MONROE - Even without a full, healthy starting lineup, the Monroe softball team slugged its way to a 15-3 five-inning win over Hilton (New York) Saturday at the Disney ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Saturday.
The Cheesemakers (5-0) broke the game open with an 11-run fifth inning. Monroe senior Alysha Witt, who is recovering from having a cyst removed, came in as a pinch hitter and crushed a grand slam in the fifth to spark the Cheesemakers.
"We don't have everyone we will have when we are fully healthy," Monroe coach Joe O'Leksy said. "Alysha Witt can only be used as a pinch hitter. She's one of our best defenders and a captain. It will be great when we can get her back to full strength. I was happy when the reserves were called in they did their job. It's great to have a team where each person can contribute."
Monroe pounded out 14 hits in five innings. Monroe junior Erica Snider went 2-for-2 with two RBIs. Senior Meredith Hose went 3-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored. Junior teammate Olivia Bobak was 2-for-3 with three RBIs, and that included a solo home run in the third. Sophomore Grace Tostrud went 2-for-3 with one RBI. It marked the fourth win for the Cheesemakers in Florida.
"We've had some spurts of really good hitting," O'Leksy said. "We get a little stale at times. It was good to end the Florida trip on an offensive high note."
Bobak pitched 4 1/3 innings and gave up two unearned runs on two hits. She struck out five and walked four. Freshman Alyse Maurer pitched 2/3 of an inning, allowed one unearned run on one hit and struck out one.
"I've been happy with our pitching," O'Leksy said. "Our walks are down and our strikeouts are up."
The Cheesemakers turned in a stunning double play in the fourth. A rocket was hit to Monroe senior shortstop Madison Katzenberger, who threw a runner out at first base. Tostrud then fired a throw home when one of Hilton's players broke late for the plate, and Hose tagged out the runner for a 6-3-2 double play.
One area O'Leksy wants to see the Cheesemakers continue to improve is on their fielding. Despite being unbeaten, Monroe has had a few games where errors have been troubling.
"It just seems like we are having two or three errors per game, which we need to cut down on," he said.
The Cheesemakers (5-0) broke the game open with an 11-run fifth inning. Monroe senior Alysha Witt, who is recovering from having a cyst removed, came in as a pinch hitter and crushed a grand slam in the fifth to spark the Cheesemakers.
"We don't have everyone we will have when we are fully healthy," Monroe coach Joe O'Leksy said. "Alysha Witt can only be used as a pinch hitter. She's one of our best defenders and a captain. It will be great when we can get her back to full strength. I was happy when the reserves were called in they did their job. It's great to have a team where each person can contribute."
Monroe pounded out 14 hits in five innings. Monroe junior Erica Snider went 2-for-2 with two RBIs. Senior Meredith Hose went 3-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored. Junior teammate Olivia Bobak was 2-for-3 with three RBIs, and that included a solo home run in the third. Sophomore Grace Tostrud went 2-for-3 with one RBI. It marked the fourth win for the Cheesemakers in Florida.
"We've had some spurts of really good hitting," O'Leksy said. "We get a little stale at times. It was good to end the Florida trip on an offensive high note."
Bobak pitched 4 1/3 innings and gave up two unearned runs on two hits. She struck out five and walked four. Freshman Alyse Maurer pitched 2/3 of an inning, allowed one unearned run on one hit and struck out one.
"I've been happy with our pitching," O'Leksy said. "Our walks are down and our strikeouts are up."
The Cheesemakers turned in a stunning double play in the fourth. A rocket was hit to Monroe senior shortstop Madison Katzenberger, who threw a runner out at first base. Tostrud then fired a throw home when one of Hilton's players broke late for the plate, and Hose tagged out the runner for a 6-3-2 double play.
One area O'Leksy wants to see the Cheesemakers continue to improve is on their fielding. Despite being unbeaten, Monroe has had a few games where errors have been troubling.
"It just seems like we are having two or three errors per game, which we need to cut down on," he said.
