MONROE - The Cheesemakers continued to score runs at a consistent pace en route to a 10-5 win over Dodgeville in a WIAA Division 2 regional semifinal on Tuesday.
"One of the things we haven't done all year is score consistently," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said. "We'll have a big inning here, a big inning there, but we haven't been able to be consistent and be a threat much of the day. (Tuesday) was encouraging."
After allowing the Dodgers to plate two runs in the top of the first inning, the Cheesemakers went to work on offense. Chandra McGuire singled to lead off the inning, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ellie Grossen and scored on a single off the bat of Kelsey Erickson.
"We knew that if you want to win you have to score," Erickson said.
Erickson then swiped second went to third as Kristin McArdle reached on an error. Alyssa Montgomery's groundout tied the score at 2-2, and the Cheesemakers would never look back.
"We started really strong and never really died down," Erickson said.
On the hill, Becca Armstrong found her groove in the second inning, putting the Dodgers down in order on just four pitches. Monroe's hitters did just the opposite. Kaylee Craigo hit a leadoff double on the sixth pitch of the inning, and both Kendra Clark and Heather Barta walked on six pitches apiece. On the fifth pitch of McGuire's second at bat, the freshman was plunked in the leg to plate a run. Grossen then blooped an RBI single into shallow left to make it 4-2.
"We had two runs in, bases loaded and our 3-4-5 hitters coming up and you're thinking that we could really do some damage here," Buvid said. "But they escaped that inning without giving up any more runs. That didn't sit real well with me, but we did chip away."
Armstrong stayed dominant on the hill, facing three hitters in the third, four in the fourth, five in the fifth and three in the sixth. It wasn't until the seventh inning that Dodgeville forced the Cheesemakers to change their smiles back to game-faces. The Dodgers scored three runs and sent seven batters to the plate in the top of the seventh.
"It was just a little too scary down there. We've got to make some plays," Buvid said. "Becca was leaving the ball up by then. She was a little tired. She was throwing hard, but she was high and left some balls over the plate."
Monroe's offense scored another run in the third, two in the fourth and three in the fifth thanks to timely hitting. Erickson brought home two runs with a single up the middle in the fifth and finished 2 for 4 on the day.
"Kelsey and McArdle are usually good for a hit or two in the middle of the lineup," Buvid said.
McGuire was 3 for 3, Montgomery 2 for 4 and Craigo reached base three times.
"(McGuire) and Craigo were on base a lot again. We've got to get Ellie (Grossen) going, but she's close," Buvid said. "Chandra's just a naturally gifted softball player. As a freshman and to do some of the things she's done as a leadoff hitter - she leads the team in extra base hits - that's pretty outstanding. She's going to have a nice career here and set a lot of records before it's all said and done."
Erickson is one of several seniors on Monroe's roster. After graduating this past weekend, those seniors had a different routine prior to the game.
"I can sleep in really late now. You also have a lot of time for preparation before the games. It helps me get my nerves out," Erickson said.
Erickson also played her final game at home. Monroe now travels to River Valley with a chance to reach yet another sectional.
"It's kind of sad, but it's nice to get a win like this," Erickson said of Tuesday's game being her last at Twining Park East.
"One of the things we haven't done all year is score consistently," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said. "We'll have a big inning here, a big inning there, but we haven't been able to be consistent and be a threat much of the day. (Tuesday) was encouraging."
After allowing the Dodgers to plate two runs in the top of the first inning, the Cheesemakers went to work on offense. Chandra McGuire singled to lead off the inning, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ellie Grossen and scored on a single off the bat of Kelsey Erickson.
"We knew that if you want to win you have to score," Erickson said.
Erickson then swiped second went to third as Kristin McArdle reached on an error. Alyssa Montgomery's groundout tied the score at 2-2, and the Cheesemakers would never look back.
"We started really strong and never really died down," Erickson said.
On the hill, Becca Armstrong found her groove in the second inning, putting the Dodgers down in order on just four pitches. Monroe's hitters did just the opposite. Kaylee Craigo hit a leadoff double on the sixth pitch of the inning, and both Kendra Clark and Heather Barta walked on six pitches apiece. On the fifth pitch of McGuire's second at bat, the freshman was plunked in the leg to plate a run. Grossen then blooped an RBI single into shallow left to make it 4-2.
"We had two runs in, bases loaded and our 3-4-5 hitters coming up and you're thinking that we could really do some damage here," Buvid said. "But they escaped that inning without giving up any more runs. That didn't sit real well with me, but we did chip away."
Armstrong stayed dominant on the hill, facing three hitters in the third, four in the fourth, five in the fifth and three in the sixth. It wasn't until the seventh inning that Dodgeville forced the Cheesemakers to change their smiles back to game-faces. The Dodgers scored three runs and sent seven batters to the plate in the top of the seventh.
"It was just a little too scary down there. We've got to make some plays," Buvid said. "Becca was leaving the ball up by then. She was a little tired. She was throwing hard, but she was high and left some balls over the plate."
Monroe's offense scored another run in the third, two in the fourth and three in the fifth thanks to timely hitting. Erickson brought home two runs with a single up the middle in the fifth and finished 2 for 4 on the day.
"Kelsey and McArdle are usually good for a hit or two in the middle of the lineup," Buvid said.
McGuire was 3 for 3, Montgomery 2 for 4 and Craigo reached base three times.
"(McGuire) and Craigo were on base a lot again. We've got to get Ellie (Grossen) going, but she's close," Buvid said. "Chandra's just a naturally gifted softball player. As a freshman and to do some of the things she's done as a leadoff hitter - she leads the team in extra base hits - that's pretty outstanding. She's going to have a nice career here and set a lot of records before it's all said and done."
Erickson is one of several seniors on Monroe's roster. After graduating this past weekend, those seniors had a different routine prior to the game.
"I can sleep in really late now. You also have a lot of time for preparation before the games. It helps me get my nerves out," Erickson said.
Erickson also played her final game at home. Monroe now travels to River Valley with a chance to reach yet another sectional.
"It's kind of sad, but it's nice to get a win like this," Erickson said of Tuesday's game being her last at Twining Park East.
