MONROE - The Fort Atkinson softball team has been running roughshod on the Badger South Conference with an offense that can strike fear into opposing pitchers.
Monroe's Becca Armstrong skipped the angst Monday and went for an entirely different emotion: revenge.
"We wanted revenge so bad," the Cheesemakers' junior ace said. "Last time it was a close game and unfortunately we fell short. We knew we didn't want to walk off the field (this time) feeling the same way, so it was definitely revenge we were out for."
And it was revenge the Cheesemakers enjoyed, as Armstrong fired a five-hitter and Kayla Updike delivered the big hit in Monroe's 2-0 victory against the Blackhawks at Twining Park.
It was the first league loss for Fort Atkinson (13-3, 8-1 Badger South) and snapped the Blackhawks' 10-game winning streak.
Victory No. 6 in that stretch just happened to be the most gut-wrenching defeat of the season for Monroe, Fort Atkinson scoring six times in the bottom of the seventh and getting a walkoff grand slam for a 6-2 triumph.
Monday's solid effort is the type of play Monroe coach Dale Buvid has seen glimpses of all season. But since a humbling loss to conference also ran Stoughton on May 7, he's been seeing the best of the Cheesemakers.
Monroe (12-7, 7-4) has won four straight games, outscoring its opponents 38-1.
"We've hit our stride," Buvid said. "The game is an amazing thing sometimes. You lose to Stoughton a week ago and you know you have a good team, but you wonder if it's ever going to come together.
"Really, a lot of this is confidence and momentum and right now we've got that going for us. It feels good."
Like in the first meeting, Updike delivered the go-ahead hit for Monroe on Monday when she laced a two-out triple to right field to give the Cheesemakers a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning.
"I don't know, for some reason I just hit against (the Blackhawks)," Updike said. "I'm pretty confident hitting when we need to get timely hits and need to get it done."
Said Buvid: "She can swing it and she's been one of our most consistent offensive players all year. Good for her."
Unlike in the first contest, Monroe played some stellar defense in the rematch. Sophomore catcher Chandra McGuire made two strong throws to nail baserunners and senior Kasey Gutzmer threw out two runners from center field.
Gutzmer delivered the gem of the game when she cut down Amber Foerster at the plate as the Fort speedster, who plans to walk on the University of Wisconsin softball team, tried to score from second base on a base hit.
"There's only one kid who can throw out (Forester) from second base on a base hit," Buvid said. "The Badgers want her for her speed and to throw that kind of kid out on a clean hit up the middle and beat her by a step ... Kasey has a college-type arm. It was a nice play."
Updike's clutch hit and Monroe's solid defense was more than enough support for Armstrong, who had just five strikeouts but was in command throughout.
"Becca pitched well against us at Fort - very well - but she just didn't get any defense behind her at the end," Fort Atkinson coach Jeff Askew said. "But she pitched better today. It was quite evident she really had her A game going today. Her control was a little better and her fastball was a little sharper. Five hits is not characteristic of our team."
Askew said the Blackhawks, who entered play leading second-place Milton by three games in the loss column in the Badger South, were flat from the outset.
"I could just tell as the game was starting up that it meant a little bit more to Monroe than it seemed to mean to us," he said. "Monroe was treating this like a playoff atmosphere (type of) game."
With hopes of a conference title long dashed, that's exactly how Buvid wants the Cheesemakers treating the rest of their games.
"Coach has told us now it's about just preparing for the (WIAA) tournament run," Armstrong said. "I thought we did a good job coming out and just playing the best game we possibly could."
Monroe's Becca Armstrong skipped the angst Monday and went for an entirely different emotion: revenge.
"We wanted revenge so bad," the Cheesemakers' junior ace said. "Last time it was a close game and unfortunately we fell short. We knew we didn't want to walk off the field (this time) feeling the same way, so it was definitely revenge we were out for."
And it was revenge the Cheesemakers enjoyed, as Armstrong fired a five-hitter and Kayla Updike delivered the big hit in Monroe's 2-0 victory against the Blackhawks at Twining Park.
It was the first league loss for Fort Atkinson (13-3, 8-1 Badger South) and snapped the Blackhawks' 10-game winning streak.
Victory No. 6 in that stretch just happened to be the most gut-wrenching defeat of the season for Monroe, Fort Atkinson scoring six times in the bottom of the seventh and getting a walkoff grand slam for a 6-2 triumph.
Monday's solid effort is the type of play Monroe coach Dale Buvid has seen glimpses of all season. But since a humbling loss to conference also ran Stoughton on May 7, he's been seeing the best of the Cheesemakers.
Monroe (12-7, 7-4) has won four straight games, outscoring its opponents 38-1.
"We've hit our stride," Buvid said. "The game is an amazing thing sometimes. You lose to Stoughton a week ago and you know you have a good team, but you wonder if it's ever going to come together.
"Really, a lot of this is confidence and momentum and right now we've got that going for us. It feels good."
Like in the first meeting, Updike delivered the go-ahead hit for Monroe on Monday when she laced a two-out triple to right field to give the Cheesemakers a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning.
"I don't know, for some reason I just hit against (the Blackhawks)," Updike said. "I'm pretty confident hitting when we need to get timely hits and need to get it done."
Said Buvid: "She can swing it and she's been one of our most consistent offensive players all year. Good for her."
Unlike in the first contest, Monroe played some stellar defense in the rematch. Sophomore catcher Chandra McGuire made two strong throws to nail baserunners and senior Kasey Gutzmer threw out two runners from center field.
Gutzmer delivered the gem of the game when she cut down Amber Foerster at the plate as the Fort speedster, who plans to walk on the University of Wisconsin softball team, tried to score from second base on a base hit.
"There's only one kid who can throw out (Forester) from second base on a base hit," Buvid said. "The Badgers want her for her speed and to throw that kind of kid out on a clean hit up the middle and beat her by a step ... Kasey has a college-type arm. It was a nice play."
Updike's clutch hit and Monroe's solid defense was more than enough support for Armstrong, who had just five strikeouts but was in command throughout.
"Becca pitched well against us at Fort - very well - but she just didn't get any defense behind her at the end," Fort Atkinson coach Jeff Askew said. "But she pitched better today. It was quite evident she really had her A game going today. Her control was a little better and her fastball was a little sharper. Five hits is not characteristic of our team."
Askew said the Blackhawks, who entered play leading second-place Milton by three games in the loss column in the Badger South, were flat from the outset.
"I could just tell as the game was starting up that it meant a little bit more to Monroe than it seemed to mean to us," he said. "Monroe was treating this like a playoff atmosphere (type of) game."
With hopes of a conference title long dashed, that's exactly how Buvid wants the Cheesemakers treating the rest of their games.
"Coach has told us now it's about just preparing for the (WIAA) tournament run," Armstrong said. "I thought we did a good job coming out and just playing the best game we possibly could."
