Sports

When it comes to weather, it’s been another lousy spring.

And last Friday certainly was no exception.

But Middleton’s girls track and field team overcame some miserable conditions and won the 11-team Watertown Invitational.

The Cardinals finished with 134 points and outdistanced runner-up Lakeside Lutheran (109). Madison Memorial (96), Hartford (93) and Neenah (91) rounded out the top five.

“The weather for this meet has a history of being less than desirable,” Middleton coach Tara Franklin said. “This one was stormy, wet and cold, as well as delayed for nearly 90 minutes.

“Some of the field events were also held indoors. The results for the meet definitely were something to leave us all smiling about.”

That’s for sure.

Middleton had several first place finishes.

Middleton’s girls softball team has designs on winning a Big Eight Conference championship this spring.

But if that’s going to happen, the Cardinals can’t stumble against mid-level teams inside the league.

The Cardinals did exactly what they were supposed to and rolled past Madison West, 8-2, last Tuesday. But Middleton stubbed its toe and dropped a 4-3 decision to Beloit Memorial last Thursday.

The Cardinals fell to 6-3 overall and 5-2 in the Big Eight. Middleton is now fourth in the conference standings, but just one game behind league-leading Janesville Craig (6-1, 7-2).

“The loss to Beloit was extremely disappointing,” Middleton manager Cherie Hellenbrand said. “The hits just didn't fall in the gaps. We will move forward as a team, learn and grow from it.”

Middleton played extremely well in its win over Madison West.

Middleton’s girls soccer team had a wild week.

When the Cardinals’ string of five games had ended, they had gone 2-1-2 and were tied for first place in the Big Eight Conference. Middleton is now 5-2-3 overall and 3-0 in the league.

Here’s a recap of the Cardinals’ busy week:

• Middleton 2, Verona 0 — Megan Sullivan scored in the 55^th minute and Grace Douglas added an insurance goal in the 83^rd minute as the Cardinals rolled past the host Wildcats last Tuesday.

“It took us a little while to figure out the speed because of the turf and because the field is so much bigger,” Middleton coach Mary Duffy said. “We moved Douglas into the center mid so that she could cover more ground offensively and defensively, which allowed us to squash any of Verona’s offensive movement.”

• Middleton 6, Madison East 0 — Macey Kalscheur scored two goals to power the Cardinals past the Purgolders last Thursday.

Remarkably, their season is quickly nearing the midway point.

There has been improvement. There have been positive signs.

But there is one thing Middleton’s baseball team is in desperate search of: consistency. And Thursday was a perfect example of that.

The Cardinals, who had won two straight games and three of four, dropped a 2-1 decision to Madison West at Mansfield. Middleton, which defeated three-time defending state champion Sun Prairie just five days earlier, fell to 3-4 in the Big Eight Conference and 4-6 overall.

“For whatever reason, we just weren’t mentally focused,” Middleton manager Tom Schmitt said. “Guys just weren’t ready to go.

“I don’t understand why that is. But we definitely weren’t ready to go. Shame on us.”

Middleton’s boys golf team had an awfully exciting 24-hour stretch this week.

First, the Cardinals were ranked No. 1 in the first Golf Coaches Association of Wisconsin (GCAW) poll of the season.

Middleton then played to that lofty standard and won the 22-team WPGA Invitational Monday afternoon at Maple Bluff Country Club.

On a cold, wet and rainy day, the Cardinals shot 325 as a team and edged Madison Edgewood (326) by one shot. Monroe was third at 327, while Stoughton (339) and Waukesha Catholic Memorial (340) rounded out the top five.

“Very good event for us at the WPGA,” Middleton coach Tom Cabalka said. “It was extremely windy and very cold conditions, and along with a challenging course it made for a difficult day. I thought our 325 was a solid day.”

Junior Emmet Herb led Middleton with an 8-over-par 79. That was good was a fourth place finish individually.

It took a tad longer than they would have liked.

But Middleton’s baseball team seems to be finding its groove.

After a rough start to the season, the Cardinals won two of three games last week — including an impressive 14-5 rout of three-time defending state champion Sun Prairie last Saturday.

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

“We had a good week of baseball,” Middleton manager Tom Schmitt said. “That’s the first time we’ve won in Sun Prairie since they built their new stadium (in 2011).”

Middleton’s win over Sun Prairie was arguably its best victory in several seasons. Sun Prairie, ranked No. 4 in the state, was 7-1 overall and 4-0 in the Big Eight.

Middleton used a six-run third inning, though, to grab a big early lead and never looked back.

VERONA — There were countless opportunities.

One chance after another to change the one-sided nature of this rivalry.

So when it was over, and host Verona had toppled Middleton, 5-1, in a girls softball game last Friday, Cardinals head coach Cherie Hellenbrand was understandably frustrated.

“They have a reputation as the team to beat and they’ve earned that,” Hellenbrand said of the Wildcats. “But we had chances to win this game. We just need more confidence.”

By winning this early Big Eight Conference showdown, the Wildcats improved to 5-0 in the league, 6-0 overall and moved into sole possession of first place in the league. Middleton fell to 5-2 overall and 4-1 in the league.

Mary Duffy is no different than the rest of the soccer world.

She’s a competitor, a fighter. And settling for a tie isn’t something Duffy is typically thrilled with.

But Duffy — Middleton’s girls soccer coach — was all right with a tie last Friday night.

Middleton traveled to Kettle Moraine, the No. 3 team in the state, and battled the Lasers to a 1-1 tie. Considering the Cardinals are a relatively inexperienced team working in several new pieces, Duffy left highly encouraged by the result.

“Of course, like every competitive player, I want to win,” Duffy said. “However, the results we wanted to see weren't just the ‘W.’ I wanted to see how the girls would stand up against a tough opponent.”

Middleton, which is now 3-0-1 on the young season, stood up extremely well.

The outdoor season has arrived for Middleton’s girls track and field team.

And the Cardinals seem ready for a memorable six-week run.

Middleton rolled at the Madison East Triangular last Tuesday. The Cardinals cruised past Verona, 92-54, and toppled the Purgolders, 115-31.

Middleton also won its own triangular last Thursday, besting Janesville Craig, 130-16, and topping Madison Memorial, 89-57.

“Overall, we are off to a great start to the outdoor season,” Middleton coach Tara Franklin said. “Our indoor meets were limited in entries, but they definitely got us heading in the right direction.”

Middleton had several terrific showings at the Madison East Triangular.

The 3,200-meter relay team of Victoria Trantow, Milena Martin, Katie Schmidt and Emma Larson was first (10:58). Lauren Smith won the 100-meter hurdles (16.8) and Sara Gaab was second (16.9).

Middleton’s boys track and field team has been the gold standard inside the Big Eight Conference the last two years.

But the Cardinals discovered last Tuesday they’ll have to take things up a notch to stay atop the league.

At the Madison East Triangular last Tuesday, the Cardinals defeated the Purgolders, 115.5-30.5. But Middleton also fell to Verona, 81-65.

The Cardinals then rolled past Madison Memorial, 89-57, and Janesville Craig, 89.5-5, at the Middleton Triangular last Thursday.

“The dual meets don’t count towards the conference champion,” Middleton coach Isaac Mezera said. “All the glory goes to whoever wins the conference meet, so I'm confident we'll fare better against Verona when it counts. However, it seems that they might be our closest competition for the conference title this year.”

Middleton did have several outstanding performances at the two triangulars.