MONROE - The Monroe baseball team dropped a 9-4 non-conference decision to Reedsburg on Tuesday, but coach Dustin Huffman said he saw a spark in his club that could bode well going forward.
Huffman was glad to see his team show some emotion a day after being no-hit in a 10-0, five-inning loss to Beloit Memorial.
"Reedsburg is a pretty good team and to battle with them and play them right up until the end is a positive for our kids," Huffman said. "The kids were excited the entire game because we did have some chances to come back. If we keep that type of excitement, we'll get into the win column."
Junior Dusty Burkhalter had two of the five hits produced by Monroe (2-8) and had an RBI. Senior Austin Burandt added the other RBI.
Junior Cody Pivonka started and pitched three innings. He allowed seven runs - five earned - on seven hits with one walk and did not record a strikeout. Senior Jerod Weber was solid in relief, allowing two earned runs on five hits with three walks and a strikeout.
The Cheesemakers left the bases loaded in the third, fourth and sixth innings. In the sixth, Huffman said sophomore Ryan Hughes hit a rope right at the Beavers' right fielder with three teammates on base.
"If (Hughes) hits a gap, we probably score three runs and it's a different ballgame," Huffman said. "We were unable to come up with the clutch hit, but the fact that we were putting pressure on them is a good sign."
Huffman was glad to see his team show some emotion a day after being no-hit in a 10-0, five-inning loss to Beloit Memorial.
"Reedsburg is a pretty good team and to battle with them and play them right up until the end is a positive for our kids," Huffman said. "The kids were excited the entire game because we did have some chances to come back. If we keep that type of excitement, we'll get into the win column."
Junior Dusty Burkhalter had two of the five hits produced by Monroe (2-8) and had an RBI. Senior Austin Burandt added the other RBI.
Junior Cody Pivonka started and pitched three innings. He allowed seven runs - five earned - on seven hits with one walk and did not record a strikeout. Senior Jerod Weber was solid in relief, allowing two earned runs on five hits with three walks and a strikeout.
The Cheesemakers left the bases loaded in the third, fourth and sixth innings. In the sixth, Huffman said sophomore Ryan Hughes hit a rope right at the Beavers' right fielder with three teammates on base.
"If (Hughes) hits a gap, we probably score three runs and it's a different ballgame," Huffman said. "We were unable to come up with the clutch hit, but the fact that we were putting pressure on them is a good sign."
