MONROE - The Lady Cheesemakers didn't give their guests a very pleasant welcome Saturday at the Monroe Invitational.
After defeating Appleton West 7-1, Monroe easily defeated Mount Horeb 8-2.
Monroe and Mount Horeb met in the championship game and the Cheesemakers struggled early, falling behind 2-0 after the Vikings' first time at bat.
"We got off to a tough start in the first inning," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said after the game. "It wasn't a sharp inning for us."
Buvid said pitcher Carlie Olsen had a rough first inning but she was able to recover.
Her offense certainly helped her out in the first inning. Crucial hits from Kayla Rackow, Renee Schuttler and Kylie Kaiser tied the score at two at the end of one.
The Cheesemakers' offense then caught fire, scoring two runs in the second inning to give Olsen some breathing room.
The offensive power took one inning off before showing itself with four runs in the fourth. Mount Horeb had trouble stopping Monroe and, for a brief time, it looked as if the Cheesemakers would end the game early with help from the 10-run rule.
But Mount Horeb didn't quit and even though the Vikings couldn't put up any more runs to make it a closer game, they came up with some solid defensive plays.
Buvid said the Vikings were a determined opponent and didn't give up anything. He said there were times when it was difficult for his team to get some hits.
Olsen pitched six innings and gave up two hits and two walks while striking out five batters. Meghan Roberts came in the game in the seventh and allowed one hit. She also had one strike out in the non-save situation.
Rackow and Kaiser finished the game with two hits.
The championship game was almost an afterthought after the Cheesemakers' exciting win against Appleton West.
Both teams had solid pitching performances and strong defense. They also left runners in scoring position. Neither team was able to take advantage of some good hits to break a 1-1 tie.
Until the seventh inning, that is.
Monroe's offense came to life in the top half of the last inning, much the way it did in a 5-1 victory in Monona Grove.
The Terrors didn't know where the Cheesemakers would put the ball as Monroe's sluggers hit it to the outfield and crushed it on infield hits.
The Cheesemakers blew open the tie game to score six and send Appleton West heading for home.
"We had a tough time," Buvid said. "We couldn't get the clutch hits when we needed them. We left a lot of base runners on base.
"It was a tighter game than you'd think."
Renee Schuttler pitched a complete game for Monroe, giving up one run and four hits. She struck out seven batters.
Rackow and Brandi Trewartha each had three hits while Maggie Schuttler, Renee Schuttler and Katie Lenz each had two hits in the game.
The Cheesemakers' next challenge comes Tuesday when Stoughton visits.
After defeating Appleton West 7-1, Monroe easily defeated Mount Horeb 8-2.
Monroe and Mount Horeb met in the championship game and the Cheesemakers struggled early, falling behind 2-0 after the Vikings' first time at bat.
"We got off to a tough start in the first inning," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said after the game. "It wasn't a sharp inning for us."
Buvid said pitcher Carlie Olsen had a rough first inning but she was able to recover.
Her offense certainly helped her out in the first inning. Crucial hits from Kayla Rackow, Renee Schuttler and Kylie Kaiser tied the score at two at the end of one.
The Cheesemakers' offense then caught fire, scoring two runs in the second inning to give Olsen some breathing room.
The offensive power took one inning off before showing itself with four runs in the fourth. Mount Horeb had trouble stopping Monroe and, for a brief time, it looked as if the Cheesemakers would end the game early with help from the 10-run rule.
But Mount Horeb didn't quit and even though the Vikings couldn't put up any more runs to make it a closer game, they came up with some solid defensive plays.
Buvid said the Vikings were a determined opponent and didn't give up anything. He said there were times when it was difficult for his team to get some hits.
Olsen pitched six innings and gave up two hits and two walks while striking out five batters. Meghan Roberts came in the game in the seventh and allowed one hit. She also had one strike out in the non-save situation.
Rackow and Kaiser finished the game with two hits.
The championship game was almost an afterthought after the Cheesemakers' exciting win against Appleton West.
Both teams had solid pitching performances and strong defense. They also left runners in scoring position. Neither team was able to take advantage of some good hits to break a 1-1 tie.
Until the seventh inning, that is.
Monroe's offense came to life in the top half of the last inning, much the way it did in a 5-1 victory in Monona Grove.
The Terrors didn't know where the Cheesemakers would put the ball as Monroe's sluggers hit it to the outfield and crushed it on infield hits.
The Cheesemakers blew open the tie game to score six and send Appleton West heading for home.
"We had a tough time," Buvid said. "We couldn't get the clutch hits when we needed them. We left a lot of base runners on base.
"It was a tighter game than you'd think."
Renee Schuttler pitched a complete game for Monroe, giving up one run and four hits. She struck out seven batters.
Rackow and Brandi Trewartha each had three hits while Maggie Schuttler, Renee Schuttler and Katie Lenz each had two hits in the game.
The Cheesemakers' next challenge comes Tuesday when Stoughton visits.
