MONROE - The Monroe softball team enters the WIAA Division 2 regional as one of the hottest teams, riding a nine-game winning streak.
The Cheesemakers (16-7) enter as a No. 2 seed and will play Clinton at Twining Park today. If Monroe wins, they would play the winner of Edgerton and Whitewater on Tuesday, May 29 in Monroe. The Cheesemakers will be looking for a second-straight state trip.
"We have been looking towards this all year," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said. "We know we have enough talent to go deep in the tournament and we have a chance (at state)."
The Cheesemakers will have a tough road, with No. 8 ranked Beloit Turner (22-1) and Rock Valley North Conference champion Edgerton in the same regional. However, Monroe has proven during the nine-game winning streak that they can knock off some of the best teams, as demonstrated by Becca Armstrong's shutout of Badger South Conference champion Fort Atkinson last week.
"They (Beloit Turner) have a very good pitcher that throws in the 60 mph range," Buvid said. "You don't go 22-1 easily. We are playing as well as we have all year in my opinion. We feel like we can play with anybody. We feel like we don't have to play out of our mind to beat anyone."
Division 3
Brodhead (16-5) received a No. 1 regional seed and will play the winner of fifth-seeded Darlington (1-17) and fourth-seeded Belleville (7-11) on May 29. New Glarus, the No. 6 seed, will play at Cuba City.
The Glarner Knights (3-17) enter the tournament on the heels of a 16-15 slugfest win over Faith Christian. The victory was the Knights' first non-forfeit win, after collecting two forfeits from Wisconsin Heights earlier in the season.
Division 4
Juda-Albany (15-7) will get a first round bye and play the winner of fourth-seeded Argyle and fifth-seeded Barneveld on May 29. The Panthers, who have won four straight Six Rivers East Conference championships, face an uphill battle to get to state. Their sectional also includes Monticello (15-4), which handed Juda-Albany its only conference loss, No. 1 ranked Oakfield, and No. 4 ranked Catholic Central.
"It's a pretty tough regional with Monticello, Argyle and Barneveld," Juda coach Bill Davis said. "We know we will have a tough road. We believe we have the talent to get there (state). I would like to say we are in the conversation."
Monticello will host Faith Christian today. The other first round games today include Pecatonica at Williams Bay. If the Ponies win, they would play the winner of Williams Bay and Pecatonica on May 29. Monticello has won eight of its last nine games, and Pecatonica returns after upsetting Argyle last year.
"We are the only team in the conference who could have beat them twice," Monticello coach Duane Garrison said of Juda-Albany. "We are playing really consistent on defense."
The Cheesemakers (16-7) enter as a No. 2 seed and will play Clinton at Twining Park today. If Monroe wins, they would play the winner of Edgerton and Whitewater on Tuesday, May 29 in Monroe. The Cheesemakers will be looking for a second-straight state trip.
"We have been looking towards this all year," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said. "We know we have enough talent to go deep in the tournament and we have a chance (at state)."
The Cheesemakers will have a tough road, with No. 8 ranked Beloit Turner (22-1) and Rock Valley North Conference champion Edgerton in the same regional. However, Monroe has proven during the nine-game winning streak that they can knock off some of the best teams, as demonstrated by Becca Armstrong's shutout of Badger South Conference champion Fort Atkinson last week.
"They (Beloit Turner) have a very good pitcher that throws in the 60 mph range," Buvid said. "You don't go 22-1 easily. We are playing as well as we have all year in my opinion. We feel like we can play with anybody. We feel like we don't have to play out of our mind to beat anyone."
Division 3
Brodhead (16-5) received a No. 1 regional seed and will play the winner of fifth-seeded Darlington (1-17) and fourth-seeded Belleville (7-11) on May 29. New Glarus, the No. 6 seed, will play at Cuba City.
The Glarner Knights (3-17) enter the tournament on the heels of a 16-15 slugfest win over Faith Christian. The victory was the Knights' first non-forfeit win, after collecting two forfeits from Wisconsin Heights earlier in the season.
Division 4
Juda-Albany (15-7) will get a first round bye and play the winner of fourth-seeded Argyle and fifth-seeded Barneveld on May 29. The Panthers, who have won four straight Six Rivers East Conference championships, face an uphill battle to get to state. Their sectional also includes Monticello (15-4), which handed Juda-Albany its only conference loss, No. 1 ranked Oakfield, and No. 4 ranked Catholic Central.
"It's a pretty tough regional with Monticello, Argyle and Barneveld," Juda coach Bill Davis said. "We know we will have a tough road. We believe we have the talent to get there (state). I would like to say we are in the conversation."
Monticello will host Faith Christian today. The other first round games today include Pecatonica at Williams Bay. If the Ponies win, they would play the winner of Williams Bay and Pecatonica on May 29. Monticello has won eight of its last nine games, and Pecatonica returns after upsetting Argyle last year.
"We are the only team in the conference who could have beat them twice," Monticello coach Duane Garrison said of Juda-Albany. "We are playing really consistent on defense."
