With the first round of the WIAA playoffs slated for Thursday and Friday, every area baseball team is trying to rebuild focus and make a deep postseason run.
"We gave our guys Monday off and told them to clear their mind," Monroe head coach Dustin Huffman said. "Baseball is tough. With the seniors, and even the juniors, we're getting towards the end of year. The kids that are hardcore into baseball will be focused and ready to go, but a lot of kids are looking forward to the end of the year. I asked them to give me two or three weeks of their focus and attention, come to practice and work hard."
The Cheesemakers (11-10) are looking to continue an impressive baseball season Friday, as they host Mount Horeb (7-17) in the opening round of a Division 2 playoff at 5 p.m. The winner will travel to the sectionals top-seeded team, Beloit Turner, June 1.
"We've had our ups and downs like any team this year, but we've stayed positive. We truly believe we can compete with anybody," Huffman said.
Monroe opened the season 5-1, including topping Mount Horeb in the season opener and then a big one-run win over defending state champion Madison Edgewood, which Huffman said gave his team a great amount of confidence.
"We started off hot and the biggest thing of the season was beating Edgewood. We hadn't done that in a while," Huffman said.
The Cheesemakers beat Edgewood a second time later in the season, and up until the final week of the regular season was in contention for a Badger Conference title. Monroe has not owned such a championship since 2001.
Huffman and his staff are still deciding who to pitch Friday. The team could go with ace Kris Rieder, who has been bothered by a groin injury for the past month, or one of their other pitchers, Logan Wells, Mitch Marty or Cory Kundert.
"We haven't decided if we are going to start him (Rieder). We might roll the dice and go with someone else, but it's nice to know he is there when we need him. When he's on, he can shut just about anyone down. And the kids feed off that," Huffman said.
Division 2
Brodhead-Juda at Evansville, Friday, 4:45 p.m.
The Cardinals have had a tough season this year, finishing 6-15 overall and second to last in the Rock Valley South.
Evansville (12-4) won the team's only other meeting this season, 17-14.
The winner will travel to No. 2 seed Edgerton June 1.
Division 3
Belleville at Darlington, Thursday, 4:30 p.m.
The Redbirds started the season on fire, going 8-1 off the bat, but finished 12-8 overall.
Belleville (3-18) had a rough season, and will try to pull off one of the bigger upsets in the first round.
The winner will travel to second-seeded Wisconsin Heights June 1.
Cuba City at New Glarus, Thursday, 4:30 p.m.
The Glarner Knights (7-14) opened the season 1-7, but finished much stronger down the stretch.
Cuba City (8-14) went just 3-8 in its final 11 games this spring.
The winner will travel to top-seeded Orfordville Parkview June 1.
Division 4
Pecatonica at Argyle, Friday, 3:30 p.m.
The Orioles (8-7) split with the Vikings (13-11) in a doubleheader in
Blanchardville May 14.
Behind two ace pitchers, Nick Martin and Nate Thomas, Argyle has a pitching staff that can flourish if given quality defense behind them.
Pecatonica had senior Devin Jeglum leading the way at both shortstop and at pitcher, but a slew of other hitters have contributed throughout the season.
The winner travels to Barneveld June 1.
Williams Bay at Black Hawk, Friday, 4:30 p.m.
The Warriors have a young squad that has gone through a series of ups and downs this season. Black Hawk (2-13) boasts a team with no seniors and just two juniors, but has picked up wins against Albany and Darlington.
Williams Bay (2-15) picked up a pair of non-conference wins while finishing winless in the Trailways-South Conference.
The winner travels to top-seeded Burlington Catholic Central June 1.
Albany at Monticello, Monday, 4:30 p.m.
Due to the loss of Juda from the regional this season, both the Comets and Ponies received an automatic bye into the second round.
Albany (4-8) picked it up late in the year, capturing three straight wins before the playoffs.
Monticello (9-9) knocked off Pecatonica late in the season to finish in second place in the Six Rivers East.
The winner will take on the winner of the Catholic Center/Black Hawk-Williams Bay winner June 2 for the right to go to sectionals.
"We gave our guys Monday off and told them to clear their mind," Monroe head coach Dustin Huffman said. "Baseball is tough. With the seniors, and even the juniors, we're getting towards the end of year. The kids that are hardcore into baseball will be focused and ready to go, but a lot of kids are looking forward to the end of the year. I asked them to give me two or three weeks of their focus and attention, come to practice and work hard."
The Cheesemakers (11-10) are looking to continue an impressive baseball season Friday, as they host Mount Horeb (7-17) in the opening round of a Division 2 playoff at 5 p.m. The winner will travel to the sectionals top-seeded team, Beloit Turner, June 1.
"We've had our ups and downs like any team this year, but we've stayed positive. We truly believe we can compete with anybody," Huffman said.
Monroe opened the season 5-1, including topping Mount Horeb in the season opener and then a big one-run win over defending state champion Madison Edgewood, which Huffman said gave his team a great amount of confidence.
"We started off hot and the biggest thing of the season was beating Edgewood. We hadn't done that in a while," Huffman said.
The Cheesemakers beat Edgewood a second time later in the season, and up until the final week of the regular season was in contention for a Badger Conference title. Monroe has not owned such a championship since 2001.
Huffman and his staff are still deciding who to pitch Friday. The team could go with ace Kris Rieder, who has been bothered by a groin injury for the past month, or one of their other pitchers, Logan Wells, Mitch Marty or Cory Kundert.
"We haven't decided if we are going to start him (Rieder). We might roll the dice and go with someone else, but it's nice to know he is there when we need him. When he's on, he can shut just about anyone down. And the kids feed off that," Huffman said.
Division 2
Brodhead-Juda at Evansville, Friday, 4:45 p.m.
The Cardinals have had a tough season this year, finishing 6-15 overall and second to last in the Rock Valley South.
Evansville (12-4) won the team's only other meeting this season, 17-14.
The winner will travel to No. 2 seed Edgerton June 1.
Division 3
Belleville at Darlington, Thursday, 4:30 p.m.
The Redbirds started the season on fire, going 8-1 off the bat, but finished 12-8 overall.
Belleville (3-18) had a rough season, and will try to pull off one of the bigger upsets in the first round.
The winner will travel to second-seeded Wisconsin Heights June 1.
Cuba City at New Glarus, Thursday, 4:30 p.m.
The Glarner Knights (7-14) opened the season 1-7, but finished much stronger down the stretch.
Cuba City (8-14) went just 3-8 in its final 11 games this spring.
The winner will travel to top-seeded Orfordville Parkview June 1.
Division 4
Pecatonica at Argyle, Friday, 3:30 p.m.
The Orioles (8-7) split with the Vikings (13-11) in a doubleheader in
Blanchardville May 14.
Behind two ace pitchers, Nick Martin and Nate Thomas, Argyle has a pitching staff that can flourish if given quality defense behind them.
Pecatonica had senior Devin Jeglum leading the way at both shortstop and at pitcher, but a slew of other hitters have contributed throughout the season.
The winner travels to Barneveld June 1.
Williams Bay at Black Hawk, Friday, 4:30 p.m.
The Warriors have a young squad that has gone through a series of ups and downs this season. Black Hawk (2-13) boasts a team with no seniors and just two juniors, but has picked up wins against Albany and Darlington.
Williams Bay (2-15) picked up a pair of non-conference wins while finishing winless in the Trailways-South Conference.
The winner travels to top-seeded Burlington Catholic Central June 1.
Albany at Monticello, Monday, 4:30 p.m.
Due to the loss of Juda from the regional this season, both the Comets and Ponies received an automatic bye into the second round.
Albany (4-8) picked it up late in the year, capturing three straight wins before the playoffs.
Monticello (9-9) knocked off Pecatonica late in the season to finish in second place in the Six Rivers East.
The winner will take on the winner of the Catholic Center/Black Hawk-Williams Bay winner June 2 for the right to go to sectionals.
