Sports

Saturday morning didn’t provide an ideal start for Middleton’s girls track and field team.

The Cardinals were at the Monona Grove Invite, and as winds gusted up to 25 miles per hour, Middleton couldn’t get its tent set up.

“We had to abandon the idea and take shelter behind the bleachers,” Middleton coach Tara Franklin said.

That was about the only thing that went wrong for the Cardinals.

Middleton posted 154.50 points and ran away with the team title at the eight-team invite. Verona was second with 109.50, while Madison Edgewood (98.50), Monona Grove (94) and Madison La Follette (74.50) rounded out the top five.

“It’s definitely one of the highlights of the season for the girls,” Franklin said of winning the title. “It is always fun to do well at this point in the season.”

The Cardinals certainly did that.

Middleton’s girls soccer team has won three straight games.

And with the postseason just two weeks away, perhaps the Cardinals are finding themselves at the perfect time.

Middleton’s winning streak helped push its record to 9-4-2. The Cardinals are also in third place in the Big Eight Conference at 5-1-1.

Here’s a recap of Middleton’s past week.

• Middleton 4, Madison East 0 — The Cardinals got goals from four different players and rolled past the Purgolders Monday night.

Bridget Arnold, Grace Douglas, Ryleigh Wolff and Brenna Shea all scored for Middleton.

East had just five shots on goal, and Meghan Ledin and Liz McMahon combined for the shutout.

• Middleton 2, Muskego 0 — The Cardinals toppled the Warriors at the Brookfield East Invitational last Saturday.

The Big Eight Conference baseball race remains wide open.

But Middleton was dangerously close to falling by the wayside.

The Cardinals avoided that fate on Monday, though, with a gigantic 4-1 win at Janesville Craig.

Sun Prairie remains at the top of the league with a 9-2 conference mark. But Madison West (7-2), Janesville Craig (5-3) and Middleton (4-3) all remain within shouting distance.

“I still think it’s anybody’s game,” Middleton manager Tom Schmitt said of the Big Eight race. “There’s a lot of teams still in it.”

Middleton wouldn't have been one of those teams with a loss at Craig. But the Cardinals got a sensational pitching effort from senior Brian Lochner and some clutch hitting to knock off the Cougars.

Middleton had lost both of its games to Craig a year ago, which made Monday’s win even more important.

“It was a big win,” Schmitt said. “We really needed it.”

Lochner was a big reason the Cardinals prevailed.

You can say this about Middleton’s boys track and field program.

The Cardinals don’t shy away from anybody. They can also compete with just about anyone.

Middleton proved that last Friday.

The Cardinals went to the star-studded Hartland Arrowhead Invite and finished fourth out of 18 teams.

Green Bay Preble won the meet with 118 points, while Arrowhead (73), Mukwonago (67), Middleton (61.5) and Shorewood (48) rounded out the top five.

That marked the second straight year Middleton finished fourth at this powerhouse event.

“We had a great day at Arrowhead,” Cardinals coach Isaac Mezera said. “I think it's a nice statement about the program that with two events left, we were within striking distance of second place.”

Middleton’s girls soccer team was largely dominant last week.

But in soccer — perhaps more than any other sport — that guarantees you nothing.

The Cardinals controlled play against Verona last Tuesday, but settled for a 1-1 tie. Middleton rebounded, though, and drilled Sun Prairie, 5-1, last Thursday.

Middleton is now 6-3-2 overall and 3-1-1 in the Big Eight Conference, which is good for third place.

“Sometimes domination on the field doesn’t mean an automatic win,” Middleton coach Mary Duffy said of the Verona game.

The Verona game was proof of that.

The Cardinals controlled the first half, but couldn't break through. In the 38^th minute, though, Verona had a free kick goal and took a 1-0 lead.

“We blinked,” Duffy said. “And when we blink, we lose concentration and usually get scored on. We have yet to keep that mental focus for all 80 minutes.”

The weather was rotten — as its been this entire spring.

Conditions were far from ideal. And the cold and dampness led to additional challenges.

But when Middleton’s girls track and field team left the Arrowhead Invite last Friday night, they had plenty to feel good about.

The Cardinals finished fifth out of 19 teams at this top-flight event. Host Arrowhead won the meet with 133.5 points, while Neenah (76), Milwaukee Riverside (75), Green Bay Preble (51.5) and Middleton (41) rounded out the top five.

“This meet was extremely competitive, as it usually is, and again the conditions were pretty horrible,” Middleton coach Tara Franklin said. “The good thing is that it didn't seem to affect too many of our performances. 

“The girls seem to be getting used to this kind of weather. The warmer conditions will really be welcomed and hopefully our times will even drop more.”

Middleton had several top-notch performances at Arrowhead.

Middleton’s boys golf team went 1-1 at the Beloit Memorial Triangular last Wednesday.

The Cardinals shot 323 and defeated the host Purple Knights by one shot. Verona won the triangular, though, with a 319 team score.

Middleton freshman Brady Thomas led the Cardinals with a 79, while freshman Emmet Herb carded an 80. Cardinals senior Mike Wiebe shot an 81 and junior Josh Haunty had an 83.

Middleton is now 5-1 in Big Eight Conference dual meets, while Verona remained undefeated in league play.

Middleton also finished in 15^th place at last Tuesday’s Briggs and Stratton Golf Championships held at Bristlecone Pines in Hartland.

Milwaukee Marquette won the 17-team tournament with a 305, while Brookfield East (314), Holmen (316), Brookfield Central (319) and Onalaska (320) rounded out the top five.

Middleton shot a 355, but brought largely junior varsity players to the tournament.

As the Home Talent League season arrived, Middleton manager Brandon Hellenbrand was brimming with confidence.

“I feel like we could have a really good year,” Hellenbrand said. “We bring a lot of veterans back and added some new guys as well. We are looking for some younger players to step up this year and really contribute. It should be a fun year for us.”

Middleton certainly started out on the right foot, rolling past Reedsburg, 11-3, in its season-opener Sunday.

Josh Hinson led the offense, going 3-for-3 with a home run, a double and two RBI. Jeff Schafer threw five strong innings and earned the win, while Drew Farrell pitched the final four frames and notched the save.

“Overall, I was very happy with the way that we played for the first game,” Hellenbrand said. “Our pitching and hitting were very strong.

Golf scores across the state are sky high.

That’s what a month of rain and lack of practice time will do.

Middleton appears to be an exception to the rule, though.

The Cardinals are on a roll, winning a pair of 18-hole tournaments in Wisconsin Dells Monday. Middleton also won the Sparta Invitational last Saturday.

“We’ve had some excellent numbers,” Middleton coach Tom Cabalka said. “I’m really happy with the scores.”

Rightfully so.

Middleton played 36 holes during a 12-hour golfing marathon Monday. But it was time well spent as the Cardinals won a pair of tournaments in Wisconsin Dells.

Middleton fired a 304 team score at Trappers Turn, then shot a 302 at Christmas Mountain. The Cardinals finished first at each venue, and their 606 overall score easily surpassed runner-up Beloit Memorial (639).

“We brought home a lot of hardware,” Cabalka said.

During this on-again, off-again spring, consistency has been a virtual impossibility for baseball teams everywhere.

But Middleton manager Tom Schmitt believes his team is awfully close to the level of steadiness he desires.

The Cardinals strung together three consecutive wins in a 48-hour stretch between Saturday and Monday.

Middleton swept a doubleheader from Watertown on Saturday, then thumped Janesville Parker, 13-3, on Monday.

Middleton is now 5-2 overall and 3-2 in the Big Eight Conference.

“If we can continue to play and get better like we have these last three games, the potential is there,” Schmitt said. “We just have to keep improving.”

Here’s a recap of the Cardinals’ week.

• Middleton 13, Janesville Parker 3 — The Cardinals pounded out 16 hits and rolled past the visiting Vikings Monday afternoon.