Sports

Brandon Scheidler couldn’t wait to get to the plate to hit on Sunday.

Neither could the rest of the Middleton center fielder’s teammates.

Scheidler ripped a pair of three-run home runs to power a 24-hit attack as Middleton thumped Ashton, 22-7, in a Home Talent League Northern Section Eastern Division amateur baseball game at Sorenson-Bakken Field.

Middleton (10-1) extended its winning streak to nine games and took a one-game lead in the loss column over second-place Ashton (8-2).

“I was seeing the ball well and hitting it. I tried not to do too much and luckily two of them went over the fence,” said Scheidler, who also singled twice and scored three runs. “Our offense really feeds off each other from one through nine. When you get everybody hitting, it becomes contagious.”

Every starter for Middleton had at least one hit by the third inning. Eight of the nine starters finished with at least two hits apiece.

They were one of the deepest teams in the state.

A sensational quintet from top to bottom. One of Middleton’s most impressive ‘Fab Fives’ in quite some time.

So it came as no surprise that each and every Cardinal was named to the all-Big Eight Conference team.

Middleton sophomores Brady Thomas and Emmet Herb, along with senior Josh Haunty were all named first-team all-conference. Senior Charlie Stankiewicz and sophomore Joey Levin were both named second-team all-conference.

The all-conference team was determined by scores from conference matches only, not all events.

“They were so close to each other, they relied on each one to pick each other up, it was just an extremely fun group to be around,” Middleton coach Tom Cabalka said. “The season seemed to fly by, every practice was meaningful to them and they all worked extremely hard at improving their game.  

When Middleton’s girls softball team first gathered back in March, Cardinals manager Cherie Hellenbrand had doubts.

“I was wondering if we could be a 500 team,” Hellenbrand said.

But as the year unfolded, Hellenbrand’s optimism grew by the day.

“What stood out, especially during spring break, was their work ethic and team unity,” Hellenbrand said. “We had long practices and we worked very hard. Every day their confidence grew and so did their skills and desire to win.”

And it certainly paid off.

Middleton had a memorable season, finishing third in the ultra-competitive Big Eight Conference, winning a regional title and posting a 17-8 overall record. The Cardinals were also rewarded for their success, landing nine players on the all-Big Eight Conference team.

GRAND CHUTE — The final score was staring back at Kasey Miller, courtesy of the giant scoreboard in centerfield.

And even though that result had been a painful reality for nearly 30 minutes now, Miller was still having a hard time swallowing it.

Wilmot 2, Middleton 1.

“We definitely felt like we could win it all this year,” Miller said. “We had the team to do it. We’re leaving with our heads held high, but we certainly feel like we could have had more.”

It’s easy to see why.

In a WIAA Division 1 state quarterfinal baseball game held at Fox Cities Stadium Tuesday, Middleton had a bevy of chances to turn defeat into victory. But the Cardinals couldn’t get the key hit against a Wilmot team that played sublime defense.

Middleton, which made its seventh state appearance since 2002, finished the season 21-9. Wilmot improved to 24-3.

GRAND CHUTE — They played baseball together since they were children.

They grew up together, excelled together, and eventually reached a state tournament together.

So now that it was officially over, it was easy to see why Middleton’s 11-person senior class didn’t want to say goodbye.

The Cardinals fell in the WIAA Division 1 state quarterfinals to Wilmot, 2-1, Tuesday afternoon. And afterwards, this deep and gifted senior class had a hard time exiting Fox Cities Stadium.

“We were on youth teams together or always playing against each other,” Middleton second baseman Luke Schafer said. “I’ve played with a ton of these guys for a really long time, and we were a great group.

“We got stronger and stronger and stronger as the year went on. And the worst part is I won’t get to play with these guys any more.”

Senior first baseman Alex Elliott agreed.

Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.

The great Dr. Seuss once coined that remarkable phrase. And that saying might best describe how Middleton’s girls soccer team was feeling last Thursday.

The Cardinals fell to Madison West, 1-0, in a WIAA Division 1 sectional semifinal. That marked the end of the road for the Cardinals and their 11 seniors, a group that left a lasting imprint on the program.

“After all the wins and the loses, what it boils down to is the 23 girls for 2014,” Middleton coach Mary Duffy said. “There will be no team like this one. Next year we will have new people and a new identity, but what will remain the same are the bonds that these 23 girls made this season. 

For Ben Luskin, this truly was the best — and the worst — of times.

Luskin, a senior tennis player at Middleton High School, played one of the best matches of his career last Friday. Unfortunately for the Luskin and the Cardinals, it wasn’t enough as Milwaukee Marquette toppled Middleton, 4-3, in a quarterfinal match at the WIAA Division 1 state team tennis tournament.

“The team competed amazingly and I'm so proud of how we played,” Luskin said. “We're obviously incredibly disappointed how it turned out, especially considering how close we came. But we have had an absolutely amazing season.

“It was very emotional for all of us to see our season come to an end, but I can’t imagine playing with a better group of guys. Not only are they great players, but they are great teammates and I’ll never forget this incredible season.”

One reason Luskin won’t forget the ending is how well he played in his own match.

Their pitching was sublime throughout the day.

They had timely hitting and the defense was immaculate.

And because Middleton’s baseball team was terrific in all three areas, it’s headed back to the WIAA Division 1 state tournament.

Middleton won its own sectional Tuesday and will now play in a state quarterfinal game June 17 at 1 p.m. at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton.

Middleton opened the day with a 2-1 over La Crosse Central in a sectional semifinal. The Cardinals then toppled Reedsburg, 7-3, in the sectional final.
Middleton will now make its seventh trip to state since 2002.

“We’re playing our best ball right now and that was our goal at the beginning of the season,” Middleton senior catcher Jackson Keeler said. “It’s nice to try to win the conference, but ultimately we want to be playing our best baseball when the playoffs roll around.”

They are.

Middleton escaped in the sectional semis against La Crosse Central.

VERONA — Every year, Middleton boys golf coach Tom Cabalka spends his winters in Arizona.

And when Cabalka races back every March to coach the Cardinals, many wonder why?

Here’s why.

For veterans like Josh Haunty and Charlie Stankiewicz. For up-and-coming stars like Brady Thomas, Joey Levin and Emmet Herb.

That quintet assembled another terrific season for Middleton’s dynamic golf program and finished fourth at the WIAA Division 1 state tournament held Monday and Tuesday at University Ridge. And even though the Cardinals fell short of their ultimate goal of winning a state title, they produced a year to remember — and one Cabalka will always hold dear.

“It’s guys like this that keep me coming back,” Cabalka said. “This was a really, really special group.”

When Ernest Winters crossed the finish line, he immediately entered a time warp.

Middleton’s senior track and field standout had just finished first in the coveted 100-meter dash at the WIAA Division 1 state meet at UW-La Crosse last Saturday. With it, Winters captured the tag of Wisconsin’s fastest high schooler.

But instead of focusing on the here and now, Winters flashed back to 2011.

“When I crossed that line I couldn’t believe it,” Winters said. “All I could think about was the first day of track freshman year because that's when it all started. Very humbling experience.”

And a pretty remarkable one, too.
In addition to winning the 100, Winters was also third in the 200. Winters also anchored Middleton’s 400-meter relay team that finished second.

Cardinals senior Andy Keeler also had a big weekend, finishing second in the high jump with a leap of 6-feet, 6 inches.