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Armstrong and Monroe strong-arm Platteville
Cheesmakers oust Hillmen 100
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     MONROE — Platteville proved no match for third-ranked and top seeded Monroe.
     Senior Becca Armstrong limited the Hillmen to just one hit and three base runners, and Platteville committed six errors as the Cheesemakers cruised to a 10–0 six-inning victory in last Tuesday’s WIAA Division 2 regional semifinal.
     Junior catcher Chanda McGuire went 2-for-4 with two doubles and drove in a run in the fifth inning for the 2012 Division 2 state runners-up.
     Monroe (24–2) took a 1–0 lead in the first on sophomore Kayla Updike’s RBI single.
     Hendrickson drove in the Cheesemakers’ second run with a fielder’s choice ground out in the second inning, and later scored on a Platteville error.
     O’Lesky, Jordan and Uetterli scored on a three-run Platteville error early in the fifth, then Hendrickson smacked an RBI double to centerfield to make it 7–0.
     McGuire’s RBI double completed the rally. All five runs in the Monroe fifth were unearned.
     “We really struggled defensively and it has been a while since our bats were that quiet,” said Platteville head coach Tina Davies. “We could usually get some runs to help us fight back if mistakes were made in the field in other games this year, but Monroe has a real good pitcher. That is the fastest we had seen all year.”
     Sadie’s Holmes had Platteville’s only hit in the game — a two-out double in the third.
     Emily Feyen and Madisen Moon were the only other Hillmen to reach base in the game, both drawing walks.
     Freshman Sierra Brecke (2–4) took the loss after allowing 10 runs, three earned, on eight hits in 51/3 innings pitched.
     “I really was hoping for a much closer game as I know the team I have is a much better team than what we performed like [Tuesday],” added Davies. “I really wanted the seniors to go out on a better note. But the team wanted to play Monroe and they had the opportunity. There were some great plays and moments throughout the game. We just couldn’t accumulate the runs to help us along.”
     Platteville finished an up-and-down season, that saw four different pitchers earn decisions, 10–16 overall and 4–6 (fourth place) in the SWC.
     “What a crazy season,” said Davies. “Being inside for four weeks was not how anyone wants to spend the first part of their spring. It was hard initially to get into the mode of playing outside when we never knew what kind of weather we were going to encounter. I think overall the girls did an excellent job. I think all of us were hoping for a few extra wins, but when you look at all the amazing plays we had defensively, all the outstanding hitting that happened all season, the confidence and leadership developed among many players, and the growth that was seen by everyone in playing abilities, it was truly a memorable and successful season to be proud of.”

WIAA Division 2 Regional Semifinal
Monroe 10, Platteville 0
(from Tuesday, May 21 @ Monroe)
Platteville    000    000        —   0  1  6
Monroe       120    052        —  10  8  0
Leading hitters — M: McGuire 2x4, Barta 2x4. 2B — P: Sadie Holmes; M: McGuire 2. W — Armstrong (6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 12 SO, 2 BB). L – Sierra Brecke (2–4, 5.1 IP, 8 H, 10 R, 3 ER, 2 SO, 4 BB).