added to their lead in the second. McGuire doubled to left and Jordan followed with an RBI double. O'Leksy smoked an RBI double to left to give the Cheesemakers a 7-0 lead. Groosen delivered an RBI single to right to extend the Cheesemakers' lead to 8-0.
O'Leksy understands that hitting can be contagious.
"Once we get the momentum going it's hard to stop this team," O'Leksy said. "Once we start ripping it, there is no stopping us."
O'Leksy was glad the Cheesemakers continued hitting throughout the game and gave fans a Senior Night to remember.
"It was a strong performance on Senior Night," she said. "The seniors have worked so hard to get to this point. For us to hit and play so good makes Senior Night even better."
Dillon and Hose did their part on the mound. Dillon pitched four shutout innings to get the win. She gave up just two hits, while striking out six and walking one. Hose pitched two innings in relief and struck out three and also turned a double play.
"Her rise ball is getting better," Buvid said of Dillon. "She threw some good change-ups. Her velocity was better with a down wind."
With one swing McGuire and the Monroe broke out of a recent slump, bashing Oregon 10-0 in six innings Friday at Twining Park on Senior Night. McGuire went 2-for-4 and crushed a solo home run to left center. The Cheesemakers (19-3, 9-1 Badger South) rocked Oregon pitcher Lacey Fluckinger. Eight of the Cheesemakers' 15 hits were for extra bases. McGuire hit a home run in the second that went just foul over the left field fence and senior Kayla Updike, who went 3-for-4 and was just a home run short of hitting for the cycle, also just missed a home run, hitting it wide left of the foul marker in left.
"We had been in a little bit of a hitting slump," McGuire said. "It felt good coming off the bat. It's really frustrating hitting all those long foul balls so far because they don't count for anything. It felt good to hit it that far fair."
Monroe has a one-game lead on Milton in the conference. The Cheesemakers will host Milton in a doubleheader showdown at 4:30 p.m. Monday with a Badger South Conference championship on the line. The Cheesemakers just need a split to repeat as conference champions. The Cheesemakers can clinch the conference title outright by sweeping the doubleheader against the Red Hawks.
"It's definitely a special experience," McGuire said of winning a conference title. "There are not a lot of teams that get to do that. Milton is a good team, and we will have our work cut out for us."
The Cheesemakers set the tone early with a five-run first inning. Monroe junior Kari Jordan walked and Updike ripped an RBI triple to left. Monroe senior Taylor O'Leksy, who went 3-for-4 with two RBI, came through with a clutch RBI single up the middle to give the Cheesemakers a 2-0 lead. Monroe senior Kirsten Vetterli ripped an RBI double off the fence in right. Three of the six doubles the Cheesemakers hit were off the fence. Senior Ellie Grossen singled and sophomore Natalie Dillon knocked in a run with a groundout. Senior Sam Hose then smoked an RBI double off the fence in left to give the Cheesemakers a 5-0 lead.
Monroe coach Dale Buvid was encouraged to see the Cheesemakers hit the ball hard like they have done most of the season.
"We have been in a slump for about four games," Buvid said. "We haven't been hitting on all cylinders. It was good to see some run production early. It was good to see kids taking the ball to the opposite field."
Vetterli went 2-for-3 with two RBI and Grossen was 2-for-2. Every player on the team played and each player got at least one at-bat. The Cheesemakers have increased their team school record for home runs in a season.
"I'm just blessed with this senior group," Buvid said. "The power display for a high school softball team; I could coach another 30 years and not see this again. They are obviously some very talented kids. It's a once in a career type of deal."
The Cheesemakers added to their lead in the second. McGuire doubled to left and Jordan followed with an RBI double. O'Leksy smoked an RBI double to left to give the Cheesemakers a 7-0 lead. Groosen delivered an RBI single to right to extend the Cheesemakers' lead to 8-0.
O'Leksy understands that hitting can be contagious.
"Once we get the momentum going it's hard to stop this team," O'Leksy said. "Once we start ripping it, there is no stopping us."
O'Leksy was glad the Cheesemakers continued hitting throughout the game and gave fans a Senior Night to remember.
"It was a strong performance on Senior Night," she said. "The seniors have worked so hard to get to this point. For us to hit and play so good makes Senior Night even better."
Dillon and Hose did their part on the mound. Dillon pitched four shutout innings to get the win. She gave up just two hits, while striking out six and walking one. Hose pitched two innings in relief and struck out three and also turned a double play.
"Her rise ball is getting better," Buvid said of Dillon. "She threw some good change-ups. Her velocity was better with a down wind."
