MONROE - Catcher Chandra McGuire remembers Monroe's loss to Stoughton last year that knocked the Cheesemakers out of Badger South Conference title contention.
The junior didn't want history to repeat itself. McGuire went 2-for-3 and scored two runs to lead the Cheesemakers to a 10-4 win over Stoughton Monday at Twining Park.
"I think we wanted a little revenge because last year they finished last in the conference and beat us once and almost beat us the other time," McGuire said. "Everyone was excited to be out on the field because we haven't had a practice out here yet."
The Vikings defeated Monroe 3-1 at Stoughton last year but the Cheesemakers edged them 5-4 at Twining Park. The home opener against the Vikings this year was a different story. The Cheesemakers pounded out 12 hits, as each player in the Cheesemakers' lineup had at least one hit and seven different players drove in runs.
"They gave us fits a year ago," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said of Stoughton. "They have had our number lately. They are up and coming."
Stoughton jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. The big blow was Sarah Seaton's two-run double to right center off Monroe senior Becca Armstrong.
"The strike zone was tight today for both teams," Buvid said. "It certainly frustrated (Armstrong) at times. She didn't get the pitches on the edges she usually gets. Becca is under the weather. She is not where she wants to be. If you are not throwing your second and third pitches for strikes, you have to throw it really hard. When the location is not there you get hit hard and she got hit in the first inning."
Monroe (3-0, 1-0 Badger South) answered with two runs in the bottom of the first. McGuire walked and Kayla Updike reached on an error. After junior Taylor O'Leksy reached on a fielder's choice, senior Heather Barta lined a two-run single past third base to cut the Vikings' lead to 3-2.
The Cheesemakers broke the game open with an eight-run second. Armstrong lined a single to right. Senior Brianna Katzenberger laid down a perfect bunt and dodged a swipe tag by the Vikings first baseman for a single. Junior Ellie Grossen then followed with a bunt single to load the bases.
"I knew she (didn't tag me)," said Katzenberger, who finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs. "It's still nerve-wracking. You never know what the umpire will see."
Updike hit a go-ahead RBI single to give the Cheesemakers a 4-3 lead, and O'Leksy had a two-run single up the middle to give the Cheesemakers a 6-3 lead. Juniors Kirsten Vetterli and Katie Holmes each followed with RBI singles. Katzenberger then hit a two-run single to center to give the Cheesemakers an insurmountable 10-3 lead. Holmes finished 2-for-4 with one RBI.
Buvid noted Katzenberger and Grossen's execution when bunting for hits.
"We had a lot of hits that were well stung and nipped their gloves that inning," Buvid said. "Later in the game, we didn't do that as much."
Armstrong pitched 4 2/3 innings and gave up four runs on four hits. She struck out five, walked three and hit one batter. Senior Samantha Solberg pitched 2 1/3 shutout innings in relief. She gave up two hits, struck out two and walked one.
"When you have the ability to score runs, you have a chance to win games," Katzenberger said. "Any little mistake can make a difference. We have come back from deficits like that before. We had to keep playing and keep our errors down."
Monroe is scheduled to play at Monona Grove today. However, Buvid said if there isn't any more rain, the game would be played at Twining Park since the Silver Eagles' field isn't ready yet.
The junior didn't want history to repeat itself. McGuire went 2-for-3 and scored two runs to lead the Cheesemakers to a 10-4 win over Stoughton Monday at Twining Park.
"I think we wanted a little revenge because last year they finished last in the conference and beat us once and almost beat us the other time," McGuire said. "Everyone was excited to be out on the field because we haven't had a practice out here yet."
The Vikings defeated Monroe 3-1 at Stoughton last year but the Cheesemakers edged them 5-4 at Twining Park. The home opener against the Vikings this year was a different story. The Cheesemakers pounded out 12 hits, as each player in the Cheesemakers' lineup had at least one hit and seven different players drove in runs.
"They gave us fits a year ago," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said of Stoughton. "They have had our number lately. They are up and coming."
Stoughton jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. The big blow was Sarah Seaton's two-run double to right center off Monroe senior Becca Armstrong.
"The strike zone was tight today for both teams," Buvid said. "It certainly frustrated (Armstrong) at times. She didn't get the pitches on the edges she usually gets. Becca is under the weather. She is not where she wants to be. If you are not throwing your second and third pitches for strikes, you have to throw it really hard. When the location is not there you get hit hard and she got hit in the first inning."
Monroe (3-0, 1-0 Badger South) answered with two runs in the bottom of the first. McGuire walked and Kayla Updike reached on an error. After junior Taylor O'Leksy reached on a fielder's choice, senior Heather Barta lined a two-run single past third base to cut the Vikings' lead to 3-2.
The Cheesemakers broke the game open with an eight-run second. Armstrong lined a single to right. Senior Brianna Katzenberger laid down a perfect bunt and dodged a swipe tag by the Vikings first baseman for a single. Junior Ellie Grossen then followed with a bunt single to load the bases.
"I knew she (didn't tag me)," said Katzenberger, who finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs. "It's still nerve-wracking. You never know what the umpire will see."
Updike hit a go-ahead RBI single to give the Cheesemakers a 4-3 lead, and O'Leksy had a two-run single up the middle to give the Cheesemakers a 6-3 lead. Juniors Kirsten Vetterli and Katie Holmes each followed with RBI singles. Katzenberger then hit a two-run single to center to give the Cheesemakers an insurmountable 10-3 lead. Holmes finished 2-for-4 with one RBI.
Buvid noted Katzenberger and Grossen's execution when bunting for hits.
"We had a lot of hits that were well stung and nipped their gloves that inning," Buvid said. "Later in the game, we didn't do that as much."
Armstrong pitched 4 2/3 innings and gave up four runs on four hits. She struck out five, walked three and hit one batter. Senior Samantha Solberg pitched 2 1/3 shutout innings in relief. She gave up two hits, struck out two and walked one.
"When you have the ability to score runs, you have a chance to win games," Katzenberger said. "Any little mistake can make a difference. We have come back from deficits like that before. We had to keep playing and keep our errors down."
Monroe is scheduled to play at Monona Grove today. However, Buvid said if there isn't any more rain, the game would be played at Twining Park since the Silver Eagles' field isn't ready yet.
