EVANSVILLE - A thunder and rain delay couldn't put a damper on Monroe junior Kayla Updike's swing in a WIAA Division 2 sectional championship game.
After a 52-minute thunder delay, Updike crushed a three-run home run to left in the first inning to propel Monroe to a 4-1 win over McFarland in a rain-shortened five inning sectional title Thursday, May 30. With the win, Monroe (27-2) advances to the state tournament at Goodman Diamond in Madison for the third straight year. The Cheesemakers will play New London in a Division 2 state semifinal at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 6.
"I knew I had two strikes and there were two outs," Updike said. "I wanted to put the ball in play. I feel like it had a good chance to go far. I wasn't looking to see where it was going. I was just running. It feels great. We can't wait to go back to state and compete with the other teams."
Monroe senior Becca Armstrong turned in a dazzling pitching performance and junior Kirsten Vetterli hit a solo home run in the fourth to give the Cheesemakers all the insurance they would need. The whipping wind and dark clouds rolled in and umpires delayed the game for the second time for about 20 minutes before calling it after five innings.
Armstrong's fear of tornadoes couldn't break her high spirit after the win that sends the No. 3 ranked Cheesemakers back to state.
"It feels amazing," Armstrong said. "We have had a great season so far. It kind of feels like it's not a successful season unless we get back to state."
Monroe coach Dale Buvid was excited the Cheesemakers were able to get five innings in to make it an official game.
"If I'm on the other end, I might not be as gracious as they (McFarland) were," Buvid said. "It's a tough way to lose. Hats off to McFarland. They have a good program. I wish we could have had a better celebration. We will have to celebrate on the bus."
It didn't take the Cheesemakers long to jump on starting pitcher Kayla Easland. Monroe junior Ellie Grossen, who went 2-for-3, lined a single to center leading off the first. Easland then walked Monroe junior Chandra McGuire. The Spartans then switched pitchers in the middle of the inning, bringing in Alexis Kemnitzer to face Updike. Updike crushed a three-run home run to left to give the Cheesemakers a 3-0 lead.
McFarland (20-3) rallied in the third with Willa Papalia-Beatty leading off with a single and Lauren Frazier reached on an error. McFarland junior Madelyn Hettinger then delivered an RBI single up the middle to cut the Cheesemakers' lead to 3-1. McGuire made two big plays in the third throwing out two runners trying to steal second.
"Chandra is a key," Buvid said. "She has been throwing the ball so much better than last year. Those were two big plays and two big outs. We expect that from Chandra."
Armstrong pitched a complete game and gave up one run on five hits. She struck out eight and walked one. Armstrong has a sharp rise ball and fastball.
"They are a good hitting team," Armstrong said. "I knew if I left anything up they were going to hit it."
Buvid was proud of the way Armstrong pitched and the explosiveness she displayed on the mound.
"I thought that is as good as I have seen her rise ball," Buvid said. "When she had the powerful rise ball and fastball she was tough."
With the Spartans threatening in the fourth, Updike caught a pop out and flipped it to Heather Barta at first base for an inning-ending double play. Vetterli hit a solo home run to left center in the fourth to give the Cheesemakers an insurance run.
"As soon as I saw Herbie (Noel Herbst) put her hands up and screaming, I knew it was over the fence," Vetterli said. "I was frustrated because I struck out the last time up. It's super to go back (to state). It shows that we have a really good team."
After a 52-minute thunder delay, Updike crushed a three-run home run to left in the first inning to propel Monroe to a 4-1 win over McFarland in a rain-shortened five inning sectional title Thursday, May 30. With the win, Monroe (27-2) advances to the state tournament at Goodman Diamond in Madison for the third straight year. The Cheesemakers will play New London in a Division 2 state semifinal at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 6.
"I knew I had two strikes and there were two outs," Updike said. "I wanted to put the ball in play. I feel like it had a good chance to go far. I wasn't looking to see where it was going. I was just running. It feels great. We can't wait to go back to state and compete with the other teams."
Monroe senior Becca Armstrong turned in a dazzling pitching performance and junior Kirsten Vetterli hit a solo home run in the fourth to give the Cheesemakers all the insurance they would need. The whipping wind and dark clouds rolled in and umpires delayed the game for the second time for about 20 minutes before calling it after five innings.
Armstrong's fear of tornadoes couldn't break her high spirit after the win that sends the No. 3 ranked Cheesemakers back to state.
"It feels amazing," Armstrong said. "We have had a great season so far. It kind of feels like it's not a successful season unless we get back to state."
Monroe coach Dale Buvid was excited the Cheesemakers were able to get five innings in to make it an official game.
"If I'm on the other end, I might not be as gracious as they (McFarland) were," Buvid said. "It's a tough way to lose. Hats off to McFarland. They have a good program. I wish we could have had a better celebration. We will have to celebrate on the bus."
It didn't take the Cheesemakers long to jump on starting pitcher Kayla Easland. Monroe junior Ellie Grossen, who went 2-for-3, lined a single to center leading off the first. Easland then walked Monroe junior Chandra McGuire. The Spartans then switched pitchers in the middle of the inning, bringing in Alexis Kemnitzer to face Updike. Updike crushed a three-run home run to left to give the Cheesemakers a 3-0 lead.
McFarland (20-3) rallied in the third with Willa Papalia-Beatty leading off with a single and Lauren Frazier reached on an error. McFarland junior Madelyn Hettinger then delivered an RBI single up the middle to cut the Cheesemakers' lead to 3-1. McGuire made two big plays in the third throwing out two runners trying to steal second.
"Chandra is a key," Buvid said. "She has been throwing the ball so much better than last year. Those were two big plays and two big outs. We expect that from Chandra."
Armstrong pitched a complete game and gave up one run on five hits. She struck out eight and walked one. Armstrong has a sharp rise ball and fastball.
"They are a good hitting team," Armstrong said. "I knew if I left anything up they were going to hit it."
Buvid was proud of the way Armstrong pitched and the explosiveness she displayed on the mound.
"I thought that is as good as I have seen her rise ball," Buvid said. "When she had the powerful rise ball and fastball she was tough."
With the Spartans threatening in the fourth, Updike caught a pop out and flipped it to Heather Barta at first base for an inning-ending double play. Vetterli hit a solo home run to left center in the fourth to give the Cheesemakers an insurance run.
"As soon as I saw Herbie (Noel Herbst) put her hands up and screaming, I knew it was over the fence," Vetterli said. "I was frustrated because I struck out the last time up. It's super to go back (to state). It shows that we have a really good team."
