MONROE - Sports teams are like children for veteran coaches, so it's really not fair to ask Dale Buvid to pick favorites.
But it becomes clear moments into a short conversation with the Monroe softball coach that the current Cheesemakers occupy a prominent place on his mental mantle.
Two words that popped up repeatedly Friday as he spoke about his red-hot squad were "skilled" and "personality."
Both of those traits are likely to play key factors today if the Cheesemakers (22-7) are to hoist the winner's trophy after their WIAA Division 2 state championship showdown against Baldwin-Woodville (27-1) at Goodman Diamond in Madison.
Monroe enters its first state title game since 2009 - and fifth since winning its only championship in 2003 - as a decided underdog against a top-ranked Baldwin-Woodville outfit that dominated the Cheesemakers 10-0 in five innings last season in the semifinals.
"We'd certainly would like to give them a better game than we did a year ago, and I think we will do that," Buvid said. "But we'll have to be at our very best to beat that team."
What the words don't convey is the twinkle in the coach's eyes as he said them. And why not?
The Cheesemakers have been at their best more often than not since May 7, which is the last time they tasted defeat. Forty days and fifteen straight victories later, Monroe is a supremely confident and extremely relaxed unit entering the biggest game of the season.
Buvid is quick to point out something else about this group.
"We're a lot more skilled that people probably give us credit for," Buvid said. "This is among the most talented teams we've had."
That's saying something, considering all the success the program has enjoyed.
The Cheesemakers were impressive at the plate in their 5-1 semifinal victory Thursday against Plymouth, but it was their play in two other facets of the game - defense and baserunning - that really had Buvid enthused and believing his squad is in position to give Baldwin-Woodville a run for its money today.
The game's opening sequence was a prime example, as Plymouth leadoff hitter Sophia Keila ripped a laser right back at Monroe pitcher Becca Armstrong. The junior got her glove on the ball and it deflected to sophomore shortstop Ellie Grossen, who fired to first for what almost felt like a routine out.
It was anything but routine, and the play helped set the tone for a crisp effort by the Cheesemakers.
"We've had some games up here in the past where we've been bad defensively, just to be honest," Buvid said. On that play, "Becca knocks it down and Ellie is sharp enough to be aggressive and make a play."
Monroe also took an extra base on several occasions, applying wilting pressure on Plymouth. That aggressiveness has been key during the winning streak.
"Maybe I was a little too conservative earlier in the year," Buvid said. "We weren't hitting the ball very well, so you don't have as many baserunners and you're afraid of getting them thrown out. We were maybe playing for the extra-base hits or the big inning a little too much.
"It got to a point where we said, 'We've got to do something different' and I took the mindset that we needed to be a little more aggressive. I think the kids sensed that."
Perhaps the only things sharper than Monroe's play on the field during this run have been the good-natured barbs being zinged between teammates - and sometimes even at the coach. The players all completed a pre-state tournament Q&A recently, with one of the questions seeking their favorite softball memory.
The most popular answer? Grossen drilling Buvid in the face with a batted ball earlier this season, leaving a shiner that lasted for weeks.
The close runner-up was sophomore outfielder Katie Holmes leaving practice in an ambulance after she passed out following a hand injury.
Those type of answers might sound a little harsh to people outside the program, but Buvid laughed heartily when asked about the responses.
"We've got some very outgoing and funny personalities," the coach said. "They kid me, I kid them. Nobody on this team takes themselves too seriously.
"Softball is a game of monotonous repetition and you have to do that work to be good, but we also try to have a loose atmosphere. The kids do the work, but we have fun doing it."
There's nothing more fun than playing in a state championship game.
"We're there, we have a chance and we're going to show up and see what happens," Buvid said.
But it becomes clear moments into a short conversation with the Monroe softball coach that the current Cheesemakers occupy a prominent place on his mental mantle.
Two words that popped up repeatedly Friday as he spoke about his red-hot squad were "skilled" and "personality."
Both of those traits are likely to play key factors today if the Cheesemakers (22-7) are to hoist the winner's trophy after their WIAA Division 2 state championship showdown against Baldwin-Woodville (27-1) at Goodman Diamond in Madison.
Monroe enters its first state title game since 2009 - and fifth since winning its only championship in 2003 - as a decided underdog against a top-ranked Baldwin-Woodville outfit that dominated the Cheesemakers 10-0 in five innings last season in the semifinals.
"We'd certainly would like to give them a better game than we did a year ago, and I think we will do that," Buvid said. "But we'll have to be at our very best to beat that team."
What the words don't convey is the twinkle in the coach's eyes as he said them. And why not?
The Cheesemakers have been at their best more often than not since May 7, which is the last time they tasted defeat. Forty days and fifteen straight victories later, Monroe is a supremely confident and extremely relaxed unit entering the biggest game of the season.
Buvid is quick to point out something else about this group.
"We're a lot more skilled that people probably give us credit for," Buvid said. "This is among the most talented teams we've had."
That's saying something, considering all the success the program has enjoyed.
The Cheesemakers were impressive at the plate in their 5-1 semifinal victory Thursday against Plymouth, but it was their play in two other facets of the game - defense and baserunning - that really had Buvid enthused and believing his squad is in position to give Baldwin-Woodville a run for its money today.
The game's opening sequence was a prime example, as Plymouth leadoff hitter Sophia Keila ripped a laser right back at Monroe pitcher Becca Armstrong. The junior got her glove on the ball and it deflected to sophomore shortstop Ellie Grossen, who fired to first for what almost felt like a routine out.
It was anything but routine, and the play helped set the tone for a crisp effort by the Cheesemakers.
"We've had some games up here in the past where we've been bad defensively, just to be honest," Buvid said. On that play, "Becca knocks it down and Ellie is sharp enough to be aggressive and make a play."
Monroe also took an extra base on several occasions, applying wilting pressure on Plymouth. That aggressiveness has been key during the winning streak.
"Maybe I was a little too conservative earlier in the year," Buvid said. "We weren't hitting the ball very well, so you don't have as many baserunners and you're afraid of getting them thrown out. We were maybe playing for the extra-base hits or the big inning a little too much.
"It got to a point where we said, 'We've got to do something different' and I took the mindset that we needed to be a little more aggressive. I think the kids sensed that."
Perhaps the only things sharper than Monroe's play on the field during this run have been the good-natured barbs being zinged between teammates - and sometimes even at the coach. The players all completed a pre-state tournament Q&A recently, with one of the questions seeking their favorite softball memory.
The most popular answer? Grossen drilling Buvid in the face with a batted ball earlier this season, leaving a shiner that lasted for weeks.
The close runner-up was sophomore outfielder Katie Holmes leaving practice in an ambulance after she passed out following a hand injury.
Those type of answers might sound a little harsh to people outside the program, but Buvid laughed heartily when asked about the responses.
"We've got some very outgoing and funny personalities," the coach said. "They kid me, I kid them. Nobody on this team takes themselves too seriously.
"Softball is a game of monotonous repetition and you have to do that work to be good, but we also try to have a loose atmosphere. The kids do the work, but we have fun doing it."
There's nothing more fun than playing in a state championship game.
"We're there, we have a chance and we're going to show up and see what happens," Buvid said.
