MONROE - Jessie Bennett took advantage of her opportunity Sunday in a Monroe Fastpitch League game at Twining Park to help the Monroe Optimists No. 1 slug their way to a 17-2 win over Brodhead in six innings.
Bennett went 3-for-4 and stole two bases to lead Monroe to the win.
"She's really aggressive and a good base runner," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said. "She has really been hitting in the cage. We lost only one starter from last year. She certainly has a chance to be in the mix."
Monroe's Carly Upmann and Hannah Vetterli also both went 3-for-4. Teammate Hannah Betthauser was 2-for-4. With the win, Monroe Optimists No. 1 improve to 2-1.
Monroe jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Upmann singled to right field and Vetterli walked. Monroe's Kylea Ambrose delivered an RBI single to right to score Upmann to give Optimists No. 1 a 1-0 lead.
Monroe added to its lead in the second. Bennett singled and then stole second. She scored on an error to give Optimists No. 1 a 2-0 lead. Four of the first five runs Monroe scored off Brodhead starting pitcher Azzy Steiner were unearned. Monroe's Brooke Adams reached on an error in the third and later scored on a passed ball. Vetterli singled to right and scored on Ambrose's sacrifice fly to give Optimists No. 1 a 4-0 lead.
Bennett walked leading off the fourth and stole second. Bennett scored on a wild pitch to give Monroe an insurmountable 5-0 lead.
"When she (Steiner) got the ball up we were able to hit it," Buvid said. "She throws hard. I'm happy with how we hit."
Monroe did most of its damage in the final two innings, breaking the game open with a five-run fifth and a seven-run sixth. Upmann came through with a double in the fifth to give Optimists No. 1 a scoring opportunity. Vetterli had an RBI single and Bennett had a clutch two-run single in the fifth. Upmann hit an RBI double to the fence in the sixth.
"Brodhead was playing short-handed and had a lot of young players," Buvid said.
Upmann was sharp pitching a complete game to get the win. She struck out 10 in six innings and gave up just two runs on five hits.
"No one works harder than Carly Upmann," Buvid said. "She has a nice rise ball. We need her to add two to three miles-per-hour to her fastball. That is what summer ball and traveling ball is for."
Bennett went 3-for-4 and stole two bases to lead Monroe to the win.
"She's really aggressive and a good base runner," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said. "She has really been hitting in the cage. We lost only one starter from last year. She certainly has a chance to be in the mix."
Monroe's Carly Upmann and Hannah Vetterli also both went 3-for-4. Teammate Hannah Betthauser was 2-for-4. With the win, Monroe Optimists No. 1 improve to 2-1.
Monroe jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Upmann singled to right field and Vetterli walked. Monroe's Kylea Ambrose delivered an RBI single to right to score Upmann to give Optimists No. 1 a 1-0 lead.
Monroe added to its lead in the second. Bennett singled and then stole second. She scored on an error to give Optimists No. 1 a 2-0 lead. Four of the first five runs Monroe scored off Brodhead starting pitcher Azzy Steiner were unearned. Monroe's Brooke Adams reached on an error in the third and later scored on a passed ball. Vetterli singled to right and scored on Ambrose's sacrifice fly to give Optimists No. 1 a 4-0 lead.
Bennett walked leading off the fourth and stole second. Bennett scored on a wild pitch to give Monroe an insurmountable 5-0 lead.
"When she (Steiner) got the ball up we were able to hit it," Buvid said. "She throws hard. I'm happy with how we hit."
Monroe did most of its damage in the final two innings, breaking the game open with a five-run fifth and a seven-run sixth. Upmann came through with a double in the fifth to give Optimists No. 1 a scoring opportunity. Vetterli had an RBI single and Bennett had a clutch two-run single in the fifth. Upmann hit an RBI double to the fence in the sixth.
"Brodhead was playing short-handed and had a lot of young players," Buvid said.
Upmann was sharp pitching a complete game to get the win. She struck out 10 in six innings and gave up just two runs on five hits.
"No one works harder than Carly Upmann," Buvid said. "She has a nice rise ball. We need her to add two to three miles-per-hour to her fastball. That is what summer ball and traveling ball is for."
