MONROE - For the first time since 2001, the Cheesemakers have a shot at a Badger Conference championship in baseball.
Monroe (11-6, 5-4 Badger South) hosts conference leader Oregon (10-7, 6-3) today.
"It will be a battle. Oregon's got some guys that can really rake," Monroe head coach Dustin Huffman said. "All the teams (in conference) are pretty evenly matched. When we were competing the first time through, the coaches that I talked to said four losses was going to win this thing."
Monroe and Milton are both 5-4 in conference and a full game out of first. Madison Edgewood (4-4) is 1 1/2 games back and Monona Grove and Stoughton (5-3) are each a 1/2 game behind Oregon. Fort Atkinson (0-9) is the only one of the seven teams out of the race.
"We need to go out, play focused and play our game," Huffman said. "(Oregon) is a good team and they hit the ball well. Defensively we need to be ready to go and offensively we'll have to be able to match what they do."
The last time the Cheesemakers met up with Oregon, the Panthers chewed them up and spit them out like sunflower seeds, winning 12-0 in five innings.
"It would be a nice win, especially after what happened up there," Huffman said. "It would get us one step closer to competing for that conference championship."
Matt Marszalek, who will likely start for Oregon today, according to Huffman, completely dominated Monroe's bats in the first game, something the team has been working hard on improving.
"We need to get good swings on our bats, regardless of who they throw," Huffman said. "We've been stressing focus and fundamentals since Day 1 and we've continued preaching that throughout the year. We need to get through the first inning unscathed and then I think we will be just fine."
Since their loss to Oregon, the Cheesemakers have scored 52 runs in nine games (5.7 runs a game), and three times have scored in double digits. Two of the biggest run producers have been senior second baseman Taylor Riese and junior first baseman/catcher Kramer Henning.
"Kramer Henning is seeing the ball real well right now and Taylor has been pretty consistent seeing the ball all year. We've got four or five guys like that," Huffman said.
Leadoff hitter Dylan Schwitz and nine-hitter Michael Turek have also given the team sparks, Huffman said.
Riese played sparingly a year ago, but has made his senior season into a very productive one.
"We haven't had a chance at conference the last few years, and we've come together as a team. It would be really big if we could knock off Oregon and contend for the conference title," Riese said. "We've got a group of guys that can be ready to go out there and take it."
Henning has flourished in the cleanup role. In a 16-6 win over Fort Atkinson May 6, Henning was 4-for-4 at the plate with six RBIs, a three-run home run, a double and four runs.
"I've learned a lot from (assistant) coach (Eric) Losenegger. He has really helped make me a better hitter," Henning said. "I'm also thankful coach Huffman has put me in a spot to succeed."
Should Monroe win, it would add gasoline to the conference fire. Monona Grove would slide into first for just a few days - the Silver Eagles play a non-conference game today but have their final four conference games in the next 10 days. Stoughton hosts Milton today and a win would keep the Vikings tied with Monona Grove and Fort Atkinson is at Edgewood.
"We'll see what happens at the end," Huffman said.
The Cheesemakers' other two conference games remaining are at Stoughton May 18, and at Monona Grove May 22. Monroe lost to Stoughton earlier this season, 4-1, and nipped Monona Grove at home, 2-1. The Cheesemakers swept Edgewood, beating the defending state champs by a run each game. Milton returned the favor to Monroe, winning a pair of one-run ball games.
"We all want to win conference, but we need to worry about this game first. The rest of the games will come later," Riese said. "We've been playing Oregon since we were 12. We know the lineup and most of the guys on their team. Everyone is working hard and hopefully we can give Oregon our best game."
Huffman was also unsure who would start on the hill today. With the possibility to use ace Kris Rieder twice next week on normal rest, the coaching staff will likely go with either Mitch Marty or Logan Wells.
Monroe (11-6, 5-4 Badger South) hosts conference leader Oregon (10-7, 6-3) today.
"It will be a battle. Oregon's got some guys that can really rake," Monroe head coach Dustin Huffman said. "All the teams (in conference) are pretty evenly matched. When we were competing the first time through, the coaches that I talked to said four losses was going to win this thing."
Monroe and Milton are both 5-4 in conference and a full game out of first. Madison Edgewood (4-4) is 1 1/2 games back and Monona Grove and Stoughton (5-3) are each a 1/2 game behind Oregon. Fort Atkinson (0-9) is the only one of the seven teams out of the race.
"We need to go out, play focused and play our game," Huffman said. "(Oregon) is a good team and they hit the ball well. Defensively we need to be ready to go and offensively we'll have to be able to match what they do."
The last time the Cheesemakers met up with Oregon, the Panthers chewed them up and spit them out like sunflower seeds, winning 12-0 in five innings.
"It would be a nice win, especially after what happened up there," Huffman said. "It would get us one step closer to competing for that conference championship."
Matt Marszalek, who will likely start for Oregon today, according to Huffman, completely dominated Monroe's bats in the first game, something the team has been working hard on improving.
"We need to get good swings on our bats, regardless of who they throw," Huffman said. "We've been stressing focus and fundamentals since Day 1 and we've continued preaching that throughout the year. We need to get through the first inning unscathed and then I think we will be just fine."
Since their loss to Oregon, the Cheesemakers have scored 52 runs in nine games (5.7 runs a game), and three times have scored in double digits. Two of the biggest run producers have been senior second baseman Taylor Riese and junior first baseman/catcher Kramer Henning.
"Kramer Henning is seeing the ball real well right now and Taylor has been pretty consistent seeing the ball all year. We've got four or five guys like that," Huffman said.
Leadoff hitter Dylan Schwitz and nine-hitter Michael Turek have also given the team sparks, Huffman said.
Riese played sparingly a year ago, but has made his senior season into a very productive one.
"We haven't had a chance at conference the last few years, and we've come together as a team. It would be really big if we could knock off Oregon and contend for the conference title," Riese said. "We've got a group of guys that can be ready to go out there and take it."
Henning has flourished in the cleanup role. In a 16-6 win over Fort Atkinson May 6, Henning was 4-for-4 at the plate with six RBIs, a three-run home run, a double and four runs.
"I've learned a lot from (assistant) coach (Eric) Losenegger. He has really helped make me a better hitter," Henning said. "I'm also thankful coach Huffman has put me in a spot to succeed."
Should Monroe win, it would add gasoline to the conference fire. Monona Grove would slide into first for just a few days - the Silver Eagles play a non-conference game today but have their final four conference games in the next 10 days. Stoughton hosts Milton today and a win would keep the Vikings tied with Monona Grove and Fort Atkinson is at Edgewood.
"We'll see what happens at the end," Huffman said.
The Cheesemakers' other two conference games remaining are at Stoughton May 18, and at Monona Grove May 22. Monroe lost to Stoughton earlier this season, 4-1, and nipped Monona Grove at home, 2-1. The Cheesemakers swept Edgewood, beating the defending state champs by a run each game. Milton returned the favor to Monroe, winning a pair of one-run ball games.
"We all want to win conference, but we need to worry about this game first. The rest of the games will come later," Riese said. "We've been playing Oregon since we were 12. We know the lineup and most of the guys on their team. Everyone is working hard and hopefully we can give Oregon our best game."
Huffman was also unsure who would start on the hill today. With the possibility to use ace Kris Rieder twice next week on normal rest, the coaching staff will likely go with either Mitch Marty or Logan Wells.
