April 2022

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Apr
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Baseball Cardinals lead the Big Eight

There are a lot of games still to be played.

When last week ended, though, just one team remained unbeaten in the Big Eight Conference baseball race.

Middleton.

The Cardinals swept a pair of games from Madison West and finished the week 4-0 in the conference.

That had Middleton and Janesville Craig (5-1) tied for first place in the league. Sun Prairie and Verona (4-2) were both one game back.

“Both games were very similar,” Middleton manager Brent Jorgensen said. “We didn’t do a lot of flashy things, but played aggressively and took advantage of several mistakes that West made. Conversely, we were able to minimize our mistakes and turn back most of their scoring chances during both games. 

‘I think that means we are starting to become a good team as we were able to put up two good wins without a whole lot of flashy things in the box score.” 

Here’s a recap of Middleton’s week:

Thu
28
Apr
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Softball Cards fall to Sun Prairie

SUN PRAIRIE – It doesn’t matter how you start, but rather how you finish.

That is one lesson the youthful Middleton Cardinals’ softball team learned the hard way last week.

After rallying for a victory over visiting Janesville Parker on April 19, Middleton couldn’t stop a powerful Sun Prairie offense from taking charge.

Host Sun Prairie stormed back from an early five-run deficit to earn a 15-5 victory over Middleton in a game that was called in the bottom of the sixth inning on the mercy rule. 

“I was happy with the way we were swinging the bats,” Middleton coach Brittany Carl said. “It was a little bit of a slow start in the first and second. But in the third they were aggressive and doing their job at the plate, battling off two-strike pitches. At the end, we kind of petered out.”

Middleton (5-3 overall, 4-1 Big Eight) struck for five runs in the top of the third inning to grab a 5-0 lead.

Thu
28
Apr
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Golfers searching for consistency

Middleton’s boys golf team began the season ranked No. 1 in the state.

The start of the season has proven two things, though.

First, the Cardinals can certainly play up to that lofty ranking. Second, there are plenty of good teams across the state capable of knocking off the Cardinals from their lofty perch.

Last week was proof of that.

Middleton shot a sensational 298 at a Big Eight Conference triangular held at Bishop’s Bay on April 19. The Cardinals then finished sixth at 42-team Sheboygan North Invite held April 20 and 21 at Blackwolf Run and Whistling Straits.

“What we do from now on matters,” Middleton coach Tom Cabalka said. “How much they want to get better is up to each player. We have struggled getting five players to score well in the same round. To be a quality team in June, we have to have good consistent play from all five players.”

Thu
28
Apr
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Tennis Cards still unbeaten

Middleton’s boys tennis team stayed atop of the Big Eight Conference after notching a pair of wins last week.

The Cardinals defeated Madison Memorial, 6-1, on April 19. Middleton then toppled Madison West, 6-1, on April 21.

The Cardinals improved to 4-0 in the Big Eight and 9-0 overall.

“I’m really happy with the way we’ve started the season off,” Middleton coach Tony Mirasola said. “I’d say I’m happiest with our level of intensity and effort in the big matches. We certainly have lots of opportunities to improve, but it’s been a promising start.”

Here’s a recap of Middleton’s two wins:

• Middleton 6, Madison Memorial 1 — The Cardinals won all four singles matches and cruised past the Spartans.

Thu
28
Apr
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Soccer Cards split a pair

You can say this for Mary Duffy and Middleton’s girls soccer team.

They don’t hide from anyone.

One week after playing DSHA — the WIAA Division 1 defending state champs — the Cardinals battled Oregon, the top team in Wisconsin.

And much like Middleton’s game against the Dashers, the Cardinals discovered they can play with anyone.

Middleton battled the mighty Panthers throughout, but dropped a 1-0 decision on April 19. The Cardinals then defeated Madison East, 3-0, on April 21.

Middleton is now 2-2-1 overall and 1-0 in the Big Eight Conference.

“We battled throughout the game,” Middleton coach Mary Duffy said of the Oregon game. “Within our first five games, we know we can battle it out with anyone and give ourselves a chance for the win.

Thu
28
Apr
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Girls track team cruises past Regents

The lousy weather has made for a brutal spring.

And for track and field teams everywhere, they’re suddenly up against the gun.

That’s because track has the earliest postseason and state tournament. So track teams have just a few more weeks to round into shape before the postseason arrives.

Middleton took a good step in that direction with a 102-30 win over visiting Madison West on April 19.

“Overall it was a great meet with some good races and competition,” Middleton coach Jay Schweitzer said.

Elle Seager had a big day, winning the 100 high hurdles (18.34) and the 300 long hurdles (52.32). Maddy VanderSanden was also a double winner, with a first place finish and a personal-best mark in the shot put (36-9 ¼) and a first place showing in the discus (96-6).

Jessica Bristol also won a pair of events, the 400-meter run (1:05.84) and the long jump (15-3).

“Jessica Bristol had another solid meet,” Schweitzer said,

Thu
28
Apr
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Boys track team rolls past West

Middleton’s boys track and field team will have just two home meets this season.

The Cardinals — who always like to shine on their home field — hosted their first meet of the season on April 19. And Middleton made the most of it.

The Cardinals dominated the jumps and the throws and defeated Madison West, 88-49.

“It was great to be at home for the first time this season,” Middleton coach Chad Kliefoth said. “The excitement level was high and the kids had put in the work to be ready for this meet. 

“That work paid off in the results and with a number of PR's in this meet. These kids continue to raise the bar each and every meet and that is what we — the coaches — keep asking for.”

Middleton got first place finishes from the following individuals:

• Sam Pilof in the 100-meter dash (11.06 seconds).

• Finn Patenaude in the 300-meter hurdles (42.46).

• Harper Fahey in the 800-meter run (2:02.77).

Mon
25
Apr
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Wolf in the Story

Medieval people believed a wolf could steal your voice if it saw you before you saw it. Because of this, if you were with friends and stopped speaking, someone would often exclaim, “Lupus est in fabula!” which means “Wolf in the story!”*

I am unlikely to bump into many gray wolves where I live. Most of Wisconsin’s more than 1,000 large wolves live to the north of me. But I do see their wily cousin, the prairie or brush wolf, AKA the coyote, all the time. As a hunter and hiker, I spend as much time as I can in the woods, and, more often than not, as I sit quietly and observe, I see these ruddy canines loping, leaping and looking for something to eat. They trot by, through cornfields and under trees, fat and furry. They are yellow-eyed and sometimes they appear and then vanish without abiding by any rules of physics. 

Mon
25
Apr
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District Maps

Had I been on the non-partisan committee appointed by Gov. Tony Evers’ tasked to redraw legislative district maps within the state, I would be disillusioned by the disgusting display of partisanship by both the current legislature and the Wisconsin Supreme Court. I would think eight months of working on drawing fair legislative maps had been for naught. (County and US Congressional maps were not affected.)

In spite of the fact that I was not on that committee, I still feel those things. As if I have witnessed some twisted dog and pony show. Why bother to put a committee in place, gather public input and draw the maps in the first place if you are simply going to allow the Republicans in the state legislature submit their own? Why waste the time of volunteers, taxpayers and the court only to come back with nearly identical gerrymandered districts that were in place before?

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