MONROE - Natalie Dillon couldn't help but think about the two lightning delays and the doubleheader sweep Monroe pulled off against Milton to win the Badger South Conference championship outright last year.
There would be no lightning delays or rain Tuesday, but Dillon was a thorn in the side of Milton again, going 3-for-5 with three stolen bases, two runs scored and one RBI to propel the Cheesemakers to an 8-2 win over the Red Hawks. With the win, Monroe improves to 2-0 and Milton drops to 2-1.
"After the doubleheader last year we knew they were a good team even though they graduated some players," Dillon said Tuesday at Twining Park. "To come out and get the win when they were first place in the conference is very good."
Dillon, a Monroe junior, pitched 6 2/3 innings and gave up two runs on six hits. She struck out four and walked three. Dillon jump-started the Cheesemakers in the first inning with a lead-off single. Monroe junior Brooke Adams walked. Dillon and Adams both moved into scoring position on a double steal. Monroe senior Kari Jordan lined a two-run single to left. After a sacrifice bunt by Kylie Ambrose, Carly Upmann was hit by a pitch. Monroe junior Kaya Teasdale then ripped an RBI single to left to give the Cheesemakers a 3-0 lead.
The Cheesemakers pounded out nine hits, but still left 11 runners on base.
"We struck the ball well today," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said. "It's a step in the right direction. Natalie has been awesome at the top of the order. She has been hard to deal with."
Jordan sparked the Cheesemakers with the first clutch hit in the first.
"We expect a lot from Kari," Buvid said. "She has played on the varsity since the middle of her freshman year. She hits third for a reason."
The Cheesemakers tacked onto the lead in the second when freshman Alyshia Witt walked. Dillon lined a single to right and stole second and Witt raced home. Jordan was hit by a pitch and Dillon scored when Ambrose reached on an error to give the Cheesemakers a 5-0 lead.
The Cheesemakers had three two-out clutch hits later in the game to drive in runs. In the third, Witt tripled to center and scored on Dillon's bunt single to extend the lead to 6-0. Monroe junior Hannah Vetterli ripped a single to right in the fourth. Upmann smoked a two-out RBI single to left to give the Cheesemakers a 7-0 lead.
Vetterli sparked the Cheesemakers in the sixth leading off with a walk. Monroe junior C.J. Pivonka then delivered an RBI single to center to give the Cheesemakers an 8-1 lead.
"I think we got a lot better hitting with runners on," Dillon said. "It helped our confidence to keep going."
The Cheesemakers stole five bases and have 10 stolen bases in the first two games.
"Last year we had power up and down the lineup," Dillon said. "This year we will have to use the short game and run more. We have a lot of girls with the speed to do it."
Upmann pitched 1/3 of an inning to close out the game in the seventh. The Cheesemakers are counting on sophomores Lexi Hilliard, Upmann and Witt who is a freshman.
"All three of them have made important contributions," Buvid said. "We are counting on them to help us win games and not just fill out the roster. They have the talent to help us win games."
There would be no lightning delays or rain Tuesday, but Dillon was a thorn in the side of Milton again, going 3-for-5 with three stolen bases, two runs scored and one RBI to propel the Cheesemakers to an 8-2 win over the Red Hawks. With the win, Monroe improves to 2-0 and Milton drops to 2-1.
"After the doubleheader last year we knew they were a good team even though they graduated some players," Dillon said Tuesday at Twining Park. "To come out and get the win when they were first place in the conference is very good."
Dillon, a Monroe junior, pitched 6 2/3 innings and gave up two runs on six hits. She struck out four and walked three. Dillon jump-started the Cheesemakers in the first inning with a lead-off single. Monroe junior Brooke Adams walked. Dillon and Adams both moved into scoring position on a double steal. Monroe senior Kari Jordan lined a two-run single to left. After a sacrifice bunt by Kylie Ambrose, Carly Upmann was hit by a pitch. Monroe junior Kaya Teasdale then ripped an RBI single to left to give the Cheesemakers a 3-0 lead.
The Cheesemakers pounded out nine hits, but still left 11 runners on base.
"We struck the ball well today," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said. "It's a step in the right direction. Natalie has been awesome at the top of the order. She has been hard to deal with."
Jordan sparked the Cheesemakers with the first clutch hit in the first.
"We expect a lot from Kari," Buvid said. "She has played on the varsity since the middle of her freshman year. She hits third for a reason."
The Cheesemakers tacked onto the lead in the second when freshman Alyshia Witt walked. Dillon lined a single to right and stole second and Witt raced home. Jordan was hit by a pitch and Dillon scored when Ambrose reached on an error to give the Cheesemakers a 5-0 lead.
The Cheesemakers had three two-out clutch hits later in the game to drive in runs. In the third, Witt tripled to center and scored on Dillon's bunt single to extend the lead to 6-0. Monroe junior Hannah Vetterli ripped a single to right in the fourth. Upmann smoked a two-out RBI single to left to give the Cheesemakers a 7-0 lead.
Vetterli sparked the Cheesemakers in the sixth leading off with a walk. Monroe junior C.J. Pivonka then delivered an RBI single to center to give the Cheesemakers an 8-1 lead.
"I think we got a lot better hitting with runners on," Dillon said. "It helped our confidence to keep going."
The Cheesemakers stole five bases and have 10 stolen bases in the first two games.
"Last year we had power up and down the lineup," Dillon said. "This year we will have to use the short game and run more. We have a lot of girls with the speed to do it."
Upmann pitched 1/3 of an inning to close out the game in the seventh. The Cheesemakers are counting on sophomores Lexi Hilliard, Upmann and Witt who is a freshman.
"All three of them have made important contributions," Buvid said. "We are counting on them to help us win games and not just fill out the roster. They have the talent to help us win games."
