MONROE - Sometimes the hardest part as a hitter is not getting over anxious against pitchers who aren't overpowering.
The Monroe softball team worked hard - with mixed success - on staying back Tuesday against Monona Grove's Alyssa Meyers.
Sophomore Ellie Grossen went 3-for-4 and scored two runs to lead the Cheesemakers to a 6-1 victory at Twining Park.
"I thought we definitely could have strung together some more hits," Grossen said. "I think our defense is coming together. We have to keep working on our offense. I think we could have had some bigger hits. I think we will come around against the slower pitchers. We will work on it more."
Monroe (3-2, 3-0 Badger South) opened with four straight hits. Grossen led off by lining a single to left and sophomore Taylor O'Leksy ripped a single to left. Sophomore Chandra McGuire delivered an RBI single to left to give the Cheesemakers a 1-0 lead.
Monroe could have done more damage after sophomore Kayla Updike bunted for a single and senior Alyssa Montgomery reached on an error. However, Meyers was able to get Sarah Alexander to ground into a double play.
Monroe had 11 hits, but stranded eight runners. Monroe coach Dale Buvid said the Cheesemakers could have done more hitting after the first inning.
"We worked in practice and warm-ups to stay back against a slower pitcher," Buvid said. "It's not always the easiest thing to do. We take reps to hit the best 60 mph rise ball. It's understandable and disappointing. We are learning. I thought we swung at too many pitcher's pitches in my opinion and didn't stay back. We swung at too many marginal pitches early in the count and gave them easy outs."
Monroe junior Becca Armstrong pitched 4 1/3 shutout innings. She gave up only two hits, had six strikeouts and walked two. Junior Samantha Solberg pitched 2 2/3 innings and gave up one run on three hits.
"I feel like I am a lot more consistent with my changeup this year compared to last year," Armstrong said. "I just wanted to keep my pitches on the outside corners because they have a lot of really good hitters. We have been working on my rise ball. Hopefully, I can make that my best pitch by the end of the season."
Solberg worked her way out of a jam in the seventh.
"A kid with not as much toughness might have caved in a little bit," Buvid said of Solberg. "She had to see Becca warming up out of the corner of her eye. Give her credit for closing it out."
The Silver Eagles committed two errors in the second and the Cheesemakers took advantage when O'Leksy, who was 2-for-4, lined a two-out, two-run single to left to give Monroe a 3-0 lead.
The Cheesemakers tacked on three runs in the third. Updike, who was 2-for-4, beat out an infield single and Montgomery reached on an error. Updike's speed played a role in the inning. She beat out a force play at third on Alexander's fielder's choice. Sophomore Katie Holmes knocked in a run on a fielder's choice and junior Briana Katzenberger followed with an RBI single to give the Monroe a 5-0 lead.
The Cheesemakers will play at Stoughton on Thursday and then host the Monroe Invitational on Saturday at Twining Park. Monroe will open the tournament against Juda at 10:45 a.m. The Monroe-Juda winner will then play Stevens Point, which is ranked No. 4 in Division 1.
"I can't say enough about Amber (Ramos)," Buvid said of the Juda-Albany hurler "She is outstanding. If people want to come out and see one of the top softball programs, (Stevens Point is) it."
The Monroe softball team worked hard - with mixed success - on staying back Tuesday against Monona Grove's Alyssa Meyers.
Sophomore Ellie Grossen went 3-for-4 and scored two runs to lead the Cheesemakers to a 6-1 victory at Twining Park.
"I thought we definitely could have strung together some more hits," Grossen said. "I think our defense is coming together. We have to keep working on our offense. I think we could have had some bigger hits. I think we will come around against the slower pitchers. We will work on it more."
Monroe (3-2, 3-0 Badger South) opened with four straight hits. Grossen led off by lining a single to left and sophomore Taylor O'Leksy ripped a single to left. Sophomore Chandra McGuire delivered an RBI single to left to give the Cheesemakers a 1-0 lead.
Monroe could have done more damage after sophomore Kayla Updike bunted for a single and senior Alyssa Montgomery reached on an error. However, Meyers was able to get Sarah Alexander to ground into a double play.
Monroe had 11 hits, but stranded eight runners. Monroe coach Dale Buvid said the Cheesemakers could have done more hitting after the first inning.
"We worked in practice and warm-ups to stay back against a slower pitcher," Buvid said. "It's not always the easiest thing to do. We take reps to hit the best 60 mph rise ball. It's understandable and disappointing. We are learning. I thought we swung at too many pitcher's pitches in my opinion and didn't stay back. We swung at too many marginal pitches early in the count and gave them easy outs."
Monroe junior Becca Armstrong pitched 4 1/3 shutout innings. She gave up only two hits, had six strikeouts and walked two. Junior Samantha Solberg pitched 2 2/3 innings and gave up one run on three hits.
"I feel like I am a lot more consistent with my changeup this year compared to last year," Armstrong said. "I just wanted to keep my pitches on the outside corners because they have a lot of really good hitters. We have been working on my rise ball. Hopefully, I can make that my best pitch by the end of the season."
Solberg worked her way out of a jam in the seventh.
"A kid with not as much toughness might have caved in a little bit," Buvid said of Solberg. "She had to see Becca warming up out of the corner of her eye. Give her credit for closing it out."
The Silver Eagles committed two errors in the second and the Cheesemakers took advantage when O'Leksy, who was 2-for-4, lined a two-out, two-run single to left to give Monroe a 3-0 lead.
The Cheesemakers tacked on three runs in the third. Updike, who was 2-for-4, beat out an infield single and Montgomery reached on an error. Updike's speed played a role in the inning. She beat out a force play at third on Alexander's fielder's choice. Sophomore Katie Holmes knocked in a run on a fielder's choice and junior Briana Katzenberger followed with an RBI single to give the Monroe a 5-0 lead.
The Cheesemakers will play at Stoughton on Thursday and then host the Monroe Invitational on Saturday at Twining Park. Monroe will open the tournament against Juda at 10:45 a.m. The Monroe-Juda winner will then play Stevens Point, which is ranked No. 4 in Division 1.
"I can't say enough about Amber (Ramos)," Buvid said of the Juda-Albany hurler "She is outstanding. If people want to come out and see one of the top softball programs, (Stevens Point is) it."
