BELOIT - Senior Isaac Allen helped Monroe get off to a hot start hitting a two-run home run in the first inning, but Beloit Turner stormed back to beat the Cheesemakers 18-3 in six innings in a WIAA Division 2 regional semifinal game on Tuesday.
Monroe senior Hogan Edwards had a two-out single in the first. That set the stage for Allen's home run to left that gave the Cheesemakers a short-lived 2-0 lead.
"He (Allen) really squared that ball up," Monroe coach Dustin Huffman said. "He hit it hard. The wind was blowing out, but I don't know if it really mattered. Any time you can get two runs in the first inning as a fourth-seed underdog against the top seed it's big."
Beloit Turner (21-2), ranked No. 2 in the Division 2 Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association state poll, rallied and scored four runs off Edwards in the bottom of the first to take a 4-2 lead. Edwards pitched four innings and gave up eight earned runs on nine hits. He struck out three and walked seven.
"Hogan had a great four years for us," Huffman said. "Unfortunately, Hogan had a hard time finding the strike zone."
Monroe senior Brad Ripp pitched one inning and gave up three earned runs on four hits.
Sophomore Max Lang went 1-for-2. Senior Jacob Ritschard, junior Hunter Ward, Edwards and Allen were each 1-for-3. Monroe finishes the season 7-17.
"When you look back on the season, I think we underachieved a little bit," Huffman said. "It was a fun year. We had a great group of guys. I have coached many of these guys since they were 14. Unfortunately, we just couldn't get enough big hits and we struggled with our consistency on the mound. For the younger guys coming back we have to play smart and get a lot better if we are going to be competitive next year."
Monroe senior Hogan Edwards had a two-out single in the first. That set the stage for Allen's home run to left that gave the Cheesemakers a short-lived 2-0 lead.
"He (Allen) really squared that ball up," Monroe coach Dustin Huffman said. "He hit it hard. The wind was blowing out, but I don't know if it really mattered. Any time you can get two runs in the first inning as a fourth-seed underdog against the top seed it's big."
Beloit Turner (21-2), ranked No. 2 in the Division 2 Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association state poll, rallied and scored four runs off Edwards in the bottom of the first to take a 4-2 lead. Edwards pitched four innings and gave up eight earned runs on nine hits. He struck out three and walked seven.
"Hogan had a great four years for us," Huffman said. "Unfortunately, Hogan had a hard time finding the strike zone."
Monroe senior Brad Ripp pitched one inning and gave up three earned runs on four hits.
Sophomore Max Lang went 1-for-2. Senior Jacob Ritschard, junior Hunter Ward, Edwards and Allen were each 1-for-3. Monroe finishes the season 7-17.
"When you look back on the season, I think we underachieved a little bit," Huffman said. "It was a fun year. We had a great group of guys. I have coached many of these guys since they were 14. Unfortunately, we just couldn't get enough big hits and we struggled with our consistency on the mound. For the younger guys coming back we have to play smart and get a lot better if we are going to be competitive next year."
