Sports

Understandably, Tom Schmitt was an extremely happy camper Thursday evening.

Middleton’s manager had just watched his team dismantle Beloit Memorial, 7-2. The win lifted the Cardinals to a perfect 3-0 on the young season.

But it was more than Middleton’s unblemished mark that had Schmitt so excited.

In compiling a perfect start, the Cardinals have had sensational pitching, solid hitting, and for the most part, pretty solid defense.

Honestly, there’s not much more the demanding manager could ask for.

“It’s great to be 3-0. You can't be any better than that,” Schmitt said. “But it’s how we’re doing it. We’re playing really solid ball.

“This is a good group of kids, they’re working hard and their attitude has been great. That’s what you want.”

The Cardinals have been giving Schmitt everything he could possibly want, outscoring their first four opponents, 18-4.

There will be no bold proclamations.

No forecasts of greatness or predictions of success.

That’s not how Tom Cabalka operates.

But Middleton’s boys golf coach will most certainly bring a quiet confidence into the season — one that begins Friday at the Wisconsin Dells Invite.

“I’ll just say expectations will be high,” said Cabalka, who guided Middleton to the 2011 state title. “With what we have back, we certainly expect to be in the hunt.”

On paper, anyhow, Middleton brings back as much talent as any team in the Big Eight Conference. And perhaps more importantly, the Cardinals return a group that could have the firepower to return to state — a place Middleton hasn't been since 2011.

The Cardinals are led by senior Josh Haunty, who played No. 1 much of last season. Middleton also brings back the terrific sophomore trio of Emmett Herb, Brady Thomas and Joey Levin — who all played varsity as freshmen.

No goal seems too great.

No objective appears out of reach.

Middleton’s boys tennis team opens its season Friday at the Brookfield Academy Invite. And the Cardinals’ quest for the first WIAA Division 1 state title in school history certainly seems possible.

“Yes, we're setting our goals high,” Middleton second-year coach Deke Bradley said. “Winning conference and winning team state are our two biggest goals. We'll have to play our very best tennis at the right time to accomplish both, but we definitely feel like we'll be in the running.”
With good reason.

Middleton returns 10 of its top 12 players from last year’s team that won the Big Eight Conference title. The Cardinals also add standout freshman Jake Van Emburgh, who’s already one of the most gifted players in the state.

Mary Duffy has been an integral part of Middleton’s soccer program for nine years now.

Duffy has seen the Cardinals reach the state tournament four times — including last spring. And she saw Middleton win a state championship in 2006.

So when Duffy was asked if the 2014 Cardinals could be the best outfit she’s been around, her answer is certainly telling.

“Yes,” said Duffy, who’s beginning her fourth season as the Cardinals’ head coach after serving five as an assistant. “Both (assistant) coach (Cathy) Patton and I believe this team is extremely talented and has a great attitude, work ethic, and team chemistry. 

“I think this is the best gathering of talented girls that I can remember.  They have good technical skill, and tactically, I hope we will be able to get into possession soccer sooner than we did last year to help us improve our game even quicker.

As far as first impressions go, this one was ideal.

Middleton’s baseball team opened its season Saturday with an 8-1 win over Monona Grove.

“Very pleased with how things went,” Middleton manager Tom Schmitt said.

With good reason.

Middleton used four pitchers and allowed just four hits. Kasey Miller, the Cardinals’ second pitcher of the game, earned the win.

Garrett Knudtson started the game, was extremely sharp, and was slated to pitch in Middleton’s Big Eight Conference opener against Madison Memorial Tuesday.

Miller threw the next two innings, and according to Schmitt “had good velocity and was in command.”

Matt Ash worked the fifth and sixth innings and threw his off-speed pitches for strikes. And Hayden Denson worked a perfect seventh inning.

Last Saturday marked a wild day for Middleton’s girls track and field team.

The Cardinals sent most of their squad to the WTFA State Indoor Championships held at UW-Whitewater. There, the Cardinals finished in a 17^th place tie among 49 teams.

Middleton also sent many of its athletes to the Whitewater Indoor Invitational, where it finished fifth.

“TFA was an absolutely amazing track meet that truly showed lots of great talent from across the state and all three divisions,” Middleton coach Tara Franklin said. “We did get to take part in some of the excitement as well.”

That’s for sure.

Middleton’s Sam Valentine finished seventh in the 1,600 meter run (5:11.19), while Delaney Foster was 19^th in the same event (5:26.68).

“Sam Valentine and Delaney Foster ran extremely well in the final and fastest heat of this race,” Franklin said. “Rarely do you see so many girls running this well so early in the season, but we did.”

Isaac Mezera examined all the results.

He crunched the numbers and inspected the data.

Then Middleton’s boys track and field coach came to the only solution possible.

“Saturday was a great day for the boys track program,” Mezera said.

And how.

Middleton brought the majority of its team to the power-packed Madison West Relays and finished fourth among 22 star-studded teams. The Cardinals also brought several athletes to the Watertown Invite, where Middleton finished second among 10 teams.

“When we got back to Middleton from the meet I told the guys we might just be a stronger team than last season,” said Mezera, whose team won the Big Eight Conference title a year ago. “That carries some pressure and expectations, but I think the guys are hungry for that.”

The Cardinals looked hungry at the West Relays, a meet featuring several of the state’s top programs. And Middleton showed it certainly belonged among the elite.

Ahhh, spring break.

Vacations centered around beaches, amusement parks, late nights and sleeping in.

This might be how many Middleton High School students spent last week. For Middleton’s girls softball team, it was the polar opposite.

Middleton’s players were up bright and early for a 90-minute practice. There were two-hour practices in the afternoon. And in between, there was an hour of classroom time.

Middleton head coach Cherie Hellenbrand returned this season after stepping down three years ago. And Hellenbrand has a rather simple philosophy.

“I want to be good. I don’t want to (stink),” Hellenbrand said. “And if we don’t put in the work, we’re going to (stink).”

The Cardinals have definitely experienced a fall from grace since Hellenbrand stepped down.

Middleton went 28-35 over the last three seasons, including a 25-28 mark in the Big Eight Conference.

Tom Schmitt wasn’t messing around.

Middleton’s veteran baseball manager gathered his team during one of their first practices of the season. And Schmitt delivered a rather simple message.

“I told them right off the bat that I’m tired of finishing second,” Schmitt said.

Middleton has been one of the state’s elite programs for two decades now. But Sun Prairie has been the class of the Big Eight Conference in recent seasons. Sun Prairie has won three straight league titles — including back-to-back WIAA Division 1 state titles.

Sun Prairie began this season ranked No. 1 in the state by wissports.net. But Middleton, which is ranked No. 11 and picked for third in the Big Eight, believes it has the talent to pass Sun Prairie this spring.

Hayden Acker knows all too well about Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.

Middleton’s senior football standout had three operations at Children’s between the ages of 12 and 16.

So you can understand Acker’s elation when he was recently named to the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-Star Game. Middleton senior linebacker Elliot Tanin was also selected for the game.

The game will be held July 19 at UW-Oshkosh’s Titan Stadium.

The WFCA All-Star Game benefits the patient care programs at Children’s Hospital. And Acker was thrilled to receive an invite to the game, as well as do his part to give back to Children’s.

“When I got the letter saying that I had been selected for the all star game, I was elated,” said Acker, an all-Big Eight Conference offensive lineman last season. “I called my dad immediately and told him. It’s such a great honor and I’m excited to represent Middleton.”