MONROE - The Monroe High School baseball team has been waiting most of the season for someone to deliver more clutch hits with runners in scoring position.
Monroe senior Isaac Allen seized the opportunity Monday, delivering a two-run walk-off single in the 10th inning to give the Cheesemakers a thrilling 5-4 nonconference win over Brodhead-Juda.
"As soon as I felt it, I knew Carter (Sawdey) was going to get there (home from second base), and it would be the game right there," Allen said. "It was awesome."
Monroe improves to 5-11.
The heroics by Allen, who went 3-for-5 with two RBI, came soon after a big hit by Brodhead-Juda senior Layne Millard gave the Cardinals the edge.
In the top of the 10th inning, Brodhead-Juda senior Tyler Hoesly singled off Monroe sophomore relief pitcher Max Lang. Senior Austin Diffenderfer reached on an error to set the stage for Millard, who came through by lining an RBI single to right to give the Cardinals a 4-3 lead.
Lang helped his own cause in the bottom of the 10th with a single off Brodhead-Juda senior relief pitcher Skylar Stuckey. Senior Carter Sawdey reached on an error. Senior Hogan Edwards reached on a fielder's choice, and Sawdey beat a throw to second to open up a golden scoring opportunity. Allen delivered the game-winning single.
"We have been waiting for that all season," Monroe coach Dustin Huffman said of Allen's clutch hit. "We haven't had a lot of that this year."
In addition to the game-winning hit, Allen, at catcher, threw out three runners trying to steal second.
"Being able to make plays like that at catcher really boosts the energy when you can do that," he said.
Allen said coming back to win showed that the Cheesemakers can grind out games.
"The bottom line is if you are down you have to try really hard to get back," Allen said.
Brodhead-Juda junior Prestan Leitzen started on the mound, pitched five innings and gave up two runs on five hits but didn't factor into the decision. He struck out four and walked none.
Brodhead-Juda coach Aaron Guilbault believes Leitzen did everything he could to put the Cardinals (11-6) in a position to win.
"It was a phenomenal performance for us," Guilbault said of Leitzen's pitching. "He's one of our key relievers, and we really need him."
Monroe senior Brad Ripp started and pitched six innings. He gave up three runs on seven hits, struck out two and walked two. Lang pitched four innings in relief to get the win. He gave up one run on four hits. Lang struck out two and walked none.
"Max is a sophomore, and he's still gaining experience," Huffman said. "Tonight, he was much better at being down in the zone. If he was up, he was way up. He improved ten-fold from Friday night."
The Cardinals scored two runs in the first after two outs. Hoesly, who went 2-for-5, singled to center and Tyler Flannery, who went 3-for-5, singled to right. Diffenderfer then crushed a two-run double to left to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead.
The Cheesemakers rallied in the second. Monroe freshman Nick Bansley, who went 2-for-4, doubled to left. Senior Jacob Ritschard, who went 2-for-4, lined an RBI single to right to cut the Cardinals' lead to 2-1.
Flannery delivered an RBI single in the fifth to give the Cardinals a 3-1 lead. The Cheesemakers didn't go away.
Sawdey reached on an error leading off the sixth. Senior Cole Murray then moved Sawdey into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt off Brodhead-Juda pitcher Luke Skoumal. Edwards then ripped an RBI double to left to cut the Cardinals' lead to 3-2. After stealing third, Edwards later scored the game-tying run when Skoumal was called for a balk to tie the game at 3.
The Cheesemakers committed four errors, but both teams turned in spectacular defensive plays. In addition to throwing out three runners trying to steal, the Cheesemakers turned two double plays.
Millard made a diving catch in center field for the Cardinals. Stuckey pitched four innings for the Cardinals and gave up two runs on three hits. He struck out six and walked one. Facing a two-on, no-out jam in the ninth, Stuckey got Ritschard to pop out. He then struck out Monroe junior Hunter Ward and got Timmy Thoman to fly out to center.
The Cheesemakers were 2-for-12 hitting with runners in scoring position and left six on base. The Cardinals went 3-for-12 hitting with runners in scoring position.
"I think we have to be better in more situational at-bats," Guilbault said. "We have to do a better job of running the bases when we get on. Their catcher has a really good arm. I just don't think we got good enough leads. If you get a good enough lead you can put the pressure on the pitcher by running, and you will see more fastballs."
Monroe senior Isaac Allen seized the opportunity Monday, delivering a two-run walk-off single in the 10th inning to give the Cheesemakers a thrilling 5-4 nonconference win over Brodhead-Juda.
"As soon as I felt it, I knew Carter (Sawdey) was going to get there (home from second base), and it would be the game right there," Allen said. "It was awesome."
Monroe improves to 5-11.
The heroics by Allen, who went 3-for-5 with two RBI, came soon after a big hit by Brodhead-Juda senior Layne Millard gave the Cardinals the edge.
In the top of the 10th inning, Brodhead-Juda senior Tyler Hoesly singled off Monroe sophomore relief pitcher Max Lang. Senior Austin Diffenderfer reached on an error to set the stage for Millard, who came through by lining an RBI single to right to give the Cardinals a 4-3 lead.
Lang helped his own cause in the bottom of the 10th with a single off Brodhead-Juda senior relief pitcher Skylar Stuckey. Senior Carter Sawdey reached on an error. Senior Hogan Edwards reached on a fielder's choice, and Sawdey beat a throw to second to open up a golden scoring opportunity. Allen delivered the game-winning single.
"We have been waiting for that all season," Monroe coach Dustin Huffman said of Allen's clutch hit. "We haven't had a lot of that this year."
In addition to the game-winning hit, Allen, at catcher, threw out three runners trying to steal second.
"Being able to make plays like that at catcher really boosts the energy when you can do that," he said.
Allen said coming back to win showed that the Cheesemakers can grind out games.
"The bottom line is if you are down you have to try really hard to get back," Allen said.
Brodhead-Juda junior Prestan Leitzen started on the mound, pitched five innings and gave up two runs on five hits but didn't factor into the decision. He struck out four and walked none.
Brodhead-Juda coach Aaron Guilbault believes Leitzen did everything he could to put the Cardinals (11-6) in a position to win.
"It was a phenomenal performance for us," Guilbault said of Leitzen's pitching. "He's one of our key relievers, and we really need him."
Monroe senior Brad Ripp started and pitched six innings. He gave up three runs on seven hits, struck out two and walked two. Lang pitched four innings in relief to get the win. He gave up one run on four hits. Lang struck out two and walked none.
"Max is a sophomore, and he's still gaining experience," Huffman said. "Tonight, he was much better at being down in the zone. If he was up, he was way up. He improved ten-fold from Friday night."
The Cardinals scored two runs in the first after two outs. Hoesly, who went 2-for-5, singled to center and Tyler Flannery, who went 3-for-5, singled to right. Diffenderfer then crushed a two-run double to left to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead.
The Cheesemakers rallied in the second. Monroe freshman Nick Bansley, who went 2-for-4, doubled to left. Senior Jacob Ritschard, who went 2-for-4, lined an RBI single to right to cut the Cardinals' lead to 2-1.
Flannery delivered an RBI single in the fifth to give the Cardinals a 3-1 lead. The Cheesemakers didn't go away.
Sawdey reached on an error leading off the sixth. Senior Cole Murray then moved Sawdey into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt off Brodhead-Juda pitcher Luke Skoumal. Edwards then ripped an RBI double to left to cut the Cardinals' lead to 3-2. After stealing third, Edwards later scored the game-tying run when Skoumal was called for a balk to tie the game at 3.
The Cheesemakers committed four errors, but both teams turned in spectacular defensive plays. In addition to throwing out three runners trying to steal, the Cheesemakers turned two double plays.
Millard made a diving catch in center field for the Cardinals. Stuckey pitched four innings for the Cardinals and gave up two runs on three hits. He struck out six and walked one. Facing a two-on, no-out jam in the ninth, Stuckey got Ritschard to pop out. He then struck out Monroe junior Hunter Ward and got Timmy Thoman to fly out to center.
The Cheesemakers were 2-for-12 hitting with runners in scoring position and left six on base. The Cardinals went 3-for-12 hitting with runners in scoring position.
"I think we have to be better in more situational at-bats," Guilbault said. "We have to do a better job of running the bases when we get on. Their catcher has a really good arm. I just don't think we got good enough leads. If you get a good enough lead you can put the pressure on the pitcher by running, and you will see more fastballs."
