MONROE - In a battle of unbeatens, Monroe's Natalie Dillon knew it would be a challenge facing Brodhead in a Monroe Summer Fastpitch League game Sunday.
Dillon, a junior, struck out 12 in a complete game four-hitter to lead Monroe Optimists No. 1 to a 5-2 win over Brodhead at Twining Park. With the win, Monroe improves to 5-0.
"They are a good team and have a good pitcher," Dillon said of Brodhead's Brooke Boegli. "We had to bring our 'A' game."
Dillon is using the summer league and her traveling softball team to perfect her pitches.
"Coach (Dale) Buvid always wants me to throw faster and keep the rise ball up," she said. "Over the summer and next season we are working on the drop ball."
Brodhead (4-1) struck first in the fourth inning. Payton Wright reached on an error and took second on a wild pitch. Karina Rosheisen lined an RBI single to center to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.
Boegli retired nine of the first 10 batters she faced. Monroe battled back in the bottom of the fourth. Lindsay Seichter and McKenzie Montgomery both reached on errors. Dillon then delivered a two-out, two-run double to left center to give Monroe a 2-1 lead. Dillon went 2-for-3 with two RBI to lead Monroe.
"Once we started hitting, it was contagious and everyone started hitting better," Dillon said.
Monroe scored three runs in the fifth to build a 5-1 lead. Boegli walked Monroe's C.J. Pivonka and Carly Arneson. Shayna Krebs singled and that set the stages for a big inning.
Monroe incoming freshman Alyshia Witt came through with a two-run single to right to extend the lead to 4-1. Jessie Bennett reached on a fielder's choice and Seichter bounced an RBI single to right to give Monroe a 5-1 lead.
Buvid was excited to see how some of his young players, including Carly Upman, Witt, Bennett and Seichter, would handle hitting against Boegli.
"A lot of this is to take a look at younger kids to see if they can help us on the varsity," Buvid said. "She (Witt) has done enough this summer to get a look for the varsity. Lindsay (Seichter) has a knack for getting the big hit. We were missing a few of our big guns who were on vacation. I'm sure they (Brodhead) were short-handed too."
Brodhead's Erin Kloepping went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases to lead the Cardinals. Rosheisen also had two stolen bases. The Cardinals had four stolen bases as a team as they looked to manufacture some runs against Dillon.
"They have a really good pitcher," Brodhead coach Marty Wright said of Dillon. "It's hard to generate offense against her. Our girls worked hard until the end."
Boegli pitched six innings and gave up five runs on seven hits.
"She's our war horse," Wright said. "They just found some holes later in the game and got some seeing-eye hits."
Dillon, a junior, struck out 12 in a complete game four-hitter to lead Monroe Optimists No. 1 to a 5-2 win over Brodhead at Twining Park. With the win, Monroe improves to 5-0.
"They are a good team and have a good pitcher," Dillon said of Brodhead's Brooke Boegli. "We had to bring our 'A' game."
Dillon is using the summer league and her traveling softball team to perfect her pitches.
"Coach (Dale) Buvid always wants me to throw faster and keep the rise ball up," she said. "Over the summer and next season we are working on the drop ball."
Brodhead (4-1) struck first in the fourth inning. Payton Wright reached on an error and took second on a wild pitch. Karina Rosheisen lined an RBI single to center to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.
Boegli retired nine of the first 10 batters she faced. Monroe battled back in the bottom of the fourth. Lindsay Seichter and McKenzie Montgomery both reached on errors. Dillon then delivered a two-out, two-run double to left center to give Monroe a 2-1 lead. Dillon went 2-for-3 with two RBI to lead Monroe.
"Once we started hitting, it was contagious and everyone started hitting better," Dillon said.
Monroe scored three runs in the fifth to build a 5-1 lead. Boegli walked Monroe's C.J. Pivonka and Carly Arneson. Shayna Krebs singled and that set the stages for a big inning.
Monroe incoming freshman Alyshia Witt came through with a two-run single to right to extend the lead to 4-1. Jessie Bennett reached on a fielder's choice and Seichter bounced an RBI single to right to give Monroe a 5-1 lead.
Buvid was excited to see how some of his young players, including Carly Upman, Witt, Bennett and Seichter, would handle hitting against Boegli.
"A lot of this is to take a look at younger kids to see if they can help us on the varsity," Buvid said. "She (Witt) has done enough this summer to get a look for the varsity. Lindsay (Seichter) has a knack for getting the big hit. We were missing a few of our big guns who were on vacation. I'm sure they (Brodhead) were short-handed too."
Brodhead's Erin Kloepping went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases to lead the Cardinals. Rosheisen also had two stolen bases. The Cardinals had four stolen bases as a team as they looked to manufacture some runs against Dillon.
"They have a really good pitcher," Brodhead coach Marty Wright said of Dillon. "It's hard to generate offense against her. Our girls worked hard until the end."
Boegli pitched six innings and gave up five runs on seven hits.
"She's our war horse," Wright said. "They just found some holes later in the game and got some seeing-eye hits."
