Sports

Middleton’s Home Talent League team is creeping up on the midway point of the regular season.

And if the second half is anything like the first half, the 29ers are going to be thrilled with their summer.

Middleton won a pair of games last weekend and improved to 6-0 overall. The 29ers defeated Wisconsin Dells, 13-1, last Friday, then toppled Black Earth, 3-0, on Sunday.

Middleton has a two-game lead over both Ashton (3-1) and Black Earth (4-2) in the Northern Section’s East Division.

“Our pitching has really been our strength this year,” said Middleton manager Brandon Hellenbrand, whose team has given up just eight runs in six games this season. “We need to continue to pitch well and play good defense and the bats will come.”

Griffin Ward is typically laser focused.

That concentration and drive are two reasons Middleton’s senior has become one of the state’s elite distance runners.

In the final race of his brilliant career, though, Ward let himself glance around Veterans Memorial Stadium in La Crosse and soak in his surroundings. And why not?

The fans. The applause. The excitement.

It was all for him.

Ward showed off his sensational closing kick, passed a pair of runners and won the 3,200-meter run at the WIAA Division 1 track and field meet last Saturday. Just more than 24 hours earlier, Ward had also won the 1,600-meter run, giving him an extremely impressive pair of state titles.

“Usually my mind goes blank in a race, but I was just blown away by the crowd,” Ward said. “I could really feel the energy and I fed off of that. It was an amazing way to end my career.”

For a moment, there was astonishment.

For an instant, Zaira Malloy-Salgado couldn't believe what she’d just done.

Then, Middleton’s standout track and field athlete realized her dream was actually reality.

Malloy-Salgado ran a brilliant 3,200-meter race at the WIAA Division 1 state track and field meet held at Veterans Memorial Stadium in La Crosse last Friday. And when Malloy-Salgado ran her final split in record time, she pulled away and captured first place in the grueling event.

“Realizing I won was a mix of emotions,” Malloy-Salgado said. “When I crossed the finish line I was in awe. I couldn't really process what had just happened.”

That victory was the highlight of a big weekend for the Middleton junior.

Malloy-Salgado was part of Middleton’s 3,200-meter relay team that finished third. She also finished fifth in the 1,600-meter run.

He battled foot and back injuries throughout the year.

He didn’t play as many matches as several of his counterparts.

And he was a mystery to many when the WIAA Division 1 boys individual state tennis tournament began.

Not anymore.

Middleton freshman Ethan Bo had a weekend to remember, finishing second individually at the state tournament held at Nielsen Tennis Stadium. Bo, who entered the weekend as the No. 5 seed, stormed to the finals before falling to Neenah’s Solomon Dunsirn in the championship match.

“It was just a really fun tournament and a really great atmosphere,” Bo said. “There were so many people cheering and watching, it was great. Plus, I never expected to get that far.”

Middleton coach Tony Mirasola was thrilled how his prized freshman performed on the state’s biggest stage.

On a picture, perfect day for baseball, Middleton delivered in all facets of the game.

Senior right-handers Easton Zempel and Robby Erickson combined on a two-hit shutout as fourth-seeded Middleton cruised to an 8-0 victory over visiting 12^th-seeded Holmen in a WIAA Division 1 regional championship game last Thursday.

The Cardinals played near flawless defense, and the first eight of their 11 hits were by eight different players. They also executed several successful bunts that highlighted their ‘small ball’ approach.

“We changed our approach, and went up there and put the ball in play and made them make a play,” said Zempel, a Winona State (Minn.) recruit. “You could see the last couple of innings we were bunting the ball really well. It was nice, moving runners along.”

Middleton manager Brent Jorgensen said the Cardinals’ balanced attack on offense served them well in dominating the Vikings.

They saved their best for last.

They pushed the No. 2 seed in their sectional to the brink of elimination.

In the end, though, it wasn’t quite enough.

Middleton’s girls soccer team gave a spirited effort, but fell to Kettle Moraine, 2-1, in a WIAA Division 1 regional final last Saturday. The 10^th-seeded Cardinals had reached that game after upsetting seventh-seeded Oconomowoc, 2-1, on May 31.

“I couldn't be more proud of the effort and heart that they put into that game,” Middleton coach Mary Duffy said of the Cardinals’ loss to Kettle Moraine. “They came to battle and that is exactly what they did.”

Middleton keeper Naiya Rajpal had the game of her life, turning back one Lasers’ shot after another and keeping the Cardinals in the game.

“Rajpal saved her best game for last,” Duffy said. “She played out of her mind with point blank save after point blank save. 

WAUNAKEE — For decades now, Middleton and Sun Prairie have headed to different sectionals when the playoffs arrive. This season, though, both Cardinals — two of the state’s traditional powers — were thrown in the same postseason pod.

And while many lamented that fact, Middleton first baseman Caden Gmur viewed it as an opportunity.

“I just looked at it and saw a third chance to go ahead and go beat them,” said Gmur, whose team lost both regular season meetings against Sun Prairie. “We wanted to show them who we are.”

Middleton did just that during a WIAA Division 1 sectional semifinal held at Waunakee High School Tuesday. Unfortunately for MHS, Sun Prairie showed even more.

Davis Hamilton belted a solo home run in the fifth inning that broke a 3-3 tie and propelled Sun Prairie to a 5-3 win. Middleton finished the year 19-9, while Sun Prairie improved to 24-3 and won the sectional title later in the day with a 9-1 win over Waunakee.

KOHLER — Six weeks ago, when Middleton’s boys golf team was struggling, Cardinals coach Tom Cabalka didn’t know if a trip to state was possible for his team.

Three weeks ago, when Middleton was a distant second to Madison Memorial at the Big Eight Conference meet, Cardinals senior Alec Sosnowski wasn’t overly confident that his team was ready for the postseason.

So late Tuesday afternoon, after Middleton finished sixth at the WIAA Division 1 state meet held at Blackwolf Run, the Cardinals weren’t lamenting the fact they had their ups and downs at this two-day tournament. Instead, Middleton was thrilled its journey ended with a trip to this magnificent venue that consistently ranks among “America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses.”

“I think our kids were very excited to be here,” Cabalka said. “It was certainly in doubt throughout most of the season. So, it was a big, neat deal that they could get through sectionals.”

Sosnowski agreed.

Middleton boys golf coach Tom Cabalka has been part of several big wins while guiding one of the state’s elite programs.

Cabalka led Middleton to the 2011 WIAA Division 1 state championship. Cabalka and the Cardinals have seven top-five finishes at state since 2010.

So when Cabalka talks about Middleton’s championship at the Onalaska Championship on June 1 as one of the biggest of his career, you know it was a special day.

The Cardinals shot a blistering 153 on the back nine at La Crosse Country Club and won the sectional with a 316-team score. Madison Memorial was second with a 317 and earned the second spot at the state meet, which will be held Monday and Tuesday at Blackwolf Run in Kohler.

“I have to say that it is one of the biggest wins that I have been a part of,” Cabalka said afterwards. “I’m extremely proud of how this group has played under the pressure of our regional and sectional play.”

BARABOO – With back-to-back team state cross country championships in the span of nearly six months, there is no doubt that Middleton’s girls distance program is performing at an elite level.

So it should come as no surprise that the Cardinals have the potential to be a dominant force on the track, too.

Seniors Lauren Pansegrau and Maddie Ruszkiewicz teamed with sisters sophomore Tait Haag and senior Molly Haag to win the 3,200-meter relay in 9 minutes, 40.13 seconds at the WIAA Division 1 Baraboo sectional last Thursday. The Cardinals held off state qualifiers Waunakee (9:42.52) and Verona (9:43.25).

Middleton then captured the three individual distance events with Ruszkiewicz winning the open 800, while junior Zaira Malloy-Salgado swept the 1,600 (5:01.75) and 3,200 (10:59.58) titles. Pansegrau qualified for state in three events, also taking third in the 1,600 (5:03.33) and second in the 3,200 (10:59.86).