Softball Cardinals grab Big 8 lead
Megan Button knows better than anyone what a menace Sun Prairie East has been to Middleton’s girls softball program in recent years.
Macey Blazek is just learning what a thorn East has been in Middleton’s side.
But as the two MHS standouts stood outside their dugout at Firefighter’s Park on April 17, they both knew this much — perhaps the worm has turned.
Button threw a four-hit gem, while Blazek had two RBIs and made a spectacular diving catch in center field to power Middleton past East, 3-1, in a critical Big Eight Conference game.
Middleton, which has won six straight games, is now 6-0 in the conference and 8-1 overall. MHS, which is gunning for its first conference title since 2015, holds a one-game lead in the loss column over both Verona (5-1, 8-1) and Sun Prairie East (4-1, 4-4).
“It feels good,” Middleton manager Brittany Carl said after the win. “They’ve kind of been the thorn in our side the last couple years and to finally get over that hump is so nice.”
Hump?
This was akin to Sisyphus finally getting that massive boulder over the hill.
East, which became its own school in the 2022-’23 school year, was 5-0 against Middleton in the past two seasons — including a victory over MHS in last year’s sectional finals. And dating back to its days as one school, East had won 15 straight games against Middleton.
Middleton’s last win over a team that included East players was May 15, 2017.
East, the smallest school in the Big Eight Conference, had been 28-0 in the league since splitting from West. But Middleton put an end to East’s remarkable streak.
“It’s huge,” said Button, a senior who’s one of the state’s top pitchers. “Last year, they swept us in conference play and beat us in the game to go to state. So, I think it’s more than just a win towards our goal of winning the conference and even beyond that.
“To be able to do what we want to do this year, we have to get thorough teams like Sun Prairie. And to be able to do that consistently against tough teams is going to help that happen. So, it’s working out.”
Everything worked out for Middleton on a dreary night where the winds gusted up to 30 miles an hour and the rain came just minutes after the contest ended.
The wild weather led to enormous challengers for the fielders on both teams. And with the howling wind blowing in, things were tough for both offenses.
But Button was her usual tremendous self, Middleton’s fielders were up to the challenge and the offense did enough to hold up its end of the bargain.
“We played a great game,” Carl said. “We’ve been on kind of a hot streak lately, so it doesn’t really matter who’s in that other dugout. We play our version and our game and that’s what we did. So it’s nice to get a little bit of that redemption.”
Button was a huge reason for that.
She didn't allow a hit until there were two outs in the third inning, struck out eight and didn't walk a batter. Per usual, Button pounded the strike zone, throwing strikes on a whopping 71 of her 95 pitches (74.7%).
Button also pushed her career strikeout total to 503, a mark her teammates celebrated afterwards by drawing that number on the mound.
“She’s just amazing,” Blazek, a senior center fielder said of Button. “Going into any game where Megan’s pitching, I know we have a chance. She’s always going to be strong on the mound when we need her. Yes, she pitches a lot, but she always comes out and throws a great game.”
Carl agreed.
“Megan pitched incredibly well,” Carl said. “When she’s on, she can just coast. She can just cruise. She had everything working tonight and she was able to mix pitches and keep ‘em guessing. It was fun to watch.”
Button had some help from Blazek & Co., as well.
In the top of the fourth, East had a runner on first and two outs when first baseman Kiah Frydenlund ripped a sinking liner to center. The ball seemed certain to drop for a hit, and potentially more.
But Blazek sprinted in, timed her leap perfectly, and made a sensational diving catch to end the end the East threat.
“It was definitely rough out there, but it felt really good,” Blazek said of her diving catch. “I know everybody is always really excited when something like that happens, so it feels good to be celebrated.”
Middleton finished the game with just one error in the challenging conditions. Right fielder Lily Kulow made a tough catch in the fifth inning, and the infield of third baseman Annika Jafferis, shortstop Maggie Zumbrunnen, second baseman Kylie Klock and first baseman Grace O’Connor was flawless throughout.
“We’ve really built a culture where we have fun,” Button said. “It’s not necessarily just about wins and losses. It’s about picking each other up, and I think we did a great job of that tonight. I think we have fun in what we do and wins come along with that.”
Middleton got all the offense it needed during a three-run third when it surged to a 3-0 lead.
Jafferis opened the frame by drawing a six-pitch walk, setting the table for the top of the order.
“A leadoff walk makes all the difference,” Carl said. “You’ve got to take advantage of the free passes and Annika Jafferis has been seeing the ball really well from the 9-spot and turning the order over. Leadoff walk, we had a good feeling we could make something happen with the top coming.”
She was right.
Catcher Hailey Stroede followed with a single to right, then Zumbrunnen reached on a bunt single to load the bases with nobody out.
Blazek, who transferred to Middleton last summer and was an all-conference volleyball and basketball player, continues to show that softball is likely her best sport. Blazek hit a ground ball back up the middle that shortstop Abigail Packard did a nice job corralling.
Packard stepped on second for the force, but in the process slipped to the ground. That allowed not only Jafferis, but also Stroede to score and give Middleton a 2-0 lead.
“Adding Macey has been really nice,” Button said of Blazek. “We had a large senior class leaving, so to have somebody strong come into the lineup means a lot. And she’s somebody everybody can count on. She’s somebody we can count on as a leader and to help us out.”
Two batters later, Klock singled to left scoring Blazek to push MHS’ advantage to 3-0.
East strung together a pair of hits for its lone run in the sixth. But with Button dealing and the defense shining, Middleton was able to hurl the Sun Prairie East monkey from its back.
“This team has been really fun,” Blazek said. “I know everybody, even at practice, really enjoys being here. We have a lot of fun, and we know when it’s time to walk in, we can focus and can really get the job done.”
Which Middleton certainly did against East.
Here’s a recap of the rest of Middleton’s week, which saw the Cardinals go 5-0 overall.
• Middleton 19, Madison East/La Follette 4 (5) — The Cardinals pounded out a whopping 22 hits and had seven extra base hits in a game stopped after five innings due to the mercy rule on April 15.
Shortstop Maggie Zumbrunnen had a day for the ages, going 5-for-5 with a double, scoring four runs and driving in three. Center fielder Macey Blazek also belted a three-run home run, went 2-for-4, drove in five runs and scored two.
Left fielder Danica Nolte went 3-for-3 with a double and scored three runs, while Megan Button went 3-for-3 with a double, drove in four runs and scored twice. First baseman Hailey Stroede went 2-for-3 and scored two runs, while Odessa Zopfi had a double, drove in two runs and scored twice.
Freshman Cece Smith was the winning pitcher after striking out eight in five innings. Smith allowed just one earned run, two hits and threw strikes on 50 of 75 pitches (66.7%).
• Middleton 15, Janesville Craig 0 — The visiting Cardinals pounded out 17 hits and winning pitcher Megan Button threw a two-hit gem on April 16.
Button struck out 11, walked just one and threw strikes on 76 of 107 pitches (71.0%).
Shortstop Maggie Zumbrunnen continued her torrid hitting, going 4-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored. Kylie Klock went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and Macey Blazek went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI.
Hailey Strode was 2-for-5 with a double, three RBIs and two runs scored, while Lily Kulow went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI, and Annika Jafferis scored three runs.
“We came ready to hit the ball,” Carl said. “We’re seeing the ball really well right now. Whatever speed you’re throwing at us we’re hitting it really well.”
• Middleton 10, River Falls 5 — The Cardinals built a 7-0 lead and toppled the Blackhawks at the Holmen Triangular last Saturday.
Freshman Cece Smith was the winning pitcher, working all seven innings and allowing five earned runs.
Middleton’s red-hot hitting continued, as the Cardinals had 16 hits.
Hailey Stroede went 3-for-3 with two doubles, three RBIs and three runs scored, while Danica Nolte was 3-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored. Kylie Klock was 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while Macey Blazek had a double, two RBIs and scored a run.
Maggie Zumbrunnen went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, Grace O’Connor went 2-for-4 with a double, and Annika Jafferis went 2-for-3 with a double and scored two runs.
• Middleton 10, Holmen 0 (6) — Megan Button continued her sensational senior season, throwing a three-hit shutout in a game stopped after six innings due to the 10-run mercy rule.
Button struck out a remarkable 14 batters, meaning Middleton needed to record just four outs in the field. Button didn't walk a batter and threw strikes on an astonishing 59 of 73 pitches (80.8%).
Middleton’s terrific lineup stayed red hot with 14 hits, including seven doubles. The Cardinals also used a seven-run sixth inning to end things early.
Macey Blazek continued to wreak havoc on opposing pitchers, going 4-for-4 with two doubles, three RBIs and two runs scored. Grace O’Connor has also started heating up and went 2-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored.
Button also carried a big stick, going 3-for-4 with a double, one RBI and a run scored, while Hailey Stroede had a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. Kylie Klock also scored twice and had an RBI, while Danica Nolte added a double and scored a run.
• On deck: Middleton hosted Sun Prairie West Tuesday, then heads to Janesville Parker Thursday at 4:30 p.m. The Cardinals then travel to the Cedarburg Triangular Saturday where they’ll face Waterford at noon and host Cedarburg at 2 p.m.
