MONROE - The Cheesemakers softball team (4-11) continued its struggle to combine solid defense and offense at the Monroe Invitational Saturday. Monroe went 1-3 at its own tournament.
"We had our moments," Monroe head coach Dale Buvid said. "We played everyone. We dressed 21 players and split playing time around. There were a lot of different lineups, so that might have had something to do with it."
In the opening game of the tournament, Monroe led 9-2, only to yield a five-run sixth inning to Mount Horeb. Freshman Becca Armstrong pitched through the jam and closed out the seventh to hold onto the 9-7 win.
Monroe lost its second game of the day to Freeport, Ill., the invite champion, 10-3.
"We got up 3-0 on Freeport, and then just let it get away," Buvid said. "In the beginning we played great."
Monroe, last season's WIAA Division 2 state runner-up, also lost to Appleton West 9-1 and Orfordville Parkview, 10-2.
"We played some pretty good competition," he said.
Buvid saw good things from his squad, including the offensive emergence of catcher Paisley Bennett, who has started slow, and right fielder Kendell Niffenegger, he said.
"Paisley hit the ball well and Niffenegger too. Kaylee Craigo did well catching," Buvid said. "It was a tough day, but there were some bright spots.
"We'll just get back to it again on Monday and keep plugging away," Buvid said.
Freeport, which went 3-0 on the day, knocked off Appleton West (2-1) in the championship game, 4-3. Mount Horeb went winless.
"We had our moments," Monroe head coach Dale Buvid said. "We played everyone. We dressed 21 players and split playing time around. There were a lot of different lineups, so that might have had something to do with it."
In the opening game of the tournament, Monroe led 9-2, only to yield a five-run sixth inning to Mount Horeb. Freshman Becca Armstrong pitched through the jam and closed out the seventh to hold onto the 9-7 win.
Monroe lost its second game of the day to Freeport, Ill., the invite champion, 10-3.
"We got up 3-0 on Freeport, and then just let it get away," Buvid said. "In the beginning we played great."
Monroe, last season's WIAA Division 2 state runner-up, also lost to Appleton West 9-1 and Orfordville Parkview, 10-2.
"We played some pretty good competition," he said.
Buvid saw good things from his squad, including the offensive emergence of catcher Paisley Bennett, who has started slow, and right fielder Kendell Niffenegger, he said.
"Paisley hit the ball well and Niffenegger too. Kaylee Craigo did well catching," Buvid said. "It was a tough day, but there were some bright spots.
"We'll just get back to it again on Monday and keep plugging away," Buvid said.
Freeport, which went 3-0 on the day, knocked off Appleton West (2-1) in the championship game, 4-3. Mount Horeb went winless.
