MONROE - The Cheesemakers earned a non-conference doubleheader sweep over Brodhead-Juda Saturday, thanks to timely hitting and clutch pitching performances.
Monroe beat the Cardinals 5-3 in the first game and 6-2 in the second.
"To tell you the truth, we didn't play our best ball," Monroe head coach Dustin Huffman said. "But they battled and found a way to win. We made some plays that we had to and we had some guys come in that don't usually get to play."
In the opening game, Monroe starter Logan Wells struggled from the hill, allowing three runs on three hits, six walks, a hit batsman and a wild pitch.
"Wells was gone all week and we wanted to see what he would come back with. But he was a little rusty and it showed," Huffman said.
Monroe got on the board in the opening inning, scoring three runs on four straight hits. Drew Nafzger and Kramer Henning doubled while Mitch Marty and Taylor Riese singled. Monroe didn't get back on the board until the fourth when Jon Elmer came around to score after a single. The Cheesemakers added one more in the sixth for insurance.
Brodhead, meanwhile, scored two in the second, and another run in the fourth closed it to 4-3.
"It's two quality wins over a team in the Rock Valley. A lot of those teams are in our regional, and these games will be used when we are seeded for our regional. Hopefully as the season plays out we can vie for a two-seed," Huffman said.
Aaron Duecker took the loss on the bump for the Cardinals in the opener, allowing five runs (three earned) on seven hits. Teammate Carson Scheidegger was 2-for-4 at the plate.
The game was also delayed by a short-lived hail storm.
Game two
In the second game, the Cheesemakers got on the board quickly, plating a pair of runs in the first. Two innings later, Monroe added four more runs, all with two outs off Scheidegger, who started on the mound for Brodhead-Juda. Scheidegger allowed six earned runs on seven hits and five walks in four innings of work and was replaced by Tyler Malcook in the fifth.
"We saw improvement. Monroe is a good team and we stayed right there with them," Cardinals head coach Paul Ritschard said. "Our pitchers were throwing strikes. The less walks we have, the better chance we have to win. I was pleased with all of our pitching."
Marty led off the top of the third with a walk, but Henning and Riese went down in order. Kris Rieder, still feeling the affects of a groin injury, doubled to deep center, bringing in a run. Matt Whipple singled and Justin Rackow walked to load the bases; Michael Turek followed with a double down the right field line, clearing the bases.
"You could tell they looked a little lackadaisical and not focused at times because of the cold," Huffman said, whose team allowed two runs later and gave Brodhead-Juda a chance to tie it up. "There have been games this year where we get up and then relax. We have to go for that knockout punch. You've got to have that killer instinct."
Cory Kundert pitched well in the second game for the Cheesemakers, giving up just one hit, five walks and two hit batsmen in 5 2/3 innings. Kundert left the game with the bases loaded, but reliever Michael Wolfe got Scheidegger to ground out to end the threat in the sixth. Wolfe allowed two runners in the seventh, but closed out the game without letting another run cross the plate.
"Wolfe came in and gave us a spark. We got four outs out of him and that's what we wanted to see," Huffman said. "We were real happy with Matt Whipple playing at third too. He doesn't normally play there and he made all the plays he needed to. He got everything in his glove and he made strong throws to first and to second to turn a double play. That's great to know that we have one more option to put over there."
Whipple did have a scary moment in the fourth. With two outs and runners at first and second, Brodhead's Billy Sangermano hit a ball to the left side. As Whipple was collecting the ball in his glove, Aaron Duecker collided with him and was called out for interference. Whipple stayed in the game.
"We had Dr. Turek look him over after the game, and it's possible he has a mild concussion. So we'll have to be careful with him," Huffman said.
Marty had two hits in the two-hole and finished with three hits on the day. Both teams used nearly their entire benches in the two games.
"We had some of our J-V's come up and watch the second game. They got to see what a varsity game is like," Ritschard said.
Monroe (10-6) topped last year's win total and is just two wins from its previous high of 12 (2006).
"We've been pretty lucky as coaches. We've got a great group of guys who have been buying into what we've preached in practice. We've been getting good pitching and we've been getting good practice. If we can get the bats to come alive every game, hopefully we can keep winning," Huffman said.
Monroe hosts Orangeville, Ill., today at 4:30 in a makeup game. The junior varsity game is in Orangeville.
Monroe beat the Cardinals 5-3 in the first game and 6-2 in the second.
"To tell you the truth, we didn't play our best ball," Monroe head coach Dustin Huffman said. "But they battled and found a way to win. We made some plays that we had to and we had some guys come in that don't usually get to play."
In the opening game, Monroe starter Logan Wells struggled from the hill, allowing three runs on three hits, six walks, a hit batsman and a wild pitch.
"Wells was gone all week and we wanted to see what he would come back with. But he was a little rusty and it showed," Huffman said.
Monroe got on the board in the opening inning, scoring three runs on four straight hits. Drew Nafzger and Kramer Henning doubled while Mitch Marty and Taylor Riese singled. Monroe didn't get back on the board until the fourth when Jon Elmer came around to score after a single. The Cheesemakers added one more in the sixth for insurance.
Brodhead, meanwhile, scored two in the second, and another run in the fourth closed it to 4-3.
"It's two quality wins over a team in the Rock Valley. A lot of those teams are in our regional, and these games will be used when we are seeded for our regional. Hopefully as the season plays out we can vie for a two-seed," Huffman said.
Aaron Duecker took the loss on the bump for the Cardinals in the opener, allowing five runs (three earned) on seven hits. Teammate Carson Scheidegger was 2-for-4 at the plate.
The game was also delayed by a short-lived hail storm.
Game two
In the second game, the Cheesemakers got on the board quickly, plating a pair of runs in the first. Two innings later, Monroe added four more runs, all with two outs off Scheidegger, who started on the mound for Brodhead-Juda. Scheidegger allowed six earned runs on seven hits and five walks in four innings of work and was replaced by Tyler Malcook in the fifth.
"We saw improvement. Monroe is a good team and we stayed right there with them," Cardinals head coach Paul Ritschard said. "Our pitchers were throwing strikes. The less walks we have, the better chance we have to win. I was pleased with all of our pitching."
Marty led off the top of the third with a walk, but Henning and Riese went down in order. Kris Rieder, still feeling the affects of a groin injury, doubled to deep center, bringing in a run. Matt Whipple singled and Justin Rackow walked to load the bases; Michael Turek followed with a double down the right field line, clearing the bases.
"You could tell they looked a little lackadaisical and not focused at times because of the cold," Huffman said, whose team allowed two runs later and gave Brodhead-Juda a chance to tie it up. "There have been games this year where we get up and then relax. We have to go for that knockout punch. You've got to have that killer instinct."
Cory Kundert pitched well in the second game for the Cheesemakers, giving up just one hit, five walks and two hit batsmen in 5 2/3 innings. Kundert left the game with the bases loaded, but reliever Michael Wolfe got Scheidegger to ground out to end the threat in the sixth. Wolfe allowed two runners in the seventh, but closed out the game without letting another run cross the plate.
"Wolfe came in and gave us a spark. We got four outs out of him and that's what we wanted to see," Huffman said. "We were real happy with Matt Whipple playing at third too. He doesn't normally play there and he made all the plays he needed to. He got everything in his glove and he made strong throws to first and to second to turn a double play. That's great to know that we have one more option to put over there."
Whipple did have a scary moment in the fourth. With two outs and runners at first and second, Brodhead's Billy Sangermano hit a ball to the left side. As Whipple was collecting the ball in his glove, Aaron Duecker collided with him and was called out for interference. Whipple stayed in the game.
"We had Dr. Turek look him over after the game, and it's possible he has a mild concussion. So we'll have to be careful with him," Huffman said.
Marty had two hits in the two-hole and finished with three hits on the day. Both teams used nearly their entire benches in the two games.
"We had some of our J-V's come up and watch the second game. They got to see what a varsity game is like," Ritschard said.
Monroe (10-6) topped last year's win total and is just two wins from its previous high of 12 (2006).
"We've been pretty lucky as coaches. We've got a great group of guys who have been buying into what we've preached in practice. We've been getting good pitching and we've been getting good practice. If we can get the bats to come alive every game, hopefully we can keep winning," Huffman said.
Monroe hosts Orangeville, Ill., today at 4:30 in a makeup game. The junior varsity game is in Orangeville.
