MONROE - With the regional tournament starting today, Monroe softball coach Dale Buvid isn't taking anything for granted.
Monroe will host Edgerton in a WIAA Division 2 regional quarterfinal at 5 p.m. at Twining Park. It's win or go home. Monroe (16-8), ranked No. 10 in the Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association poll, may be a No. 3 seed and three-time defending Badger South Conference championships, but anything can happen in the tournament. River Valley stunned Monroe 2-1 last year in a regional championship game and the Cheesemakers had one of the most prolific offenses in school history with school records in home runs (18), runs scored (278), extra-base hits (94), most hits in a single season (315) and team batting average (.375).
"I know Edgerton will come in here expecting to win," Buvid said. "They have played a daunting schedule against Beloit Turner, McFarland and Evansville. They can score runs in bunches. Their problem is they have given up runs in bunches too. If we don't pitch and defend, they are very capable of beating us. We will have to be on our A-game on the mound and in the field. On paper, we may be the better team and our conference may be a little stronger top to bottom. If we don't hit well, we could be out quick."
The Cheesemakers are in a loaded regional field that includes Beloit Turner (22-2), ranked No. 2 and Delavan-Darien (19-5), ranked No. 9. Only one team in the seven-team regional field has a record less than .500 this season.
"Beloit Turner and Delavan-Darien are the favorites," Buvid said. "If we can put it all together we can certainly play with those teams," he said. "They are ranked that high for a reason."
Delavan-Darien is led by junior Jennah Speth who has verbally committed to attend the University of Illinois-Chicago to play softball. Delavan-Darien beat Westosha Central, which was ranked No. 1 in Division 1 earlier this year. Speth is 16-5 with a dazzling 1.78 ERA. She has struck out 161 in 130 innings.
"She (Speth) throws harder than anyone we have seen this year," Buvid said. "The key to beating them is holding them to one or two runs. It's hard to simulate (the speed) in practice. She's the real deal. Some people say they are a one-player team. They (Delavan-Darien) have a very good hitting lineup. They are more than a one-player team."
Beloit Turner senior pitcher Kelsie Packard has been even more dominating than Speth. Packard, a Florida Gulf Coast University recruit, has thrown several no-hitters this year.
Heading into the tournament, Monroe junior Natalie Dillon, the Cheesemakers' sparkplug as the leadoff hitter, is hitting a team-best .493 and has 16 stolen bases and 11 doubles. Senior Kari Jordan is also hitting .405.
"We knew she (Dillon) would be a pretty good offensive player," Buvid said. "I didn't expect the numbers would be this good. She can do it in many ways whether it's with her speed or hitting for power."
The other regional quarterfinal games today are as follows:
Division 3
One of the hottest area teams entering the tournament is Brodhead (7-10). The Cardinals have gone 6-1 in their last seven games and are 3-0 in games decided by one run during that span. Brodhead started the season slow, losing their first four games. Brodhead will host Lakeside Lutheran at 4:30 today. If the Cardinals win, they would get a matchup against top-seeded Poynette, which is ranked No. 2. Brodhead has two straight sectional appearances and has made a run to the sectional four of the last five years. That streak could be snapped this year.
New Glarus received a No. 13 seed and will play at No. 4 seed Wisconsin Heights. The Glarner Knights won two of their first five games. A young New Glarus team is still developing. The Knights have lost 17 straight games and finished 1-15 in the Capitol South.
Darlington (3-15) is coming off a 21-6 win over New Glarus. The Redbirds received a No. 7 seed and will play at Iowa-Grant. The Redbirds have been breaking in young pitchers this year and have improved defensively throughout the season. If Darlington can upset SWAL rival Iowa-Grant, the Redbirds would play the winner of Boscobel and Lancaster Wednesday.
Division 4
Juda-Albany (19-4, 14-1 Six Rivers East, ranked No. 4, received a No. 1 seed and will host Black Hawk. Having home field advantage is music to the ears of Juda-Albany coach Bill Davis. The Panthers have lost in the tournament to Argyle on the road the last two years. This year, Juda-Albany could see Argyle in the second round and Monticello in a regional final on Friday.
"It will be nice to be home for once and try to defend our own turf," Davis said.
Juda-Albany freshman Nicki Becker has been a solid pitcher in her first year with the Panthers. "If we can score five or six runs, I like our chances," Davis said. "We believe more often than not Nicki will keep them to four runs or less."
Argyle (11-10) will host Barneveld. The Orioles are coming off a 10-2 win over Highland and a 12-2 win over Pecatonica. Argyle made a switch during the season and moved sophomore shortstop Kayla Butler-Paulson to pitcher and moved senior Jenna Langmeier from first base to shortstop. Argyle swept two games from Barneveld this year. If the Orioles win, they would likely play at Juda-Albany Wednesday.
Pecatonica received a No. 6 seed and will play at No. 3 seed Southwestern. The Vikings (5-16) have received solid pitching from senior Emily Scoville, but are looking to cut down errors. Pecatonica enters the tournament riding a 10-game losing streak.
Monticello is a No. 2 seed and will host No. 7 seed Benton-Shullsburg. The Ponies have hit a record 19 home runs as a team. The Ponies have received big seasons from seniors Courtney Leuzinger (.514 AVG, seven home runs), Samantha DeVoe (.520, four home runs), Alyssah Kubly (.470, two home runs) and Jordan Garrison (.391). If Monticello beats the Zephyr-Miners, the Ponies would play the winner of Southwestern and Pecatonica Wednesday in Monticello.
"They have been there the last three years," Monticello coach Duane Garrison said of the regional final. "They have the experience to get there. I think if Courtney throws strikes and with our defense we will be in the game.
"That is why you play the games. Anything can happen. It only takes one bad inning."
Davis said there is not more pressure on his Juda-Albany team being the fourth-ranked team in the state.
"I think most coaches take it for what it is," Davis said. "It's a guessing thing."
In the top part of the sectional, eighth-ranked Belmont and Highland are contenders to make a sectional run.
"It says a lot for our regional and sectional," Davis said of three teams being ranked. "Monticello is just as good as Belmont and Highland and they were ranked earlier in the year.
"We will have to play our best."
Monroe will host Edgerton in a WIAA Division 2 regional quarterfinal at 5 p.m. at Twining Park. It's win or go home. Monroe (16-8), ranked No. 10 in the Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association poll, may be a No. 3 seed and three-time defending Badger South Conference championships, but anything can happen in the tournament. River Valley stunned Monroe 2-1 last year in a regional championship game and the Cheesemakers had one of the most prolific offenses in school history with school records in home runs (18), runs scored (278), extra-base hits (94), most hits in a single season (315) and team batting average (.375).
"I know Edgerton will come in here expecting to win," Buvid said. "They have played a daunting schedule against Beloit Turner, McFarland and Evansville. They can score runs in bunches. Their problem is they have given up runs in bunches too. If we don't pitch and defend, they are very capable of beating us. We will have to be on our A-game on the mound and in the field. On paper, we may be the better team and our conference may be a little stronger top to bottom. If we don't hit well, we could be out quick."
The Cheesemakers are in a loaded regional field that includes Beloit Turner (22-2), ranked No. 2 and Delavan-Darien (19-5), ranked No. 9. Only one team in the seven-team regional field has a record less than .500 this season.
"Beloit Turner and Delavan-Darien are the favorites," Buvid said. "If we can put it all together we can certainly play with those teams," he said. "They are ranked that high for a reason."
Delavan-Darien is led by junior Jennah Speth who has verbally committed to attend the University of Illinois-Chicago to play softball. Delavan-Darien beat Westosha Central, which was ranked No. 1 in Division 1 earlier this year. Speth is 16-5 with a dazzling 1.78 ERA. She has struck out 161 in 130 innings.
"She (Speth) throws harder than anyone we have seen this year," Buvid said. "The key to beating them is holding them to one or two runs. It's hard to simulate (the speed) in practice. She's the real deal. Some people say they are a one-player team. They (Delavan-Darien) have a very good hitting lineup. They are more than a one-player team."
Beloit Turner senior pitcher Kelsie Packard has been even more dominating than Speth. Packard, a Florida Gulf Coast University recruit, has thrown several no-hitters this year.
Heading into the tournament, Monroe junior Natalie Dillon, the Cheesemakers' sparkplug as the leadoff hitter, is hitting a team-best .493 and has 16 stolen bases and 11 doubles. Senior Kari Jordan is also hitting .405.
"We knew she (Dillon) would be a pretty good offensive player," Buvid said. "I didn't expect the numbers would be this good. She can do it in many ways whether it's with her speed or hitting for power."
The other regional quarterfinal games today are as follows:
Division 3
One of the hottest area teams entering the tournament is Brodhead (7-10). The Cardinals have gone 6-1 in their last seven games and are 3-0 in games decided by one run during that span. Brodhead started the season slow, losing their first four games. Brodhead will host Lakeside Lutheran at 4:30 today. If the Cardinals win, they would get a matchup against top-seeded Poynette, which is ranked No. 2. Brodhead has two straight sectional appearances and has made a run to the sectional four of the last five years. That streak could be snapped this year.
New Glarus received a No. 13 seed and will play at No. 4 seed Wisconsin Heights. The Glarner Knights won two of their first five games. A young New Glarus team is still developing. The Knights have lost 17 straight games and finished 1-15 in the Capitol South.
Darlington (3-15) is coming off a 21-6 win over New Glarus. The Redbirds received a No. 7 seed and will play at Iowa-Grant. The Redbirds have been breaking in young pitchers this year and have improved defensively throughout the season. If Darlington can upset SWAL rival Iowa-Grant, the Redbirds would play the winner of Boscobel and Lancaster Wednesday.
Division 4
Juda-Albany (19-4, 14-1 Six Rivers East, ranked No. 4, received a No. 1 seed and will host Black Hawk. Having home field advantage is music to the ears of Juda-Albany coach Bill Davis. The Panthers have lost in the tournament to Argyle on the road the last two years. This year, Juda-Albany could see Argyle in the second round and Monticello in a regional final on Friday.
"It will be nice to be home for once and try to defend our own turf," Davis said.
Juda-Albany freshman Nicki Becker has been a solid pitcher in her first year with the Panthers. "If we can score five or six runs, I like our chances," Davis said. "We believe more often than not Nicki will keep them to four runs or less."
Argyle (11-10) will host Barneveld. The Orioles are coming off a 10-2 win over Highland and a 12-2 win over Pecatonica. Argyle made a switch during the season and moved sophomore shortstop Kayla Butler-Paulson to pitcher and moved senior Jenna Langmeier from first base to shortstop. Argyle swept two games from Barneveld this year. If the Orioles win, they would likely play at Juda-Albany Wednesday.
Pecatonica received a No. 6 seed and will play at No. 3 seed Southwestern. The Vikings (5-16) have received solid pitching from senior Emily Scoville, but are looking to cut down errors. Pecatonica enters the tournament riding a 10-game losing streak.
Monticello is a No. 2 seed and will host No. 7 seed Benton-Shullsburg. The Ponies have hit a record 19 home runs as a team. The Ponies have received big seasons from seniors Courtney Leuzinger (.514 AVG, seven home runs), Samantha DeVoe (.520, four home runs), Alyssah Kubly (.470, two home runs) and Jordan Garrison (.391). If Monticello beats the Zephyr-Miners, the Ponies would play the winner of Southwestern and Pecatonica Wednesday in Monticello.
"They have been there the last three years," Monticello coach Duane Garrison said of the regional final. "They have the experience to get there. I think if Courtney throws strikes and with our defense we will be in the game.
"That is why you play the games. Anything can happen. It only takes one bad inning."
Davis said there is not more pressure on his Juda-Albany team being the fourth-ranked team in the state.
"I think most coaches take it for what it is," Davis said. "It's a guessing thing."
In the top part of the sectional, eighth-ranked Belmont and Highland are contenders to make a sectional run.
"It says a lot for our regional and sectional," Davis said of three teams being ranked. "Monticello is just as good as Belmont and Highland and they were ranked earlier in the year.
"We will have to play our best."
