MONROE - The game of baseball is filled with superstitions and signs. Not just hand signs for baserunners (or number calling), but also tell-tale signs of the future.
Monroe's baseball team saw plenty of good "signs" for the future in the season opening 5-2 win over Mount Horeb on Monday.
For one, starting pitcher Logan Wells threw a first-pitch strike to open the game and followed that up by striking out the side in the first inning. Then, Drew Nafzger led off the Cheesemakers' season at the plate with an opposite field single.
"We went as Logan went. He went well and pounded the strike zone," Monroe coach Dustin Huffman said. "He was hitting the outside corner and hitting his spots. His curveball has improved ten-fold from last year. When he's looking good like that it makes it easier for the infielders and the rest of the teams. We're pretty happy."
To top it all off for the Cheesemakers, senior Kramer Henning hit a decisive, 2-run homer in the fifth inning and then picked up a one-out save with a strikeout with two on in the top of the seventh.
"We knew we had to stay focused," Henning said. "They were coming back and I knew we needed another run."
Wells, who was on a 75-pitch count, had both his fastball and curveball working from the start.
"It was the first game of the year, and I actually felt rusty at the beginning," Wells said. "But once you get in there and into the groove, it works out."
Wells, a senior, struck out seven of the first 11 hitters he saw, taking a perfect game into the fourth before plunking a batter. Mount Horeb didn't gather a hit until the top of the fifth on a hit-and-run. With two outs left in the last inning, Huffman pulled Wells for Henning with runners on the corners because of the pitch count.
"There was one out left, but I don't like to leave something unfinished. I thought I could dig deep, but it's a long season - a marathon, not a sprint," said Wells, who finished with 10 strikeouts in 6 2-3 innings, four hits and one earned run.
The Cheesemakers scored their first run of the season in the second inning. With runners on second and third, Michael Turek struck out on a low ball in the dirt that skipped away from the catcher and allowed the runners to move up. Moments later Wells hit a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.
"Everyone made a play, and that's what you like to see in the first game of the year," Huffman said. "We've taken a lot of reps for the last two and a half weeks in the cage. But you can't simulate what's on the mound. We came out and stung the ball pretty well. Everyone contributed."
Mount Horeb capitalized on a wild pitch in the top of the fifth to make it 2-1, but Henning's home run over the scoreboard in right center gave the Cheesemakers some more breathing room.
"He hit that ball hard. It's very encouraging to see that this early," Huffman said.
Mount Horeb scored another run in the top of the sixth, but Wells and Henning were able to hold on.
Mitch Marty was 2 for 3 with a walk and a double. Marty reached base in each of his four trips to the plate. Dylan Schwitz was 1 for 2 with two walks, and Drew Nafzger was 1 for 3 with a walk. As a team the Cheesemakers had six hits and six walks.
Monroe's baseball team saw plenty of good "signs" for the future in the season opening 5-2 win over Mount Horeb on Monday.
For one, starting pitcher Logan Wells threw a first-pitch strike to open the game and followed that up by striking out the side in the first inning. Then, Drew Nafzger led off the Cheesemakers' season at the plate with an opposite field single.
"We went as Logan went. He went well and pounded the strike zone," Monroe coach Dustin Huffman said. "He was hitting the outside corner and hitting his spots. His curveball has improved ten-fold from last year. When he's looking good like that it makes it easier for the infielders and the rest of the teams. We're pretty happy."
To top it all off for the Cheesemakers, senior Kramer Henning hit a decisive, 2-run homer in the fifth inning and then picked up a one-out save with a strikeout with two on in the top of the seventh.
"We knew we had to stay focused," Henning said. "They were coming back and I knew we needed another run."
Wells, who was on a 75-pitch count, had both his fastball and curveball working from the start.
"It was the first game of the year, and I actually felt rusty at the beginning," Wells said. "But once you get in there and into the groove, it works out."
Wells, a senior, struck out seven of the first 11 hitters he saw, taking a perfect game into the fourth before plunking a batter. Mount Horeb didn't gather a hit until the top of the fifth on a hit-and-run. With two outs left in the last inning, Huffman pulled Wells for Henning with runners on the corners because of the pitch count.
"There was one out left, but I don't like to leave something unfinished. I thought I could dig deep, but it's a long season - a marathon, not a sprint," said Wells, who finished with 10 strikeouts in 6 2-3 innings, four hits and one earned run.
The Cheesemakers scored their first run of the season in the second inning. With runners on second and third, Michael Turek struck out on a low ball in the dirt that skipped away from the catcher and allowed the runners to move up. Moments later Wells hit a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.
"Everyone made a play, and that's what you like to see in the first game of the year," Huffman said. "We've taken a lot of reps for the last two and a half weeks in the cage. But you can't simulate what's on the mound. We came out and stung the ball pretty well. Everyone contributed."
Mount Horeb capitalized on a wild pitch in the top of the fifth to make it 2-1, but Henning's home run over the scoreboard in right center gave the Cheesemakers some more breathing room.
"He hit that ball hard. It's very encouraging to see that this early," Huffman said.
Mount Horeb scored another run in the top of the sixth, but Wells and Henning were able to hold on.
Mitch Marty was 2 for 3 with a walk and a double. Marty reached base in each of his four trips to the plate. Dylan Schwitz was 1 for 2 with two walks, and Drew Nafzger was 1 for 3 with a walk. As a team the Cheesemakers had six hits and six walks.
