MONROE - If Monroe's baseball team wants to have the same success it saw last year, there are things that need to change soon, according to coach Dustin Huffman.
"We need to show up and be ready to play every day," said Huffman, after his team was swept by Portage in a doubleheader on Saturday. "We were very lethargic and went through the motions. We didn't see any fire until the last inning of the second game."
The Cheesemakers made enough mental mistakes - and walks - to allow Portage to pick up the two wins. The Warriors (4-0) were held to just eight hits on the day, including just three in the game.
"We just left too many guys on and didn't hit with runners in scoring position," senior Mitch Marty said. "They (Portage) didn't make any mistakes and we did."
Logan Wells allowed just two hits in 5 1/3 innings in the opener. Wells struck out two and walked two, but Portage found a way to get out to an early lead and keep the Cheesemakers at bay.
The Warriors scored a run in the first, thanks to an error by the Cheesemakers. Monroe tied it at 1-1 in the third, but Portage took the lead for good in the sixth. Wells and reliever Kramer Henning allowed three walks and three hits with in the sixth as Monroe fell behind 4-1.
The Cheesemakers got a run back in the bottom of the sixth thanks to a Portage error, but could get no further.
"There's no reason we should come out of this 0-2. It's paying attention to details; making plays here and there; walking guys," Huffman said.
Austin Burandt went 3 for 4 at the plate in the first game and Marty was 2 for 2 with two walks.
In the second game, Monroe's starting pitcher, lefty Drew Nafzger struggled on the mound, walking eight batters in 4 1/3 innings. The command controls allowed Portage again get on the board right away in the first.
"You come out here on the mound for the first time and it's a lot different. He started getting into a groove in the fourth and fifth inning," Huffman said of Nafzger.
Monroe took the lead in the second when Kevin Klopfenstein scored on an errant throw by Portage pitcher Matt Bortz. Designated hitter Dylan Cleaveland then ripped an RBI single in his first at bat of the season to make it 2-1 Monroe.
"It felt great to get out there and show what I can do," Cleaveland said. "(The RBI) gave me great confidence and allowed me to believe in myself."
Cleaveland took over in relief for Nafzger in the fifth and immediately allowed a single. By the time the inning ended, Monroe trailed 4-2.
Henning, who missed the first game while taking the ACT, doubled with one out in the seventh and later scored to tighten the game. But Monroe could not tie it up.
"We're still waiting for someone to clutch up and give us that big hit," Huffman said. "That stuff's hard to coach."
Mitch Riese was 2 for 4 at the plate and Cleaveland finished 2 for 2 and was hit by a pitch.
"We've got three games again next week. Everyone's going to have to come out and play and not be lethargic," Marty said.
Monroe hits the field three more times this week, hosting Division 1 state qualifier Fort Atkinson on Tuesday, traveling to Monona Grove on Thursday and taking on Orangeville, Ill., at home Friday.
"We need to show up and be ready to play every day," said Huffman, after his team was swept by Portage in a doubleheader on Saturday. "We were very lethargic and went through the motions. We didn't see any fire until the last inning of the second game."
The Cheesemakers made enough mental mistakes - and walks - to allow Portage to pick up the two wins. The Warriors (4-0) were held to just eight hits on the day, including just three in the game.
"We just left too many guys on and didn't hit with runners in scoring position," senior Mitch Marty said. "They (Portage) didn't make any mistakes and we did."
Logan Wells allowed just two hits in 5 1/3 innings in the opener. Wells struck out two and walked two, but Portage found a way to get out to an early lead and keep the Cheesemakers at bay.
The Warriors scored a run in the first, thanks to an error by the Cheesemakers. Monroe tied it at 1-1 in the third, but Portage took the lead for good in the sixth. Wells and reliever Kramer Henning allowed three walks and three hits with in the sixth as Monroe fell behind 4-1.
The Cheesemakers got a run back in the bottom of the sixth thanks to a Portage error, but could get no further.
"There's no reason we should come out of this 0-2. It's paying attention to details; making plays here and there; walking guys," Huffman said.
Austin Burandt went 3 for 4 at the plate in the first game and Marty was 2 for 2 with two walks.
In the second game, Monroe's starting pitcher, lefty Drew Nafzger struggled on the mound, walking eight batters in 4 1/3 innings. The command controls allowed Portage again get on the board right away in the first.
"You come out here on the mound for the first time and it's a lot different. He started getting into a groove in the fourth and fifth inning," Huffman said of Nafzger.
Monroe took the lead in the second when Kevin Klopfenstein scored on an errant throw by Portage pitcher Matt Bortz. Designated hitter Dylan Cleaveland then ripped an RBI single in his first at bat of the season to make it 2-1 Monroe.
"It felt great to get out there and show what I can do," Cleaveland said. "(The RBI) gave me great confidence and allowed me to believe in myself."
Cleaveland took over in relief for Nafzger in the fifth and immediately allowed a single. By the time the inning ended, Monroe trailed 4-2.
Henning, who missed the first game while taking the ACT, doubled with one out in the seventh and later scored to tighten the game. But Monroe could not tie it up.
"We're still waiting for someone to clutch up and give us that big hit," Huffman said. "That stuff's hard to coach."
Mitch Riese was 2 for 4 at the plate and Cleaveland finished 2 for 2 and was hit by a pitch.
"We've got three games again next week. Everyone's going to have to come out and play and not be lethargic," Marty said.
Monroe hits the field three more times this week, hosting Division 1 state qualifier Fort Atkinson on Tuesday, traveling to Monona Grove on Thursday and taking on Orangeville, Ill., at home Friday.
