MONROE - What better way to open the WIAA playoffs than to play arguably the best game of the season?
That's exactly what the Cheesemakers did in Thursday's Division 2 opener against Mount Horeb, winning 11-0 in five innings.
"I think from a confidence standpoint, taking care of a ballclub quickly today was big for us. We have a young team and any kind of confidence or momentum we can build I think helps," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said. "We performed pretty well and I'm happy with the result."
The Cheesemakers had their "A" game from the start, with sophomore pitcher Becca Armstrong striking out two batters in the top of the first inning.
"We needed to come up really strong and then keep up that intensity," senior Kelsey Erickson said. "Becca's grown so much. She's thrown so well this year and she's not having lots of walks or anything. When everyone does everything well, it kind of gets us all going. Then the tough (games) can come later and we can get 'em."
Armstrong, who as a freshman last year pitched the Cheesemakers to the sectional final, finished with five strikeouts, a walk and allowed just two hits.
In the home half of the frame, Monroe strung together three runs with two outs. First, senior Kristin McArdle singled home Erickson, then after Alyssa Montgomery was hit by a pitch, Tasha Frie belted a 2-run double off the center field fence.
"We knew we wanted to get off to a good start. We wanted to get the confidence going right away," McArdle said. "Once that first person gets a hit, then it seems like everyone is able to."
The Cheesemakers were seeing every pitch from Emma Kalscheur as if it were a beach ball. Monroe picked up four walks and two hit batters in the first two-plus innings from Kalscheur, who was replaced by Kelsey Darrow. The two Viking hurlers combined to allow nine hits, eight walks and hit three batters.
"They gave us some opportunities with walks, but we had some timely hits," Buvid said.
Monroe added another run in the second, on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Ellie Grossen. Fellow freshman Chandra McGuire hit a two-RBI double, her second two-bagger of the day, in the bottom of a 5-run, third inning.
Erickson, a senior, drove in mercy rule-clinching runs with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
"I was hoping I wouldn't get walked for the fourth time," Erickson said of her final at bat. "I actually got a good hit on it. We all did good with our hitting today and stayed on top of the ball."
"Becca was pretty good and (Heather) Barta made some nice plays defensively for us at second base," Buvid said. "For the most part we're pretty happy with how we played."
Erickson and McArdle each reached base safely in every trip to the plate, as did teammate Kylee Craigo. The trio, along with Kendra Clark (0 for 1, walk) were a part of Monroe's last state finals run in 2009 as sophomores. Buvid said the quartet has a lot of leadership and will be looked upon greatly in this postseason as the Cheesemakers look to get back to Goodman Field in Madison.
"Our seniors, we ask them to lead. We ask them to do a lot. They are in the middle of our order and have been all year," Buvid said. "If we're going to get very far (in the playoffs) they're going to have to perform, play well and lead well. They certainly did that tonight, and we expect that every night."
Monroe (13-10) moves on to the second round where they will host third-seeded Dodgeville (9-11), who upended Platteville in five innings, 10-0.
"We know there's a lot on the line here. We are more into it and we know what's at stake," McArdle said. "Everyone's trying to do their best so we can put together a state run."
That's exactly what the Cheesemakers did in Thursday's Division 2 opener against Mount Horeb, winning 11-0 in five innings.
"I think from a confidence standpoint, taking care of a ballclub quickly today was big for us. We have a young team and any kind of confidence or momentum we can build I think helps," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said. "We performed pretty well and I'm happy with the result."
The Cheesemakers had their "A" game from the start, with sophomore pitcher Becca Armstrong striking out two batters in the top of the first inning.
"We needed to come up really strong and then keep up that intensity," senior Kelsey Erickson said. "Becca's grown so much. She's thrown so well this year and she's not having lots of walks or anything. When everyone does everything well, it kind of gets us all going. Then the tough (games) can come later and we can get 'em."
Armstrong, who as a freshman last year pitched the Cheesemakers to the sectional final, finished with five strikeouts, a walk and allowed just two hits.
In the home half of the frame, Monroe strung together three runs with two outs. First, senior Kristin McArdle singled home Erickson, then after Alyssa Montgomery was hit by a pitch, Tasha Frie belted a 2-run double off the center field fence.
"We knew we wanted to get off to a good start. We wanted to get the confidence going right away," McArdle said. "Once that first person gets a hit, then it seems like everyone is able to."
The Cheesemakers were seeing every pitch from Emma Kalscheur as if it were a beach ball. Monroe picked up four walks and two hit batters in the first two-plus innings from Kalscheur, who was replaced by Kelsey Darrow. The two Viking hurlers combined to allow nine hits, eight walks and hit three batters.
"They gave us some opportunities with walks, but we had some timely hits," Buvid said.
Monroe added another run in the second, on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Ellie Grossen. Fellow freshman Chandra McGuire hit a two-RBI double, her second two-bagger of the day, in the bottom of a 5-run, third inning.
Erickson, a senior, drove in mercy rule-clinching runs with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
"I was hoping I wouldn't get walked for the fourth time," Erickson said of her final at bat. "I actually got a good hit on it. We all did good with our hitting today and stayed on top of the ball."
"Becca was pretty good and (Heather) Barta made some nice plays defensively for us at second base," Buvid said. "For the most part we're pretty happy with how we played."
Erickson and McArdle each reached base safely in every trip to the plate, as did teammate Kylee Craigo. The trio, along with Kendra Clark (0 for 1, walk) were a part of Monroe's last state finals run in 2009 as sophomores. Buvid said the quartet has a lot of leadership and will be looked upon greatly in this postseason as the Cheesemakers look to get back to Goodman Field in Madison.
"Our seniors, we ask them to lead. We ask them to do a lot. They are in the middle of our order and have been all year," Buvid said. "If we're going to get very far (in the playoffs) they're going to have to perform, play well and lead well. They certainly did that tonight, and we expect that every night."
Monroe (13-10) moves on to the second round where they will host third-seeded Dodgeville (9-11), who upended Platteville in five innings, 10-0.
"We know there's a lot on the line here. We are more into it and we know what's at stake," McArdle said. "Everyone's trying to do their best so we can put together a state run."
