Sports

Middleton’s baseball team has raced from the gates and won two of its first three games.

The Cardinals toppled Madison East, 8-2, on April 27. Middleton then routed the Purgolders, 12-1, on April 30.

Middleton then fell to Bay Port on May 1, 19-2.

Here’s a recap of the Cardinals’ week:

• Middleton 8, Madison East 2 — Aidan Williams sure knows how to throw himself a party.

On his 18^th birthday, Williams belted a grand slam home run and pitched a gem to earn the win. In five innings, Williams struck out seven, allowed six hits and just one earned run.

Middleton was clinging to a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the sixth when Williams launched his grand slam.

“Aidan Williams's grand slam on his 18th birthday was a pretty cool way to break the game open and stretch our lead,” Middleton manager Brent Jorgensen said.

Middleton’s boys soccer team received the No. 3 seed in its regional.

Verona is the top seed, followed by Waunakee, Middleton, La Crosse Central and Madison Memorial.

Middleton now travels to Waunakee Thursday at 7 p.m. for a regional final. The winner advances to the Baraboo Sectional on Saturday.

The sectional semifinals and sectionals will both be held in Baraboo on Saturday.

The Cardinals finished the regular season by going 1-2-1 last week. Here’s a recap of those games:

• Middleton 2, Verona 2 — The Cardinals raced to a 2-0 lead, but the Wildcats battled back and forged a tie on April 27.

Ezra Joseph scored in the 34^th minute for Middleton and Ben Tutewohl gave the Cardinals a 2-0 lead in the 47^th minute. But Middleton couldn’t hold on.

• Waunakee 3, Middleton 2 — The host Warriors jumped to a 3-0 first half lead on April 29, then held off a late Cardinals’ surge.

SUN PRAIRIE — Step one is complete.

Just two more remain.

Middleton’s girls golfers — which won the WIAA Division 1 state championship in the fall of 2019 — are attempting to repeat this spring. And the Cardinals took step one on Tuesday.

Middleton won the Jefferson Regional that was held at The Oaks in Sun Prairie. The Cardinals fired a 315 to easily outdistance runner-up Jefferson (380).

Madison Memorial (387) and Madison West (399) also qualified for Monday’s Middleton Sectional, which will be held at Pleasant View. Mount Horeb (406), McFarland (434) and Cambridge (518) rounded out the seven-team regional.

Middleton had four of the top five finishers, led by junior Ellie Frisch who fired a 1-over-par, 72. Frisch was a model of consistency from start to finish, shooting a 35 on the front nine and a 37 on the back.

They’re still finding their way.

In the process, though, Middleton’s boys golf team is playing as well as almost anyone in the state.

On Monday, the Cardinals won the Spartan Invite held at Blackhawk Country Club. Middleton fired a 312 to outdistance runner-up Madison Memorial (326) and win the 10-team event.

Cardinals senior Jacob Beckman captured medalist honors with a 75. Middleton also counted a 77 from Dain Johnson, and an 80 from both Alec Sosnowski and Drew Sjowall.

The performance was just what Middleton coach Tom Cabalka was hoping for after a somewhat frustrating stretch in which he was trying to settle on a lineup.

Last week, the Cardinals won the Madison Edgewood Invitational on April 26. Middleton also finished second at a Big Eight Conference match on April 28, and placed second at the Onalaska Invite on April 30.

In a normal April, Brent Jorgensen would certainly know who his top players were.

He’d know who he’d want on the mound at crunch time, what batting lineups worked best and what late-game defensive replacements made the most sense.

But many of those things remain a mystery to Jorgensen, Middleton’s third-year baseball manager. That’s what happens when COVID-19 wipes out a season like it did with all spring sports in 2020.

“It's hard to say who will be our top position players and our expectations for each player because we are entering a season where we didn't really get to see kids last year,” said Jorgensen, whose team opened the year Tuesday against Madison East. “We have a lot of players with similar qualities who will push each other for playing time, and we have a handful of multi-sport athletes who are juggling their schedules.

The high temperature last Monday was 40 degrees.

The wind gusted up to 20 miles an hour and there was cloud cover throughout the day.

To most people, it was another miserable April day in Wisconsin.

For Brittany Carl and Middleton’s girls softball team, it was heaven.

“We’ve waited almost two years to play ball again as the Middleton Cardinals,” Carl said. “Now we’re back and the feeling is indescribable.”

That’s for sure.

Carl was hired before the 2020 season began, then never had a chance to coach that team after COVID-19 led to the cancelation of all spring sports last year.

Carl, a former standout at Seton Hall, was giddy about landing her first head coaching job. Now, after waiting nearly two years to coach her first game, the excitement level for the 2021 season is off the charts.

Karsen Dettman knows a thing or two about success at state.

As a sophomore at Middleton High School, Dettman teamed up with Maddie Clark and finished second in the WIAA Division 1 individual state doubles tournament.

Noor Rajpal has also experienced her share of highs at state. As a junior at MHS, Rajpal and teammate Jessica Pientka reached the round of 16 at the state doubles tournament.

Rajpal and Dettman — who are both seniors now — became doubles partners this season. And to the surprise on no one, the Cardinals’ duo had a year to remember.

Dettman and Rajpal capped their year by finishing third in doubles play at the alternate-fall state meet held April 22-23 at Lake Geneva Tennis Club.

“We’ve known each other for a long time and so naturally we have a lot of chemistry not only as friends, but as doubles partners,” Rajpal said. “Overall Karsen and I are happy with third place. However, we would loved to have won the whole thing.”

It’s been said that first impressions are often the most lasting.

If that’s the case, big things could certainly be in store for Middleton’s boys golf team this spring.

The Cardinals went to the 36-team Sheboygan North Invitational last Thursday and Friday and finished second overall.

Kettle Moraine won the event with a two-day score of 610. Middleton was second at 618, while Mequon Homestead (625), Milwaukee Marquette (661) and Waunakee (663) rounded out the top five.

“We had a great two days,” Middleton coach Tom Cabalka said afterwards. “Our young guys showed some great maturity, poise and confidence, and the ability to play under pressure in tournament play.”

The opening round of the tournament was played at Blackwolf Run’s Meadow Valley Course in Kohler, while the second round was at the Irish Course at Whistling Straits.

The postseason is almost here for the alternate-fall girls golfers.

And by the looks of it, Middleton will be extremely tough to slow down.

The Cardinals cruised to first place at the Sheboygan North Quad last Thursday and Friday. Middleton shot a two-day score of 627, which easily outdistanced runner-up Bay Port (654).

The opening round of the tournament was played at Blackwolf Run’s Meadow Valley Course in Kohler, while the second round was at the Irish Course at Whistling Straits.

“To say I am proud of the girls' play would be an understatement,” Middleton coach Becky Halverson said. “It was a great opportunity to be able to golf some top-notch courses and to be right in it with some of the best boys and girls golf teams in the state.”

There were 36 boys teams and four girls team at the star-studded event.

The postseason is almost here for the alternate-fall cross country runners.

And Middleton’s girls’ team appears to be peaking at the perfect time.

The Cardinals rolled to a first-place finish at the Middleton Invite last Saturday.

Middleton finished with 23 points to easily outdistance runner-up Sun Prairie (53). Verona (63), Janesville Parker (inc.) and Beloit Memorial (inc.) rounded out the field.

Middleton will now host a sectional on Saturday.

“It was a beautiful day to run on our home course,” said Middleton assistant coach Kelly Kallien, who’s taken the reigns with head coach Alexa Richardson on maternity leave. “The Middleton Invite, which was the last meet for our JV runners this season, ended with most of the athletes achieving a personal record and a win for both the JV and the varsity teams. A coach can't ask for much better!”

Kallien also couldn't have asked for more from Elizabeth Schwartz.