MONROE - The future of pitching for Monroe softball was on display in the Monroe Optimists 9-3 loss to Orangeville Sunday, June 16 in a Monroe Area Fastpitch League game against Orangeville.
Monroe sophomore Natalie Dillon pitched four innings and gave up just one earned run on seven hits. She struck out seven and didn't issue a walk. Monroe (0-1-1) trailed just 4-3 heading into the seventh inning when the Broncos broke the game open with five runs off Monroe relief pitcher Kady Jordan. Jordan pitched two innings and gave up six runs on eight hits. Both Dillon and Jordan are stepping into pitching roles after the graduation of Becca Armstrong, who was first-team Badger South All-Conference and set the school records for wins (23) and strikeouts.
"There are a little bit of nerves for them," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said. "They know there is a lot of really good players returning and we have a chance to be a pretty good team. They are putting the weight on their shoulders. This is so valuable to get them out there and play in those pressure situations a little bit."
Buvid is confident that Dillon and Jordan have some more explosiveness in their pitches.
"She (Dillon) has good movement and we like her poise," Buvid said. "We just have to add some velocity and they will be varsity pitchers. They have to do whatever they have to do to be more aggressive and throw the ball harder. They have in the gym. I think they will."
Monroe's Chandra McGuire singled in the first and set up the first scoring opportunity with her speed. She stole second and took third on an errant throw to second. Kayla Updike, who drove in two runs, knocked in McGuire on a groundout to give the Optimists a 1-0 lead. Orangeville's Crystal Rote answered with an RBI triple to left to tie the game at 1 in the bottom of the first.
The Monroe Optimists regained the lead in the second. Monroe senior Kirsten Vetterli crushed a double to left and Sam Hose followed with a go-ahead RBI double to give the Optimists a 2-1 lead. Orangeville's Micheala Siebarth, who went 3-for-3, delivered an RBI double in the fourth. Monroe committed two errors and that led to two runs as the Broncos took a 3-2 lead.
Vetterli like her team is using the summer to improve. She has several goals this summer.
"It's being consistent on offense and getting better on defense at catcher and first base," Vetterli said. It's the experience of playing and getting better."
The Monroe Optimists battled back in the fifth with Haley Kaiser coming through with a single. Dillon moved her into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Updike then delivered a game-tying RBI single to center to score Kaiser to tie the game at 3.
Siebarth had a key RBI single off Jordan in the five-run seventh. Rote, who went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, lined a two-run triple to left and Morgan Robb followed with an RBI single to put the game away. Rote pitched four innings and gave up two runs on three hits. Orangeville's Tori Clark pitched three shutout innings in relief.
"We just didn't make the plays in the outfield," Buvid said of the Broncos' three runs in the fourth. "They should have had just one earned run."
Buvid was pleased with the offensive attack.
"We are hitting 17 kids and some who have never seen varsity before," Buvid said. "When you are batting 17, it's hard to get through the lineup. We got something done. Brodhead, Orangeville along with Monticello are some of the best teams."
Monroe will play Evansville Sunday, June 23 at 4:15 p.m. at Twining Park West.
Monroe sophomore Natalie Dillon pitched four innings and gave up just one earned run on seven hits. She struck out seven and didn't issue a walk. Monroe (0-1-1) trailed just 4-3 heading into the seventh inning when the Broncos broke the game open with five runs off Monroe relief pitcher Kady Jordan. Jordan pitched two innings and gave up six runs on eight hits. Both Dillon and Jordan are stepping into pitching roles after the graduation of Becca Armstrong, who was first-team Badger South All-Conference and set the school records for wins (23) and strikeouts.
"There are a little bit of nerves for them," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said. "They know there is a lot of really good players returning and we have a chance to be a pretty good team. They are putting the weight on their shoulders. This is so valuable to get them out there and play in those pressure situations a little bit."
Buvid is confident that Dillon and Jordan have some more explosiveness in their pitches.
"She (Dillon) has good movement and we like her poise," Buvid said. "We just have to add some velocity and they will be varsity pitchers. They have to do whatever they have to do to be more aggressive and throw the ball harder. They have in the gym. I think they will."
Monroe's Chandra McGuire singled in the first and set up the first scoring opportunity with her speed. She stole second and took third on an errant throw to second. Kayla Updike, who drove in two runs, knocked in McGuire on a groundout to give the Optimists a 1-0 lead. Orangeville's Crystal Rote answered with an RBI triple to left to tie the game at 1 in the bottom of the first.
The Monroe Optimists regained the lead in the second. Monroe senior Kirsten Vetterli crushed a double to left and Sam Hose followed with a go-ahead RBI double to give the Optimists a 2-1 lead. Orangeville's Micheala Siebarth, who went 3-for-3, delivered an RBI double in the fourth. Monroe committed two errors and that led to two runs as the Broncos took a 3-2 lead.
Vetterli like her team is using the summer to improve. She has several goals this summer.
"It's being consistent on offense and getting better on defense at catcher and first base," Vetterli said. It's the experience of playing and getting better."
The Monroe Optimists battled back in the fifth with Haley Kaiser coming through with a single. Dillon moved her into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Updike then delivered a game-tying RBI single to center to score Kaiser to tie the game at 3.
Siebarth had a key RBI single off Jordan in the five-run seventh. Rote, who went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, lined a two-run triple to left and Morgan Robb followed with an RBI single to put the game away. Rote pitched four innings and gave up two runs on three hits. Orangeville's Tori Clark pitched three shutout innings in relief.
"We just didn't make the plays in the outfield," Buvid said of the Broncos' three runs in the fourth. "They should have had just one earned run."
Buvid was pleased with the offensive attack.
"We are hitting 17 kids and some who have never seen varsity before," Buvid said. "When you are batting 17, it's hard to get through the lineup. We got something done. Brodhead, Orangeville along with Monticello are some of the best teams."
Monroe will play Evansville Sunday, June 23 at 4:15 p.m. at Twining Park West.
