Sports

This was not the way John Boyle anticipated spending his retirement.

It’s not the way Haley Boyle thought she’d spend her early-30s.

And it’s certainly not the way Mary Boyle’s golden years were supposed to be.

But Alzheimer’s disease doesn’t care about your plans. It doesn’t ask questions. It only takes names.

And the Boyle’s — one of Middleton’s first families for more than two decades — are feeling the effects.

Mary Boyle, now 61, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2010. The ensuing four years have been hell on the Boyle family, changing everything about life as they once knew it.

As a way to help fight this brutal disease, Haley Boyle — the oldest of three children — is chairing the local chapter of the “Blondes vs. Brunettes” football game. Two teams of women — divided to reflect the age-old rivalry between blondes and brunettes — will compete in a flag football game aimed at one day ending Alzheimer’s.

Cherie Hellenbrand is the ultimate competitor.

Middleton’s girls softball coach wants to beat you, whether its checkers, tiddlywinks or the sport she coaches.

The Cardinals almost gave Hellenbrand a perfect week. But despite winning two of three games, Hellenbrand was quite pleased.

That’s because Middleton faced three teams expected to be in the upper half of the Big Eight Conference and nearly pulled off a clean sweep.

Middleton defeated host Janesville Craig, 4-1, last Tuesday, then toppled visiting Sun Prairie, 8-7, on Wednesday. The Cardinals also fell to visiting Madison La Follette, 4-0, last Thursday, but ended the week feeling awfully good about the direction they’re headed.

“Two out of three, I can live with that … especially with who we’ve played in the conference,” Hellenbrand said. “We’ve played the top teams in the conference and we’ve held our own.”

Middleton certainly held its own against Craig.

Middleton’s boys golfers are expecting big things this season.

And after an impressive opening week, the Cardinals’ optimism certainly seems warranted.

Middleton shot a sensational 299 and won a Big Eight Conference triangular at Beloit Memorial last Wednesday. The Cardinals then won the rain-shortened Wisconsin Dells Invite last weekend with a one round score of 304.

“What is exciting about this bunch is that even though they have played well early, they all know that they have things that they can work on to get better,” Middleton coach Tom Cabalka said. “My expectations were high … but what is really exciting is that they have even higher expectations for themselves.”

With good reason.

The Dells Invite was supposed to run Friday and Saturday. But the second day was cancelled midway through after heavy rains and lightning.

Understandably, Tom Schmitt was an extremely happy camper Thursday evening.

Middleton’s manager had just watched his team dismantle Beloit Memorial, 7-2. The win lifted the Cardinals to a perfect 3-0 on the young season.

But it was more than Middleton’s unblemished mark that had Schmitt so excited.

In compiling a perfect start, the Cardinals have had sensational pitching, solid hitting, and for the most part, pretty solid defense.

Honestly, there’s not much more the demanding manager could ask for.

“It’s great to be 3-0. You can't be any better than that,” Schmitt said. “But it’s how we’re doing it. We’re playing really solid ball.

“This is a good group of kids, they’re working hard and their attitude has been great. That’s what you want.”

The Cardinals have been giving Schmitt everything he could possibly want, outscoring their first four opponents, 18-4.

There will be no bold proclamations.

No forecasts of greatness or predictions of success.

That’s not how Tom Cabalka operates.

But Middleton’s boys golf coach will most certainly bring a quiet confidence into the season — one that begins Friday at the Wisconsin Dells Invite.

“I’ll just say expectations will be high,” said Cabalka, who guided Middleton to the 2011 state title. “With what we have back, we certainly expect to be in the hunt.”

On paper, anyhow, Middleton brings back as much talent as any team in the Big Eight Conference. And perhaps more importantly, the Cardinals return a group that could have the firepower to return to state — a place Middleton hasn't been since 2011.

The Cardinals are led by senior Josh Haunty, who played No. 1 much of last season. Middleton also brings back the terrific sophomore trio of Emmett Herb, Brady Thomas and Joey Levin — who all played varsity as freshmen.

No goal seems too great.

No objective appears out of reach.

Middleton’s boys tennis team opens its season Friday at the Brookfield Academy Invite. And the Cardinals’ quest for the first WIAA Division 1 state title in school history certainly seems possible.

“Yes, we're setting our goals high,” Middleton second-year coach Deke Bradley said. “Winning conference and winning team state are our two biggest goals. We'll have to play our very best tennis at the right time to accomplish both, but we definitely feel like we'll be in the running.”
With good reason.

Middleton returns 10 of its top 12 players from last year’s team that won the Big Eight Conference title. The Cardinals also add standout freshman Jake Van Emburgh, who’s already one of the most gifted players in the state.

Mary Duffy has been an integral part of Middleton’s soccer program for nine years now.

Duffy has seen the Cardinals reach the state tournament four times — including last spring. And she saw Middleton win a state championship in 2006.

So when Duffy was asked if the 2014 Cardinals could be the best outfit she’s been around, her answer is certainly telling.

“Yes,” said Duffy, who’s beginning her fourth season as the Cardinals’ head coach after serving five as an assistant. “Both (assistant) coach (Cathy) Patton and I believe this team is extremely talented and has a great attitude, work ethic, and team chemistry. 

“I think this is the best gathering of talented girls that I can remember.  They have good technical skill, and tactically, I hope we will be able to get into possession soccer sooner than we did last year to help us improve our game even quicker.

As far as first impressions go, this one was ideal.

Middleton’s baseball team opened its season Saturday with an 8-1 win over Monona Grove.

“Very pleased with how things went,” Middleton manager Tom Schmitt said.

With good reason.

Middleton used four pitchers and allowed just four hits. Kasey Miller, the Cardinals’ second pitcher of the game, earned the win.

Garrett Knudtson started the game, was extremely sharp, and was slated to pitch in Middleton’s Big Eight Conference opener against Madison Memorial Tuesday.

Miller threw the next two innings, and according to Schmitt “had good velocity and was in command.”

Matt Ash worked the fifth and sixth innings and threw his off-speed pitches for strikes. And Hayden Denson worked a perfect seventh inning.

Last Saturday marked a wild day for Middleton’s girls track and field team.

The Cardinals sent most of their squad to the WTFA State Indoor Championships held at UW-Whitewater. There, the Cardinals finished in a 17^th place tie among 49 teams.

Middleton also sent many of its athletes to the Whitewater Indoor Invitational, where it finished fifth.

“TFA was an absolutely amazing track meet that truly showed lots of great talent from across the state and all three divisions,” Middleton coach Tara Franklin said. “We did get to take part in some of the excitement as well.”

That’s for sure.

Middleton’s Sam Valentine finished seventh in the 1,600 meter run (5:11.19), while Delaney Foster was 19^th in the same event (5:26.68).

“Sam Valentine and Delaney Foster ran extremely well in the final and fastest heat of this race,” Franklin said. “Rarely do you see so many girls running this well so early in the season, but we did.”

Isaac Mezera examined all the results.

He crunched the numbers and inspected the data.

Then Middleton’s boys track and field coach came to the only solution possible.

“Saturday was a great day for the boys track program,” Mezera said.

And how.

Middleton brought the majority of its team to the power-packed Madison West Relays and finished fourth among 22 star-studded teams. The Cardinals also brought several athletes to the Watertown Invite, where Middleton finished second among 10 teams.

“When we got back to Middleton from the meet I told the guys we might just be a stronger team than last season,” said Mezera, whose team won the Big Eight Conference title a year ago. “That carries some pressure and expectations, but I think the guys are hungry for that.”

The Cardinals looked hungry at the West Relays, a meet featuring several of the state’s top programs. And Middleton showed it certainly belonged among the elite.