Softball Cards just one step from state

There’s an old wives tale that says teams carrying a 2-0 record against an opponent struggle to win a third matchup.

In reality, that’s fake news.

In the NFL, for example, the team that wins the first two matchups wins the third one roughly 70% of the time. In college basketball, data from STATS LLC shows that teams entering a third matchup with a 2-0 record have a winning percentage of 72.4% in the third contest.

That data didn't make Middleton’s girls softball team feel any better, though, when they were embroiled in a scoreless battle with visiting Verona midway through their WIAA Division 1 sectional semifinal on June 2.

The Cardinals’ bats came alive, though, Middleton senior ace Megan Button was virtually unhittable and MHS surged to a 4-0 win. That marked the third time this season the Cardinals (23-4) defeated Verona (18-6).

Middleton advanced to a sectional final against Sun Prairie East on June 5 at 5 p.m. in Baraboo. The Cardinals will be bidding for their first trip to the state tournament since 2008.

“Great team win,” Middleton manager Brittany Carl said after the win over Verona. “We've been here before, one game away. We know the feeling, but this group is still so hungry.

“One game away isn't where we want to end. We want that plaque. We want that trip to Goodman (for state) next week.”

The Cardinals are just one step from state thanks to the brilliance of Button and an offense that found its groove in the later innings.

Button, the Player of the Year in the Big Eight Conference, went the distance against Verona and allowed just two hits. Button struck out six, didn't walk a batter and threw strikes on 62 of her 86 pitches (72.1%).

Verona had a leadoff single to open the game, then Button retired 14 consecutive batters before a Middleton error ended that streak. The Wildcats’ second hit of the night didn’t come until there was one out in the seventh, but Button retired Verona’s next two batters and Middleton moved within one game of state.

“Megan threw phenomenally well and kept the Verona hitters totally off balance — certainly not an easy feat when you've seen a team so many times,” Carl said. “She pounded the zone well, mixed her spins with great command, and fed the defense for some quick innings. That was the game plan going in. Keep them on defense and us at the plate.”

It took Middleton until the fourth inning to finally break through.

Senior center fielder Macey Blazek worked a walk from Verona sophomore Addison Quackenboss, then Button reached on an error that put runners on second and third. Junior second baseman Kylie Klock then ripped a 1-2 pitch to left that scored both Blazek and Button and gave the Cardinals a 2-0 lead.

“Kylie is the definition of clutch,” Carl said. “Two strikes on her and she remains totally unfazed, confident that she's going to put it in play hard somewhere and make something happen. That's exactly what she did. I had just called out to Megan on second that she was scoring if anything hit the grass. We stuck to that.”

Middleton added two insurance runs in the sixth and pushed its lead to 4-0.

Junior right fielder Lily Kulow reached on a one-out error, then senior first baseman Grace O’Connor tripled to right to score Kulow. Junior left fielder Danica Nolte followed with a single to center to give MHS a 4-0 advantage, and Button and the Cardinals’ defense finished the Wildcats off.

Catcher Hailey Stroede had three of Middleton’s seven hits, including a pair of doubles.

“Hailey is such a see ball/hit ball hitter,” Carl said. “You could put her up against (Tennessee star) Karlyn Pickens and I'm pretty sure she'd find a way on base. She showcased her gap to gap power with the two doubles and then her speed with the infield single to round out her big day at the dish. Talk about versatility.”

Klock finished with a pair of RBIs, while O’Connor and Nolte both had one RBI. And now, the Cardinals are just one step from state.

Next up is Sun Prairie East (21-7), a team MHS split with and shared the Big Eight Conference title with this season.

East has qualified for state each of the last two seasons. And dating back to its time as one school, Sun Prairie has been to the state tournament seven straight years.

Middleton now gets a chance to end that streak Thursday.

“Humble, hungry and smart. That's who we are and how we'll walk into the final on Thursday,” Carl said. “It's always a great game with Sun Prairie. I'm sure this meeting will be no different. We're prepared for a fight.”