LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Coach Dale Buvid said his Monroe softball team played a stronger game against a better opponent on Thursday at Disney's Wide World of Sports.
But another day of shaky defense played a major role in the Cheesemakers' 8-6 loss to New Philadelphia, Ohio.
"It was an improvement in many ways over our first game," Buvid said of a 5-2 loss to Bellbrook, Ohio in Wednesday's season opener. "We had six hits against an honorable mention all-state pitcher and put the ball in play more consistently.
"But the number of errors ... that's two games in a row with five. We've just got to fix that."
Buvid was pleased, however, with the Cheesemakers' big third inning. Trailing 3-0, No. 9 hitter Katie Holmes singled for Monroe's first hit and Ellie Grossen, Taylor O'Leksy and Kayla Updike all had RBIs in a five-run inning that gave the Cheesemakers a 5-3 lead.
"It was nice to put a good string of offense together because we had done nothing to that point - we were 0-for-8 with four strikeouts," Buvid said. "Katie's single up the middle opened things up."
New Philadelphia responded with three runs in the fourth and two in the fifth to build an 8-5 lead. Chandra McGuire led off the seventh with a hit and scored on an error, but Monroe could get no closer.
Becca Armstrong started in the circle and allowed all eight runs and six hits, though only four of the runs were earned. She had two strikeouts and issued eight walks.
Corey Wells pitched the sixth and seventh for Monroe, allowing just one hit and no runs.
"She pitched well and kept us close," Buvid said.
McGuire had two hits, the only Monroe player with more than one.
The Cheesemakers return home to host Fort Atkinson in a Badger South Conference opener on Tuesday.
"Despite the two losses down here and not playing to the standards we'd like to, I still think we're going to have a pretty good softball team before it's all said and done," Buvid said.
But another day of shaky defense played a major role in the Cheesemakers' 8-6 loss to New Philadelphia, Ohio.
"It was an improvement in many ways over our first game," Buvid said of a 5-2 loss to Bellbrook, Ohio in Wednesday's season opener. "We had six hits against an honorable mention all-state pitcher and put the ball in play more consistently.
"But the number of errors ... that's two games in a row with five. We've just got to fix that."
Buvid was pleased, however, with the Cheesemakers' big third inning. Trailing 3-0, No. 9 hitter Katie Holmes singled for Monroe's first hit and Ellie Grossen, Taylor O'Leksy and Kayla Updike all had RBIs in a five-run inning that gave the Cheesemakers a 5-3 lead.
"It was nice to put a good string of offense together because we had done nothing to that point - we were 0-for-8 with four strikeouts," Buvid said. "Katie's single up the middle opened things up."
New Philadelphia responded with three runs in the fourth and two in the fifth to build an 8-5 lead. Chandra McGuire led off the seventh with a hit and scored on an error, but Monroe could get no closer.
Becca Armstrong started in the circle and allowed all eight runs and six hits, though only four of the runs were earned. She had two strikeouts and issued eight walks.
Corey Wells pitched the sixth and seventh for Monroe, allowing just one hit and no runs.
"She pitched well and kept us close," Buvid said.
McGuire had two hits, the only Monroe player with more than one.
The Cheesemakers return home to host Fort Atkinson in a Badger South Conference opener on Tuesday.
"Despite the two losses down here and not playing to the standards we'd like to, I still think we're going to have a pretty good softball team before it's all said and done," Buvid said.
