MONTICELLO - The second-seeded Monticello softball team got their postseason run off to a good start, knocking off Six Rivers East rival Black Hawk 9-0 in the regional quarterfinals.
Monticello scored one in the first, two in the second, four in the fourth, and two in the fifth.
"We hit early. They had some throwing errors and it kind of snowballed," said Monticello coach Duane Garrison.
Jen Wellnitz picked up the only three hits for Black Hawk. For Monticello, Clare Gietzel, Jordan Garrison and Marissa Berg all went 2-for-3.
"Eight of our nine starters had at least one hit," Duane Garrison said. "The girl who didn't had three shots to shortstop. We were hitting the ball hard."
Abby Schiferl pitched for Black Hawk and gave up eleven hits, four walks, and nine runs (five earned) in her seven innings of work. Courtney Leuzinger also went the distance for Monticello, giving up three hits and four walks while striking out seven.
"(Leuzinger) was on," Duane Garrison said. "Her changeup really kept them off balance. She's really been working on that pitch. It paid off. We had pretty good defense behind her. They hit her a little, but our defense was pretty good."
Monticello will host third-seeded Williams Bay on Tuesday, May 21 in the regional semifinals. Garrison said he is confident in his team.
"We faced (Williams Bay) last year in the regional semis," he said. "Their pitcher is back. She's pretty decent. I think we are a better team than last year. I'm hoping for a good game."
Williams Bay 5, Pecatonica 0
WILLIAMS BAY - Pecatonica's season came to a close in a 5-0 loss to Williams Bay in the first round of the Division 4 tournament.
Pecatonica batters only struck out five times against Williams Bay starter Sami Storms, but the Vikings were only able to muster three hits. Emma Marion went 2-for-3 and Michelle Francois was 1-for-3.
"We hit it at people. Hit better than we have in the past. We struck out five times, which is not too bad for us," said Pec coach Chuck Meyer. "(Storms) kept it around the plate. We needed to hit it better places. They played good defense behind her."
Julia Meyer pitched for Pecatonica and gave up five runs (one earned) in seven innings of work.
"She got in trouble a couple innings," Chuck Meyer said. "The three innings they scored, she walked their leadoff batter. We made some mistakes behind her ... She's improved all year. She just needs to work on those little things. Inopportunistic walks, her hit-batsmen tonight was at a bad time."
Meyer said his team will be young again next year and they need to work on playing more consistently during the summer.
"We'll have to execute better. I think we have our highs and lows. We have to keep a more even keel," he said. "We'll be young again. We only have two juniors this year. The girls will have to play a lot this summer and get better."
Although Pecatonica's season officially came to a close Thursday night, the Vikings (3-15) will play New Glarus on Wednesday and are looking to make up a few other games with teams that have been eliminated from postseason play.
In Division 3 action, fifth-seeded Darlington fell to fourth-seeded Belleville, 14-4, and sixth-seeded New Glarus lost to No. 3 Cuba City, 14-0.
Monticello scored one in the first, two in the second, four in the fourth, and two in the fifth.
"We hit early. They had some throwing errors and it kind of snowballed," said Monticello coach Duane Garrison.
Jen Wellnitz picked up the only three hits for Black Hawk. For Monticello, Clare Gietzel, Jordan Garrison and Marissa Berg all went 2-for-3.
"Eight of our nine starters had at least one hit," Duane Garrison said. "The girl who didn't had three shots to shortstop. We were hitting the ball hard."
Abby Schiferl pitched for Black Hawk and gave up eleven hits, four walks, and nine runs (five earned) in her seven innings of work. Courtney Leuzinger also went the distance for Monticello, giving up three hits and four walks while striking out seven.
"(Leuzinger) was on," Duane Garrison said. "Her changeup really kept them off balance. She's really been working on that pitch. It paid off. We had pretty good defense behind her. They hit her a little, but our defense was pretty good."
Monticello will host third-seeded Williams Bay on Tuesday, May 21 in the regional semifinals. Garrison said he is confident in his team.
"We faced (Williams Bay) last year in the regional semis," he said. "Their pitcher is back. She's pretty decent. I think we are a better team than last year. I'm hoping for a good game."
Williams Bay 5, Pecatonica 0
WILLIAMS BAY - Pecatonica's season came to a close in a 5-0 loss to Williams Bay in the first round of the Division 4 tournament.
Pecatonica batters only struck out five times against Williams Bay starter Sami Storms, but the Vikings were only able to muster three hits. Emma Marion went 2-for-3 and Michelle Francois was 1-for-3.
"We hit it at people. Hit better than we have in the past. We struck out five times, which is not too bad for us," said Pec coach Chuck Meyer. "(Storms) kept it around the plate. We needed to hit it better places. They played good defense behind her."
Julia Meyer pitched for Pecatonica and gave up five runs (one earned) in seven innings of work.
"She got in trouble a couple innings," Chuck Meyer said. "The three innings they scored, she walked their leadoff batter. We made some mistakes behind her ... She's improved all year. She just needs to work on those little things. Inopportunistic walks, her hit-batsmen tonight was at a bad time."
Meyer said his team will be young again next year and they need to work on playing more consistently during the summer.
"We'll have to execute better. I think we have our highs and lows. We have to keep a more even keel," he said. "We'll be young again. We only have two juniors this year. The girls will have to play a lot this summer and get better."
Although Pecatonica's season officially came to a close Thursday night, the Vikings (3-15) will play New Glarus on Wednesday and are looking to make up a few other games with teams that have been eliminated from postseason play.
In Division 3 action, fifth-seeded Darlington fell to fourth-seeded Belleville, 14-4, and sixth-seeded New Glarus lost to No. 3 Cuba City, 14-0.
