Baseball (1-3, 0-2 Badger South): >Josh Popanz crushed a two-run homer to left field to give Monroe its only lead during a four-run fourth inning at Oregon on Tuesday. The Panthers struck back with three homers in the next inning and quickly ran away with a 16-4, five-inning Badger South victory.
Softball (4-1, 1-0 Badger South):> Every third of Monroe's lineup was clutch in Tuesday night's 10-0, five-inning victory over Oregon at Twining Park. The Lady Cheesemakers scored seven runs with two outs in the bottom of the third inning and Renee Schuttler strung together seven straight strikeouts, while allowing just three hits in a complete-game shutout.
Track and Field: >Both squads were eager to get the Badger schedule rolling as they pulled out tough victories at Stoughton during a dual meet Tuesday evening. Dave Hirsbrunner's boys squad won its portion, 78.5-67.5, while Curt Miller's crew took down the Vikings, 84-62.
Tennis: >The Cheesemakers' 5-2 victory over McFarland at home Tuesday night wasn't as lopsided as the score reflected. The Cheesemakers needed to win two 8-6, third-set tiebreaks to upend the Spartans in a Badger Conference dual.
Soccer: >Evidently the Raiders were quite eager to make up the weather-makeup matchup with Monroe. Sugar River scored all four of its goals in the first 20 minutes, 5 seconds to take a 4-0, non-conference win in Belleville.
AREA BASEBALL>
Lights out: >Pecatonica pitcher Lee Vlasak struck out 16 batters in Tuesday's conference clash with Black Hawk in Hollandale. The hard-throwing junior struck out the first six batters faced, as well as eight of the last nine. Just for good measure, he added two hits at the plate.
Big boys get small: >After socking six homers in a recent doubleheader at Belmont, Black Hawk used a suicide squeeze and timely hitting to come from behind to knock off Monticello, 5-3, Monday night.
Near-miss for Comets: >Tyler Bauman pitched his tail off for all eight innings and Jordan Dean slugged a two-run homer, but Albany fell short thanks to a Patrick Clerkin homer in the eighth that lifted Barneveld to a 3-2 decision in extras.
AREA SOFTBALL>
The crest and the trough: >One night after improving to a rare 3-1 mark in Darlington with a 5-4 victory in Shullsburg for the Redbirds, the squad was 10-runned in Boscobel on Tuesday night upon returning to SWAL play.
The trough and the crest: >After being clubbed, 13-0, by rival Belleville in five innings Monday night, the Glarner Knights made the trek to powerhouse Columbus and lost by the slimmest of margins, 2-1.
AREA TRACK>
Frost gets warm: >Brodhead-Juda senior Caleb Frost was involved in three first-place finishes in a Rock Valley Conference dual at home against Beloit Turner.
New season, same pace: >Sugar River senior Ashley Beutler won the 800- and 1600-meter runs and was part of the winning 4x800 relay team at Tuesday's dual with Waterloo in Belleville.
He's got the Reich stuff: >Darlington junior Jeff Reichling won both the shot put and discus events at Tuesday's Darlington Invitational. "With how hard he works, he deserves everything he gets," fellow thrower Mitchell Erickson admired.
TOP TICKETS>
Baseball>
Today -Monona Grove at Monroe, 5 p.m.: Cheesemakers seek first Badger win.
Softball>
Saturday - Monroe Invitational, noon: See if the Lady Cheesemakers can hold onto the trophy after last year's victory.
Track and Field>
Friday - Simpson Relays, 4:30 p.m.: The annual event at Monroe High School never disappoints, with a variety of big- and middle-size schools.
