MONROE - Making a run to the state softball tournament isn't uncharted territory for the Cheesemakers.
Monroe (8-15, 6-6 Badger South), the WIAA Division 2 state runner-up the last two years, opens up the Div. 2 regional hosting Dodgeville Thursday at 5 p.m. If the Cheesemakers win, they would host the winner of Mount Horeb and Richland Center in the regional semifinals June 1. Does Monroe have enough to get to the WIAA Division 2 Portage Sectional and can the Cheesemakers make a third straight trip to state?
"It depends on what Monroe team shows up," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said. "It has kind of been an up and down year for us. If we get hot and play the way we are capable of playing, but haven't always played we can make a run to the sectional."
The Cheesemakers have played a schedule that has included 12 Division 1 schools and opened the season with a Florida trip on the heels of the Monroe girls basketball team making its third consecutive state tournament appearance. On the diamond last year, the Cheesemakers made a state tournament run as a No. 3 seed by defeating No. 2 seed River Valley and No. 1 seed Prairie du Chien on the road. This year the Cheesemakers are a No. 2 seed and would again have to play at River Valley for a sectional berth if the seeds hold true.
Brodhead (18-2, 14-0 Rock Valley South), ranked fourth in the WisSports.net Coaches Poll, repeated as conference champions. The Cardinals received a first-round bye as a No. 1 seed. Brodhead will play the winner of Big Foot and Delavan-Darien, June 1. If both Brodhead and Monroe can make tournament runs, they could face each other in a WIAA Division 2 Portage sectional with a state trip on the line.
The Cardinals will ride the pitching of Erika Stampfli as far as they can go. Brodhead isn't a slam dunk to make a sectional run with a stacked regional featuring Fort Atkinson (18-4), Edgerton (13-5) and Monona Grove (10-8). However, at least one coach has them pegged as a favorite with an ace pitcher like Stampfli and junior Tia Collins, a University of Wisconsin-Green Bay recruit.
"They (Brodhead) are certainly one of the sectional favorites," Buvid said. "To do what she (Stampfli) has done with the 43 foot (pitching distance) is remarkable with the no-hitters and shutouts. She gives them a legitimate shot to get to state."
Monroe freshman Becca Armstrong has been outstanding as a pitcher for the Cheesemakers. Armstrong just had a 20-inning streak without giving up an earned run snapped in an 11-2 loss to Monona Grove Monday.
"For a freshman, she has done an amazing job for us," Buvid said. "She has a lot of poise."
Division 3
New Glarus at Orfordville Parkview, Thursday, 4:45 p.m.
New Glarus has been getting solid hitting recently, but the Knights entered the season without an experienced pitcher, which has been a big hurdle to overcome.
New Glarus senior Calsea Garbe stepped up as a pitcher so the Knights could have a softball team this year, but now the team has to deal with a big blow after losing Kelsey Schmidt to an ankle injury. Schmidt injured her ankle running to first after a single against Albany, Friday.
Garbe must limit the walks that have haunted New Glarus if the Knights are going to pull off an upset.
Darlington at Lancaster, Thursday, 5 p.m.
The Redbirds, which received a No. 8 seed, face the monumental task of playing at top-seeded Lancaster (19-0), which is ranked second and won the Southwest Wisconsin Conference.
Darlington (3-16) enters the tournament on the heels of a five-game losing streak. The Redbirds, which average 3.5 runs per game, will have to limit the errors.
Division 4
Monticello at Pecatonica, Thursday, 4:30 p.m.
Pecatonica swept the season series from Monticello.
The Vikings have a solid starting pitcher in senior Kaci Cassidy who has used pinpoint control and allowed her defense to help her win games this year.
Monticello junior Taylor Pfeuti and sophomore Becky Nelson key the Ponies' offense. If Pfeuti and Nelson can get on base they can use their speed to help the Ponies manufacture runs. Hitting in the clutch with runners in scoring position has been a key all year for the Ponies.
The winner of the Pecatonica-Monticello game gets to play No. 1 seed Juda. The Panthers (13-7, 11-1 Six Rivers East) won the conference for the second straight year and received a first-round bye.
The Panthers' No. 1 pitcher, sophomore Amber Ramos, has thrown four no-hitters this season.
Albany at Argyle, Thursday, 4:30 p.m.
Argyle, which is a No. 3 seed, is looking to pull off some tournament magic again.
Argyle (14-7) upset Juda in the regional last year and the Orioles have played in the regional championship game three consecutive years. The Orioles are looking to beat the Comets for the third time this season.
Argyle will ride the pitching of junior Kelsey Bartels. The Orioles also have a potent middle of the lineup with Jodi Fischer, Danielle Treuthardt and Kayla Ostby, which can hit and can put pressure on opponents by running the bases aggressively.
Albany has started playing its best at the end of the year by beating Barneveld as sophomore pitcher Katie Krupke has received more run support.
Black Hawk at Barneveld, Thursday, 4:30 p.m.
The Warriors face the challenge of playing at No. 2 seed Barneveld. Barneveld swept the season series with Black Hawk. The Eagles beat the Warriors 15-5 in Gratiot and 6-1 in Barneveld.
Black Hawk junior pitcher Kayla Melland will have to avoid the walks if the Warriors are going to upset the Eagles. Black Hawk has struggled scoring runs throughout the year. Generating some early offense could give Melland support on the mound.
Monroe (8-15, 6-6 Badger South), the WIAA Division 2 state runner-up the last two years, opens up the Div. 2 regional hosting Dodgeville Thursday at 5 p.m. If the Cheesemakers win, they would host the winner of Mount Horeb and Richland Center in the regional semifinals June 1. Does Monroe have enough to get to the WIAA Division 2 Portage Sectional and can the Cheesemakers make a third straight trip to state?
"It depends on what Monroe team shows up," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said. "It has kind of been an up and down year for us. If we get hot and play the way we are capable of playing, but haven't always played we can make a run to the sectional."
The Cheesemakers have played a schedule that has included 12 Division 1 schools and opened the season with a Florida trip on the heels of the Monroe girls basketball team making its third consecutive state tournament appearance. On the diamond last year, the Cheesemakers made a state tournament run as a No. 3 seed by defeating No. 2 seed River Valley and No. 1 seed Prairie du Chien on the road. This year the Cheesemakers are a No. 2 seed and would again have to play at River Valley for a sectional berth if the seeds hold true.
Brodhead (18-2, 14-0 Rock Valley South), ranked fourth in the WisSports.net Coaches Poll, repeated as conference champions. The Cardinals received a first-round bye as a No. 1 seed. Brodhead will play the winner of Big Foot and Delavan-Darien, June 1. If both Brodhead and Monroe can make tournament runs, they could face each other in a WIAA Division 2 Portage sectional with a state trip on the line.
The Cardinals will ride the pitching of Erika Stampfli as far as they can go. Brodhead isn't a slam dunk to make a sectional run with a stacked regional featuring Fort Atkinson (18-4), Edgerton (13-5) and Monona Grove (10-8). However, at least one coach has them pegged as a favorite with an ace pitcher like Stampfli and junior Tia Collins, a University of Wisconsin-Green Bay recruit.
"They (Brodhead) are certainly one of the sectional favorites," Buvid said. "To do what she (Stampfli) has done with the 43 foot (pitching distance) is remarkable with the no-hitters and shutouts. She gives them a legitimate shot to get to state."
Monroe freshman Becca Armstrong has been outstanding as a pitcher for the Cheesemakers. Armstrong just had a 20-inning streak without giving up an earned run snapped in an 11-2 loss to Monona Grove Monday.
"For a freshman, she has done an amazing job for us," Buvid said. "She has a lot of poise."
Division 3
New Glarus at Orfordville Parkview, Thursday, 4:45 p.m.
New Glarus has been getting solid hitting recently, but the Knights entered the season without an experienced pitcher, which has been a big hurdle to overcome.
New Glarus senior Calsea Garbe stepped up as a pitcher so the Knights could have a softball team this year, but now the team has to deal with a big blow after losing Kelsey Schmidt to an ankle injury. Schmidt injured her ankle running to first after a single against Albany, Friday.
Garbe must limit the walks that have haunted New Glarus if the Knights are going to pull off an upset.
Darlington at Lancaster, Thursday, 5 p.m.
The Redbirds, which received a No. 8 seed, face the monumental task of playing at top-seeded Lancaster (19-0), which is ranked second and won the Southwest Wisconsin Conference.
Darlington (3-16) enters the tournament on the heels of a five-game losing streak. The Redbirds, which average 3.5 runs per game, will have to limit the errors.
Division 4
Monticello at Pecatonica, Thursday, 4:30 p.m.
Pecatonica swept the season series from Monticello.
The Vikings have a solid starting pitcher in senior Kaci Cassidy who has used pinpoint control and allowed her defense to help her win games this year.
Monticello junior Taylor Pfeuti and sophomore Becky Nelson key the Ponies' offense. If Pfeuti and Nelson can get on base they can use their speed to help the Ponies manufacture runs. Hitting in the clutch with runners in scoring position has been a key all year for the Ponies.
The winner of the Pecatonica-Monticello game gets to play No. 1 seed Juda. The Panthers (13-7, 11-1 Six Rivers East) won the conference for the second straight year and received a first-round bye.
The Panthers' No. 1 pitcher, sophomore Amber Ramos, has thrown four no-hitters this season.
Albany at Argyle, Thursday, 4:30 p.m.
Argyle, which is a No. 3 seed, is looking to pull off some tournament magic again.
Argyle (14-7) upset Juda in the regional last year and the Orioles have played in the regional championship game three consecutive years. The Orioles are looking to beat the Comets for the third time this season.
Argyle will ride the pitching of junior Kelsey Bartels. The Orioles also have a potent middle of the lineup with Jodi Fischer, Danielle Treuthardt and Kayla Ostby, which can hit and can put pressure on opponents by running the bases aggressively.
Albany has started playing its best at the end of the year by beating Barneveld as sophomore pitcher Katie Krupke has received more run support.
Black Hawk at Barneveld, Thursday, 4:30 p.m.
The Warriors face the challenge of playing at No. 2 seed Barneveld. Barneveld swept the season series with Black Hawk. The Eagles beat the Warriors 15-5 in Gratiot and 6-1 in Barneveld.
Black Hawk junior pitcher Kayla Melland will have to avoid the walks if the Warriors are going to upset the Eagles. Black Hawk has struggled scoring runs throughout the year. Generating some early offense could give Melland support on the mound.
