Sports

SUN PRAIRIE — They didn’t win the conference title last Thursday night. But they didn’t lose it, either.

And that’s the attitude members of Middleton’s softball team are embracing following a 4-2 loss to rival Sun Prairie East, just MHS’ fourth setback of the season and first in Big Eight play.

Middleton could have clinched a share of the league title with a victory. Instead, MHS dropped into a first-place tie with East (both 13-1) with two league games remaining.

“They wanted it more today,” Middleton pitcher Megan Button said. “I don’t think that that’s going to be the outcome at the end of the season. I think that this team really wants it. We just got down really easy on ourselves.

“We are our biggest critics, so finding ways to be able to pick yourself up, go attack and have fun.”

Middleton’s boys track and field team finished in third place at the Big Eight Conference meet on May 16. The Cardinals’ girls finished fourth.

Sun Prairie East won the boys race with 141 points, while Sun Prairie West (100), Middleton (83.50), Janesville Parker (64) and Madison La Follette (63) rounded out thew top five.

Sun Prairie East’s girls also finished first with 154.50. Verona was second (116.50), while Madison Memorial (93), Middleton (76.50) and Janesville Craig (65) rounded out the top five.

Here are Middleton’s top five finishes:

BOYS

• Kingston Penn won the 100-meter dash in 11.04 seconds and was third in the 200 (22.57).

• Matthew Arnold won the 300-meter hurdles (39.82) and Maxwell Hunter was third (41.54).

• Samuel Bauch was second in the 110-meter hurdles (14.93) and River Moll was third (15.68).

• Middleton’s 800-meter relay team was second (1:31.88).

Soccer coaches from across the state will gather this week do their postseason seedings.

Barring anything crazy, Middleton should be in position for a terrific seed in its sectional.

The Cardinals stayed atop the Big Eight Conference with impressive wins over Madison East and Sun Prairie East. Middleton then suffered its first loss of the year, a 1-0 setback to Oregon on May 16.

The Cardinals are currently 9-1-5 and are the highest-ranked team in their sectional. Middleton also has head-to-head wins over Madison West and Verona, the other top teams in its sectional.

Here’s a look at the Cardinals’ week.

• Middleton 8, Madison East 0 — The Cardinals rolled past the Purgolders in a game stopped in the 65^th minute due to the mercy rule.
Maddy Kelm had two goals to lead Middleton’s attack, while six other Cardinals added one goal.

Connie Watson got Middleton started with a header off a Zoe Sharaf corner in the fourth minute.

Middleton’s boys tennis team split a pair of matches at the I-94 Classic hosted by Brookfield Central on May 16-17.

Here’s a recap of the Cardinals’ weekend.

• Brookfield Central 5, Middleton 2 — The Cardinals notched a pair of singles wins, but fell short against the defending WIAA Division 1 champion Lancers.

Senior Henry Arp posted a 6-4, 4-6, 10-8 win over Central’s Austin Tilkins at No. 2. And at No. 3 singles, Middleton’s Cam Hosfield earned a 6-2, 6-3 win over Henry Hyde.

• Middleton 5, Lake Geneva Badger 2 — The Cardinals won all three doubles matches and downed the Badgers on May 16.

Bodi Russo and Caden Cheng notched a 6-1, 6-4 win at No. 1 doubles. At No. 2 doubles, Middleton’s Blake Gibson and Zander Endres earned a hard fought 3-6, 6-1, 10-2 win. And at No. 3 doubles, Eric Sun and Lucas Kurtz prevailed, 6-4, 1-6, 10-7.

Tyree Gamble wasn’t expecting to go from low to high during the last two weeks.

That’s exactly what unfolded, though.

Gamble, the Athletic Director at Clinton High School, was one of the three finalists for Middleton’s A.D. opening that eventually went to Brad Crandell. Gamble left a fantastic impression on the interview committee, though, and last week was offered MHS’ Assistant Athletic Director job previously held by Crandell.

Gamble happily accepted that position and will start his new role on July 1.

“I think the biggest thing is I’m excited to be part of community and learn all about what it means to be a Cardinal,” Gamble said Monday. “I want to listen and learn and I’m just really excited to get started.

“I know they’re super passionate about academics and about athletics. Who wouldn’t want to be part of that?”

Middleton assistant athletic director Brad Crandell was chosen as the school’s new athletic director.

Here’s what some of the coaches at MHS had to say about Crandell.

BRENT JORGENSEN, BASEBALL

“I’ve known Brad for roughly 15 years now, and we’ve worked together in many different ways and professional roles. With each passing year, Brad gets better and better at his profession. I believe taking on the athletic director role will be no different, and Brad will be a great athletic director for MHS.

MADISON — Late last month, Middleton’s baseball team appeared to be on the fast track to nowhere.

The Cardinals had lost five of six games. Middleton had fallen to 5-6 overall.

And the Cardinals’ once-promising season was at a crossroads.

Today, Middleton’s right back where it hoped to be all along — competing for a Big Eight Conference title and postseason greatness.

The Cardinals pushed their winning streak to seven games after rolling to a perfect 4-0 mark last week.

Middleton has improved to 12-6 overall and jumped into third place in the Big Eight. Sun Prairie East (10-2 in the league) and Madison Memorial (9-2) hold the top two spots in the conference, but Middleton is just one game back of both in the loss column.

MADISON — She wasn’t trying to score. But she did anyway.

And what a beautiful goal it was.

Ursula Anstaett’s free kick from just in front of her own team’s bench — along the sideline 40 yards from the goal — arced perfectly just under the crossbar into the back left corner of the net. That broke a scoreless tie in the 45th minute of last Thursday’s Big Eight Conference clash between Middleton and Madison West and ultimately fueled the Cardinals 2-0 victory at Mansfield Stadium.

“I was trying to cross it in and I just kind of mis-hit it in a good way. I think that’s why I was so surprised it went in,” said Anstaett, a senior midfielder. “But that’s why you put it in the box — anything can happen.”

And anything did.

Anstaett’s goal, with 4 minutes, 59 seconds gone by in the second half, surprised her coach, too.

SUSSEX — Brittany Carl knew this could be Middleton’s best softball team in many years.

That this could be the first group of Cardinals to eventually make it to the WIAA Division 1 state tournament since 2008.

So Carl, Middleton’s manager, made sure to load up the schedule so her team would be battle-tested when the postseason arrived.

“We wanted to get tested,” Carl said.

That certainly happened last Saturday, when Middleton traveled to Sussex Hamilton for an exciting triangular.

The Cardinals survived an offensive onslaught in Game 1 and held off strong New Richmond team, 12-10.

Middleton then had its 16-game winning streak snapped, when fifth-ranked Sussex defeated the ninth-ranked Cardinals, 9-2.

Middleton fell to 18-2 overall, but still leads the Big Eight Conference with a 12-0 mark.

There’s no sporting event quite like a playoff in team golf.

Ten golfers. One hole.

Your five scores vs. the opponents.

Middleton and DeForest went head-to-head in a thrilling playoff at the Spartan Invite held at Blackhawk Country Club on May 5.

And while DeForest prevailed on the second playoff hole to win the overall title at this 21-team event, Middleton coach Tom Cabalka knows the experience will help prepare his team for the upcoming postseason.

“A playoff is always exciting,” Cabalka said. “Our five against DeForest's five. It was a great experience to play in front of a large group of spectators and handle the pressure well.”

The Cardinals and Norskies both shot sizzling 295s to tie for first place. Arrowhead was third with a 300, while Madison West (314) and Madison Edgewood (319) rounded out the top-five.

Middleton rallied to force a playoff with a string of birdies down the stretch.