MONROE - In addition to some bronze, the Lady Cheesemakers brought back another altered shade when they returned Saturday from their spring break "business" trip to Florida.
Monroe took some lumps, 13-0 in six innings, from an incredible Belaire team from Houston, Tex. and split two exhibition games with a team from New Jersey during their trip.
Months from now, Monroe's softball club might be as grateful for the black and blue as they were for the fun and the tan.
"Having things not go so well down there maybe brings us back to reality a bit," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said.
Madison West also got wiped out by the Belaire club.
"A lot of Wisconsin teams got drubbed by those Texas teams," Buvid said.
Another Texas club boasted four Division I college recruits. While awestruck a bit, the Cheesemakers appreciated seeing a bar that, if they should reach it, could allow them to live up to the expectations placed for this season.
"It opened our eyes and made us realize we're not the best and that we've still gotta work for everything," senior Kylie Kaiser said.
Kaiser takes over behind the dish this season and offered rave reviews on the Belaire club that featured several slapping lefties and athleticism in every phase.
"They basically did everything perfect," Kaiser said. "But, give us a month and we could compete with them. They've played 25 games and we've had a week of practice and one game."
Ecstatic to have made the trip was Chelsea Metcalf, who arrived at 2 a.m., long after her mates. That's because the senior was showing off her convincing swagger Sunday during the state competition for her mock trial team.
"She's kind of an amazing kid and we always kid her that she could be a great lawyer someday," Buvid said. "She's got the gift of gab."
Belaire boasts an enrollment of more than 3,400 students. With the mammoth non-conference schedule Monroe's lined up, there was no better way to get prepared fast. Especially when those back home simply are dying to get out and field a fly ball.
"We're a Division 2 team playing a Division 1 schedule," Buvid said. "It'll help us in the long run, but we did kind of get it handed to us."
Buvid admitted that, while the club soaked up every essence of the trip, it also was tiring. Hard to believe after the way the enigmatic skipper started out at Disney World.
"On the first day, Mr. Buvid came with like five of us, led the way and was like 10 feet in front of us the whole time," Kaiser said with a laugh.
Monroe took some lumps, 13-0 in six innings, from an incredible Belaire team from Houston, Tex. and split two exhibition games with a team from New Jersey during their trip.
Months from now, Monroe's softball club might be as grateful for the black and blue as they were for the fun and the tan.
"Having things not go so well down there maybe brings us back to reality a bit," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said.
Madison West also got wiped out by the Belaire club.
"A lot of Wisconsin teams got drubbed by those Texas teams," Buvid said.
Another Texas club boasted four Division I college recruits. While awestruck a bit, the Cheesemakers appreciated seeing a bar that, if they should reach it, could allow them to live up to the expectations placed for this season.
"It opened our eyes and made us realize we're not the best and that we've still gotta work for everything," senior Kylie Kaiser said.
Kaiser takes over behind the dish this season and offered rave reviews on the Belaire club that featured several slapping lefties and athleticism in every phase.
"They basically did everything perfect," Kaiser said. "But, give us a month and we could compete with them. They've played 25 games and we've had a week of practice and one game."
Ecstatic to have made the trip was Chelsea Metcalf, who arrived at 2 a.m., long after her mates. That's because the senior was showing off her convincing swagger Sunday during the state competition for her mock trial team.
"She's kind of an amazing kid and we always kid her that she could be a great lawyer someday," Buvid said. "She's got the gift of gab."
Belaire boasts an enrollment of more than 3,400 students. With the mammoth non-conference schedule Monroe's lined up, there was no better way to get prepared fast. Especially when those back home simply are dying to get out and field a fly ball.
"We're a Division 2 team playing a Division 1 schedule," Buvid said. "It'll help us in the long run, but we did kind of get it handed to us."
Buvid admitted that, while the club soaked up every essence of the trip, it also was tiring. Hard to believe after the way the enigmatic skipper started out at Disney World.
"On the first day, Mr. Buvid came with like five of us, led the way and was like 10 feet in front of us the whole time," Kaiser said with a laugh.
