Prep softball: Spartans break out the bats in rout of Cedarburg

MADISON — Powered by four different players with multi-hit performances, fifth-seeded Superior showed off its collective prowess at the plate in Thursday’s WIAA Division 1 state quarterfinal matchup with a 10-0 five-inning rout of No. 4 seed Cedarburg at Goodman Diamond on the campus of the University of Wisconsin.

The explosive effort came despite facing one of the toughest pitchers in the state in Paytn Monticelli, who is committed to play Division I softball for the Badgers, and entered the contest with an ERA of 0.33.

After previously giving up a combined six earned runs across 20 starts this season, Monticelli saw that total eclipsed by the hard-hitting Spartans in three innings, and went on to surrender nine earned runs in five innings pitched.

“Everybody in the state knows that she throws super-hard, and we tried to prepare for it by throwing hard to our girls and stuff. It looks like the stuff that we did might've worked,” Superior coach Mike Sather said. “It was just one of those days where obviously things went great for us because she’s a great pitcher (and) that’s a great team. Things just went really well for us.”

Melania Luostari led the way for Superior with a perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate, complete with a trio of base hits. Luostari said she made some subtle adjustments to her approach in preparation for the challenge presented by Monticelli.

“I just went into my stride right away and just went straight from stride to stop. I didn't try to do anything too much, I didn’t try to hit home runs, I just tried to do what’s best for the team and I did it. I went 3-for-3 and I’m really proud about it,” Luostari said.

Luostari tallied her first hit of the game in the top of the first inning with a bloop single to shallow left field — setting in motion a two-out rally for the Spartans, which provided them with a quick 3-0 lead.

Indigo Fish pushed the first run across with a softly-hit single to left field before Natalee Sigfrids capped off the tone-setting inning with an RBI single to make it 2-0. A wild pitch on the ensuing at-bat plated the third and final run of the inning.

Superior opened the floodgates with two more crooked numbers posted in the third and fifth innings, highlighted by a pair of extra-base hits from Avery Visger, along with a double by Sigfrids and a run-scoring base hit by Gabbi Saari.

Ari Robillard, Visger, Sigfrids and Luostari all finished the game with two or more hits in what was another display of the lineup depth possessed by the Spartans.

“Every time people ask us about our team, I do mention that we have a lineup that’s strong all the way up and down the lineup, so if it’s not one person carrying the team that particular day, then it’s somebody else,” Sather said. “And obviously when you have a full lineup like that, the probability of winning any particular game is higher.”

Haley Zembo extended her shutout streak to two games with five more scoreless innings in the circle. The Winona State softball commit struck out six Bulldogs hitters while only giving up a trio of hits and a pair of walks.

The Bulldogs' biggest scoring threat came in the bottom of the third inning after the two walks put runners on first and second with one out. The opportunity was foiled swiftly with help from catcher Emma Raye, who fired a bullet to first baseman Fish to pick off the baserunner to collect the second out. Zembo closed the inning with another strikeout.

Between her ability to throw out baserunners to her calming demeanor behind the plate, Zembo said Raye helps her in many ways.

“She always knows what I’m throwing good that day and how to pick me up and how to keep me focused on the mound,” Zembo said. “She’s very good back there.”

The 10-0 win over Cedarburg sets up a rematch against top seed Kaukauna, who handed the Spartans one of their two losses this season in a 3-0 final back in May.

According to Sather, another strong performance at the plate will be key to their success.

“We’re going to have to score runs, because they’re going to score runs. They're a really good team and they’re all athletes. I mean you’re not stopping them, you just gotta hope you score one more run than them. So we’ll see,” Sather said.