Sports

Megan Button has been a part of Middleton’s girls softball team for just a few short games.

And she’s already made history.

Button, a freshman pitcher for the Cardinals, set a school record by striking out 19 batters in an 8-1 win over Madison West on April 6. Middleton improved to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in the Big Eight Conference.

“Megan Button has been a phenomenal addition to our pitching rotation this year,” Middleton coach Brittany Carl said. “She's calm, cool, and collected, and always one step ahead. She's an incredibly cerebral player. She picks up on the little things hitters do and uses that to her advantage.”

Button allowed just two hits and West’s lone run was unearned. Button faced 23 batters — two over the minimum — and threw strikes on 76 of 111 pitches (68.5%).

Megan Button has been a part of Middleton’s girls softball team for just a few short games.

And she’s already made history.

Button, a freshman pitcher for the Cardinals, set a school record by striking out 19 batters in an 8-1 win over Madison West on April 6. Middleton improved to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in the Big Eight Conference.

“Megan Button has been a phenomenal addition to our pitching rotation this year,” Middleton coach Brittany Carl said. “She's calm, cool, and collected, and always one step ahead. She's an incredibly cerebral player. She picks up on the little things hitters do and uses that to her advantage.”

Button allowed just two hits and West’s lone run was unearned. Button faced 23 batters — two over the minimum — and threw strikes on 76 of 111 pitches (68.5%).

Middleton’s baseball team enjoyed a terrific week, winning all three of its games.

The Cardinals defeated visiting Waunakee, 3-2, on April 6. The Cardinals also swept a doubleheader from Madison East — 12-0 and 16-0 — on April 5.

Middleton is now 4-1 on the young season and 2-0 in the Big Eight Conference.

• Middleton 3, Waunakee 2 — The Cardinals scored three runs in the final two innings — including two in the seventh — to rally past the Warriors on April 7.

In the bottom of the seventh, Jackson Rademacher singled with one out and went to second on a passed ball, then moved to third on an error. Steven Paulsen then reached on a fielder’s choice bunt that scored Rademacher and tied the game, 2-2.

After a fly ball out, Paulsen stole second and moved to third on an error by the Waunakee second baseman. Paulsen then scored the game-winning run on a passed ball.

Hopes are high.

Expectations are great.

And Middleton’s girls soccer team showed why last weekend.

The Cardinals and Hudson played to a scoreless draw last Friday. Middleton then rolled past Oshkosh West, 3-0, last Saturday.

“It was a nice weekend of games displaying the variety of Wisconsin weather that we need to deal with,” Middleton coach Mary Duffy said. “Friday we played under a majestic snowfall, cold and brisk, and the next morning a beautiful sunny Saturday, warming our smiley faces.”

In Middleton’s draw with Hudson, junior Naiya Rajpal was steady in goal in the first half, and freshman Lydia Paulsen was terrific in the second half.

“Rajpal was solid in goal, directing traffic and cleaning up any through balls,” Middleton coach Mary Duffy said. “Paulsen took the second half in goal and came up with one point blank brilliant save to keep it at zeros.”

They’ve knocked on the door several different seasons now.

They’ve been the state runner-up four different times since 2000. They’ve reached the state tournament 13 times in the past two decades.

In the midst of all that success, though, that elusive state championship has dodged Middleton’s boys tennis team.

Perhaps this will finally be the year the Cardinals break through.

Middleton, which reached the WIAA Division 1 state semifinals a year ago, brings back a solid nucleus and added some key newcomers that seem ready for big things. That could mean another terrific season for the Cardinals.

The numbers are remarkable.

The results could be just as amazing.

Middleton’s girls track and field team has 140 athletes competing this spring, the highest number in school history.

While there are many challenges in juggling that many athletes — and finding the right events for each one — Middleton coach Jay Schweitzer believes that amount of talent and depth could lead to a memorable season.

“I hope to take as many kids to the state meet as possible,” said Schweitzer, whose team begins its season Tuesday at Janesville Craig. “We have a great chance in all the distance events to take multiple runners and I always hope to get as many relays through to state as we can. I like our chances this year to get several to state. We have a large team and I hope everyone gets a chance to enjoy the benefits of track and field in the best possible ways.”

Nearly 10 months later, the loss still stings.

And Middleton’s girls soccer team doesn’t want to experience that pain again.

The Cardinals enjoyed a solid 2021 campaign, going 7-5-2 overall before losing their first postseason game. Now, with a veteran group, Middleton wants to make sure its 2022 season lasts a lot longer.

“I think last spring losing in the first round was very difficult,” Middleton coach Mary Duffy said. “I would have loved to give those seniors a post season win. So step by step, we are working towards winning that first game and making sure that during the season, we work and train towards that first step.”

The Cardinals should have the talent, depth and firepower to put together a more memorable season.

Junior forward Marley Mladucky headlines the list of Middleton’s returnees. Mladucky had hat tricks against Madison La Follette and Sun Prairie last season and finished the year with 10 goals and six assists.

Unfinished business.

Change of heart.

Those were the terms Jamie Sims used most often when discussing why he would be staying on as the athletic director at Middleton High School.

Sims accepted the principal job at Sun Prairie High West High School in February. But in late March, Sims went to Middleton superintendent Dana Monogue and principal Peg Shoemaker and told them both he’d like to remain in his current role.

All parties quickly agreed that Sims staying on was best for the district.

“I have 100% peace of mind,” Sims said. “And what’s been great is 100% of the coaches, 100% of the community members that I’ve heard from have told me they’re happy I’m staying.

“There was a lot of work we had started here that we just weren’t done with. I just didn't have the peace of mind to leave right now. It was not the right time for my tenure to come to an end.”

When you saw them last, they were bucking the odds, producing memorable comebacks and taking their fan base on a sensational joyride.

Middleton’s baseball team had an extraordinary postseason run last year in which they rallied for wins in the regional finals and the sectional semifinals. That magical journey came to an end, though, in the sectional finals when Onalaska edged the Cardinals, 2-1.

Now, with several key cogs from that team back, Middleton could be poised to reach its first state tournament since 2016.

The 2021 season was an unforgettable one for Middleton’s girls softball team.

The Cardinals won 20 games for the first time in more than a decade. They chased a Big Eight Conference championship until the final week of the season.

And even though the Cardinals were ousted in the regional finals, Middleton laid the groundwork for future success.

Now, the Cardinals hope to add to those successes.

Middleton begins its new season Saturday when it hosts Stevens Point at noon. And the Cardinals hope they can build on what they started last year.

“As a coaching staff, we have to expect the perennial powerhouses to compete for the top two or three Big Eight spots,” Middleton third-year coach Brittany Carl said. “But like last year, we 100% expect to be in that mix and in those conversations. We have some young talent that complements our veteran leadership extremely well and we look forward to seeing how it all comes together.”