June 2021

The toughest regional in the state now becomes the toughest sectional.

Middleton’s boys golf team seems up for the challenge, though.

The Cardinals finished second at the WIAA Division 1 Middleton Regional held at Pleasant View Golf Course Tuesday.

Waunakee rallied on the back nine to win the regional with a 309-team score. Middleton was second at 310, while Madison Memorial (321) and Verona (323) rounded out the top four.

The top four teams and top four individuals from non-qualifying teams advanced to the Madison Memorial Sectional, which will be held at Blackhawk Country Club Monday.

The top two teams at sectionals will advance to state.

Senior Jacob Beckman led Middleton at regionals, with a 3-over-par, 75 that was good for second place individually.

Junior Alec Sosnowski was fourth overall with a 76. Freshman Dain Johnson was ninth with a 79 and sophomore Drew Sjowall was 10^th with an 80.

Middleton’s boys tennis team faced the best of the best last week.

And the Cardinals left knowing they can play with the top teams Wisconsin has to offer.

Middleton, ranked No. 2 in the state, fell to top-ranked Brookfield East, 6-1, on May 24. Two days later, though, the Cardinals toppled No. 3 Marquette, 4-3.

In between steamrolled Janesville Craig, 6-0. Then last Friday and Saturday, Middleton cruised to three wins at the I-94 Classic.

In Middleton’s loss to East, Jonathan Kim posted a 6-4, 6-4 win at No. 4 singles for the Cardinals’ lone victory.

Two nights later against Marquette, Middleton swept the singles matches.

Koji Heineman pulled out a hard fought, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (5) win at No. 1 singles. Ian Connell won in straight sets at No. 2, while Kim and Aarush Gupta both pulled out three-set wins at No. 3 and 4 singles, respectively.

In between, the Cardinals lost just one game in six matches against Janesville Craig.

The postseason is quickly approaching.

And if Middleton’s baseball team continues its recent hot streak, a playoff run is certainly possible.

The Cardinals won two of three games last week — splitting a pair with Verona and downing Waunakee. Middleton, which has won six of seven games, is now 11-7 overall and 8-4 in the Big Eight Conference.

“We are playing better and better baseball each week,” said Middleton manager Brent Jorgensen, who became a father for the second time last week. “Over these last two weeks especially, it's been great to watch the kids rewarded for their hard work with victories against quality opponents and some decisive victories as well.

“We still aren’t playing our best baseball yet but we are continuing to make strides in the right direction and it's exciting to be a part of this process.”

Here’s a recap of the Cardinals’ week:

There was rust.

And there were a few cobwebs.

Once Middleton’s Home Talent League team got rolling, though, it was just like old times.

The 29ers rallied from a 4-0 deficit and toppled Mazomanie, 10-4, last Saturday in their 2021 season opener. Middleton struck for five runs in the seventh and five more in the ninth to prevail.

It marked Middleton’s first game in nearly two years after the 2020 season was wiped away due to COVID-19.

“It took us a while to get going,” Middleton manager Brandon Hellenbrand said. “First game out in almost two years and we had to brush off the cobwebs. 

“We hit the ball hard early, but everything was right at them. We couldn’t get anything to fall. Once we got to their bullpen in the seventh, we were able to scratch across some runs and take the momentum.”

That’s for sure.