MONROE - Sophomore Hailey Betthauser came through with her arm and bat to lead the Monroe High School softball team to a thrilling 4-3 comeback win over Monona Grove on Friday at Twining Park.
With Monroe trailing the Silver Eagles 3-1 in the top of the seventh inning, Betthauser, in right field, made a running catch and then a perfect throw to the plate, and junior catcher Meredith Hose tagged out a runner for an inning-ending double play.
Then, in the bottom of the seventh, Betthauser delivered a game-winning two-out, two-run double to right that scored freshman Grace Tostrud and Hose, who slid around the catcher and touched the plate with her hand to give the Cheesemakers a walk-off win.
Monroe improves to 14-7 overall and 8-3 in the Badger South. The victory pulls the Cheesemakers into sole possession of second place in the conference behind Fort Atkinson.
"We had been losing close games up until now," Monroe coach Joe O'Leksy said. "We played great defense in the end, and we got a big hit. Hailey made a running catch and threw a BB and rocket to Meredith. She (Betthauser) had to do it all (catch and throw) in one motion. If we didn't get that out who knows how it would have ended up. There's nothing better than getting a two-out hit. We came up with a big hit on Senior Night. This is a great time to do it because we are coming up to the end of the year and the tournament."
Betthauser went 2-for-4 with two RBI. The Cheesemakers had nine hits as a team. Senior Carly Upmann went 2-for-3 with a double, and junior Madison Katzenberger was 2-for-3. Tostrud drove in two runs.
Monroe sophomore Olivia Bobak pitched a complete game to get the win. She gave up one earned run on six hits. Bobak struck out five and walked two.
"She wasn't at her best, but she battled," O'Leksy said. "I was really happy with how she battled and kept her composure."
The Silver Eagles scored two runs in the fourth and one run in the sixth to take a two-run lead.
The Cheesemakers came through in the clutch. Monroe senior Jessie Bennett led off the bottom of the seventh with a double. Katzenberger lined a single off the Silver Eagles' pitcher. Tostrud knocked in a run on a fielder's choice to cut the Silver Eagles' lead to 3-2. Hose then lined a single to center.
"I was really happy with Meredith Hose getting that two-out hit," O'Leksy said. "She really set the stage for Hailey."
O'Leksy said it's a big win before the seeding meeting on Wednesday.
"Monona Grove is a really good team that has beat Fort Atkinson and Oregon," he said. "They (Monona Grove) were tied with us for second. It helps with the seeding. We want to get a top three seed, and we are battling with Edgerton and Jefferson for that. Beloit Turner (also in Monroe's regional) is probably the best team in the area."
With Monroe trailing the Silver Eagles 3-1 in the top of the seventh inning, Betthauser, in right field, made a running catch and then a perfect throw to the plate, and junior catcher Meredith Hose tagged out a runner for an inning-ending double play.
Then, in the bottom of the seventh, Betthauser delivered a game-winning two-out, two-run double to right that scored freshman Grace Tostrud and Hose, who slid around the catcher and touched the plate with her hand to give the Cheesemakers a walk-off win.
Monroe improves to 14-7 overall and 8-3 in the Badger South. The victory pulls the Cheesemakers into sole possession of second place in the conference behind Fort Atkinson.
"We had been losing close games up until now," Monroe coach Joe O'Leksy said. "We played great defense in the end, and we got a big hit. Hailey made a running catch and threw a BB and rocket to Meredith. She (Betthauser) had to do it all (catch and throw) in one motion. If we didn't get that out who knows how it would have ended up. There's nothing better than getting a two-out hit. We came up with a big hit on Senior Night. This is a great time to do it because we are coming up to the end of the year and the tournament."
Betthauser went 2-for-4 with two RBI. The Cheesemakers had nine hits as a team. Senior Carly Upmann went 2-for-3 with a double, and junior Madison Katzenberger was 2-for-3. Tostrud drove in two runs.
Monroe sophomore Olivia Bobak pitched a complete game to get the win. She gave up one earned run on six hits. Bobak struck out five and walked two.
"She wasn't at her best, but she battled," O'Leksy said. "I was really happy with how she battled and kept her composure."
The Silver Eagles scored two runs in the fourth and one run in the sixth to take a two-run lead.
The Cheesemakers came through in the clutch. Monroe senior Jessie Bennett led off the bottom of the seventh with a double. Katzenberger lined a single off the Silver Eagles' pitcher. Tostrud knocked in a run on a fielder's choice to cut the Silver Eagles' lead to 3-2. Hose then lined a single to center.
"I was really happy with Meredith Hose getting that two-out hit," O'Leksy said. "She really set the stage for Hailey."
O'Leksy said it's a big win before the seeding meeting on Wednesday.
"Monona Grove is a really good team that has beat Fort Atkinson and Oregon," he said. "They (Monona Grove) were tied with us for second. It helps with the seeding. We want to get a top three seed, and we are battling with Edgerton and Jefferson for that. Beloit Turner (also in Monroe's regional) is probably the best team in the area."
