The best-laid plans....
Last August, Duane Mlachnik gave up his Muskego girls basketball head coaching spot to take the same position with the Warrior boys program. At the time, he said it was the most difficult decision he had ever made but also that he was looking forward to the new challenge.
Last week, he resigned from the boys coaching position.
In between came a disappointing 3-18 season as well as what he described as issues with a few -- and he emphasized just a few -- parents. "It was just too much of a hassle," he said. "I didn't feel like dealing with it anymore. The season was not a lot of fun."
It is unfortunate when a coach (or a player, for that matter) comes away from a season feeling like it was not any fun, because isn't high school sports supposed to be all about learning and having fun doing it?
I worked with Duane for several seasons, covering both the Muskego girls and boys teams, and I always found him to be a gentleman, extremely cooperative and friendly.
I particularly remember the aftermath of a particularly agonizing loss in a WIAA girls sectional championship game in March 2008. The Warriors held a nine-point lead in the fourth period against Brookfield Central and appeared to be on their way to Madison, only to see the Lancers storm back to win.
He easily could have hid in the lockerroom and refused to speak to me because of the intense emotions he must have been feeling at that point. Instead, after an appropriate period of time to console his players, he came out and answered my questions in a forthright and honest manner. I respected him for doing that.
I would just like take this opportunity to thank Duane for all his help and wish him good luck in the future.
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The first week of softball season produced a couple of interesting occurrences.
One was the near-perfection reached by New Berlin Eisenhower. In four games, pitchers Lauren Beres and Kayla Schlegel worked a combined 22 innings, allowing just four hits (all by Beres) with 51 strikeouts and no walks. Oh yes, and the Lions did not commit a single error despite playing in cold, windy conditions and on what had to be a hard surface.
Looks like Eisenhower is in good shape to make a run at defending its WIAA Division 2 championship.
The other was a game between West Allis Central and West Allis Hale. For half of the game, pitchers Corinne Burgermeister of Central and Nicky Grubor of Hale were locked in a 1-0 duel.
All of a sudden, the bats came alive on both sides. The Huskies tallied four for a 4-1 lead, then Central came back with three to tie it. Hale went ahead 7-4 in the bottom of the sixth, only to see the Bulldogs tie it again with three in the seventh. Finally, Hale pushed across the winner in the bottom of the seventh on a hit from Morgan Abel.
What a wild, unpredictable game! It again shows what how entertaining softball can be.
By the way, the teams are scheduled to meet again on Tuesday, May 5, at Dorow Field, Central's home.
