MADISON - Monroe junior Natalie Dillon did everything in her power to help Monroe win a third straight Badger South Conference title.
Dillon went 4-for-4 with four runs scored and three stolen bases to lead Monroe to a 6-2 win over Madison Edgewood. With the win, in combination with Fort Atkinson's win over Monona Grove, the Cheesemakers clinched the Badger South Conference championship outright. Monroe's final conference game against Fort Atkinson will not be a must-win situation for the conference title.
"It feels great," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said. "It will make it more enjoyable at the end of the season. We don't have to worry about playing a high pressure game. We are still not clicking on all cylinders offensively like we want. We will have to work as a team to get ready for the tournament."
Monroe (12-6, 9-2 Badger South), ranked 10th in the Division 2 Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association state poll, stole seven bases. Dillon pitched a complete game to get the win. She gave up two earned runs on seven hits. She struck out seven hits. She struck out 11 and walked two.
"She (Dillon) had a little bit better rise ball," Buvid said. "Edgewood had some free swingers that were not as disciplined. She was very effective tonight. She had a lot more fastballs in good locations."
The Cheesemakers loaded the bases with one out in the first inning, but scored just one run on junior Hannah Vetterli's sacrifice fly.
"That was kind of a disappointment," Buvid said. "We are still not clicking on offense like we want."
The Cheesemakers broke the game open scoring three runs after two outs in the second. Monroe junior Kaya Teasdale reached on an error and Dillon reached on an infield single. Dillon stole second to put two runners in scoring position. Junior teammate Brooke Adams delivered a bloop two-run single to give the Cheesemakers a 3-1 lead. Monroe senior Kari Jordan, who went 2-for-4, followed with an RBI single and the Cheesemakers never relinquished the lead.
Dillon scored her fourth run in the sixth on a groundout.
"Her speed has been huge," Buvid said. "She set up quite a few of our runs."
Buvid said for the first time he can remember in his 32 years of coaching, Monroe has not recorded a shutout or been shut out.
"In fastpitch softball that is unusual," he said. "There are no dominating pitchers in the conference. That has led to a lot of parity. The second-place team in the conference may have four or five losses."
Dillon went 4-for-4 with four runs scored and three stolen bases to lead Monroe to a 6-2 win over Madison Edgewood. With the win, in combination with Fort Atkinson's win over Monona Grove, the Cheesemakers clinched the Badger South Conference championship outright. Monroe's final conference game against Fort Atkinson will not be a must-win situation for the conference title.
"It feels great," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said. "It will make it more enjoyable at the end of the season. We don't have to worry about playing a high pressure game. We are still not clicking on all cylinders offensively like we want. We will have to work as a team to get ready for the tournament."
Monroe (12-6, 9-2 Badger South), ranked 10th in the Division 2 Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association state poll, stole seven bases. Dillon pitched a complete game to get the win. She gave up two earned runs on seven hits. She struck out seven hits. She struck out 11 and walked two.
"She (Dillon) had a little bit better rise ball," Buvid said. "Edgewood had some free swingers that were not as disciplined. She was very effective tonight. She had a lot more fastballs in good locations."
The Cheesemakers loaded the bases with one out in the first inning, but scored just one run on junior Hannah Vetterli's sacrifice fly.
"That was kind of a disappointment," Buvid said. "We are still not clicking on offense like we want."
The Cheesemakers broke the game open scoring three runs after two outs in the second. Monroe junior Kaya Teasdale reached on an error and Dillon reached on an infield single. Dillon stole second to put two runners in scoring position. Junior teammate Brooke Adams delivered a bloop two-run single to give the Cheesemakers a 3-1 lead. Monroe senior Kari Jordan, who went 2-for-4, followed with an RBI single and the Cheesemakers never relinquished the lead.
Dillon scored her fourth run in the sixth on a groundout.
"Her speed has been huge," Buvid said. "She set up quite a few of our runs."
Buvid said for the first time he can remember in his 32 years of coaching, Monroe has not recorded a shutout or been shut out.
"In fastpitch softball that is unusual," he said. "There are no dominating pitchers in the conference. That has led to a lot of parity. The second-place team in the conference may have four or five losses."
