SPRING GREEN - For the second year in a row, the Monroe Cheesemakers captured a Division 2 Regional softball championship by defeating the No. 1 seeded River Valley Blackhawks. On Thursday Monroe won 5-2. It is the eighth regional championhip in the past nine years for the Cheesemakers.
The Blackhawks scored unearned runs in the first and third innings as Monroe committed three errors to take a 2-0 lead, but the Cheesemakers tied it with two runs in the top of the fourth inning. Freshman Ellie Grossen walked and scored when senior Kelsey Erickson ripped a double that one-hopped the fence in left field. Erickson then stole third and scored on a wild pitch to make the score 2-2.
After a scoreless fifith inning, the Cheesemakers struck for three runs in the sixth with two outs. Senior Kristin McArdle started the rally with a base hit. With a pinch runner running for McArdle, junior Alyssa Montgomery slapped a bleeder base hit sending the runner to third and Montgomery took second as the outfield throw came to third. Junior Kasey Gutzmer put the Cheesemakers ahead when she hit a two-run single on a pitch that was up and away that she hit off the end of her bat into centerfield.
Senior Kaylee Craigo reached on a throwing error by the Blackhawks that allowed Gutzmer to score and give the Cheesemakers a three-run cushion at 5-2. The Blackhawks tried to mount a threat in the sixth inning, but Grossen hauled in Shannon McGuire's long drive at the wall to end the inning.
Sophomore Becca Armstrong pitched a scoreless seventh inning to end River Valley's season at 20-3. The Cheesemakers, the No. 2 seed in the regional, improved to 15-10. Armstrong allowed no earned runs, walked three, and struck out 11 batters.
Asked about Armstrong's pitching performance, Monroe head coach Dale Buvid said, "Outstanding. She didn't get rattled and kept on competing. She went upstairs for some strikeouts."
At the plate, Kelsey Erickson led Monroe by going 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI.
Monroe will face Portage (17-5) in the sectional semifinal Tuesday in a game scheduled to be played at 4:30 p.m. at Prairie du Chien. However, the game is likely to be moved to another location. A Cheesemaker win would put them in the sectional title game for the seventh time in the past eight years.
The Blackhawks scored unearned runs in the first and third innings as Monroe committed three errors to take a 2-0 lead, but the Cheesemakers tied it with two runs in the top of the fourth inning. Freshman Ellie Grossen walked and scored when senior Kelsey Erickson ripped a double that one-hopped the fence in left field. Erickson then stole third and scored on a wild pitch to make the score 2-2.
After a scoreless fifith inning, the Cheesemakers struck for three runs in the sixth with two outs. Senior Kristin McArdle started the rally with a base hit. With a pinch runner running for McArdle, junior Alyssa Montgomery slapped a bleeder base hit sending the runner to third and Montgomery took second as the outfield throw came to third. Junior Kasey Gutzmer put the Cheesemakers ahead when she hit a two-run single on a pitch that was up and away that she hit off the end of her bat into centerfield.
Senior Kaylee Craigo reached on a throwing error by the Blackhawks that allowed Gutzmer to score and give the Cheesemakers a three-run cushion at 5-2. The Blackhawks tried to mount a threat in the sixth inning, but Grossen hauled in Shannon McGuire's long drive at the wall to end the inning.
Sophomore Becca Armstrong pitched a scoreless seventh inning to end River Valley's season at 20-3. The Cheesemakers, the No. 2 seed in the regional, improved to 15-10. Armstrong allowed no earned runs, walked three, and struck out 11 batters.
Asked about Armstrong's pitching performance, Monroe head coach Dale Buvid said, "Outstanding. She didn't get rattled and kept on competing. She went upstairs for some strikeouts."
At the plate, Kelsey Erickson led Monroe by going 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI.
Monroe will face Portage (17-5) in the sectional semifinal Tuesday in a game scheduled to be played at 4:30 p.m. at Prairie du Chien. However, the game is likely to be moved to another location. A Cheesemaker win would put them in the sectional title game for the seventh time in the past eight years.
