ORANGEVILLE - After losing three straight games to start the season, Monroe baseball coach Dustin Huffman told the players in a meeting how pivotal this week would be to their season.
"We talked to the team and we set this as a make or break week," Huffman said.
So far, it's leaning toward "make."
Monroe (2-3, 1-2 Badger South) won its second game in as many days Friday by hanging on to beat Orangeville 11-7 in a non-conference game.
Junior Dusty Burkhalter and the Cheesemakers made the most of the blustery conditions, with the junior pitching six innings and allowing three runs - one earned - while scattering six hits.
Monroe pounded out 10 hits.
"They have responded well to the challenge," Huffman said. "We swung the bats well tonight. We had a lot of guys hit the ball harder tonight than they have all year. If we keep that up, we will be in a pretty good position."
The Cheesemakers jumped on Orangeville starter Adam Koester for two runs in the first inning. Junior Kevin Klopfenstein crushed a leadoff double to left and classmate Mitch Riese lined an RBI double to left center. Senior Austin Burandt, who was 2-for-4 with two RBIs, delivered an RBI single up the middle to give the Cheesemakers a 2-0 lead.
The Cheesemakers batted around and erupted for seven runs in the second off Koester, who allowed nine runs - four earned - on eight hits in 1 2/3 innings. The Broncos committed five errors in the game, with defensive miscues opening the door for Monroe's big second inning.
"We have guys who are inexperienced and are afraid to make a mistake," Orangeville coach Rooney Janecke said. "There are times when we look good and times when we look bad. When you have a young team, you have to expect that. Hopefully, once we get three-fourths of the way through the season, they will have been through the fire."
Burkhalter and Isaiah Siemers reached on errors to set the table in the second. Junior Trent Wyssbrod, who was 2-for-4 with three RBIs, belted a two-run single to right to give the Cheesemakers a 4-0 lead and freshman Chase Hellenbrand delivered a three-run single to right.
A dropped fly ball in center allowed two more runs to score and Monroe enjoyed a 9-0 lead
"It took a few games to get the experience on the varsity," Wyssbrod said. "Now we are rolling. I just wanted to prove that I could hit the ball and keep hitting the rest of the year."
Huffman was excited with how Burkhalter executed on the mound.
"We preach to our pitchers to throw strikes," he said. "He (Burkhalter) did that. He came out and threw strikes and let his defense help him."
The Broncos received solid relief pitching, as Bryce Brown and Rob Wilson only allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings.
Orangeville (7-8) rallied for four runs in the seventh off Monroe reliever Alex Einbeck. The Broncos were led by Ryan Kuhlemeier and Brown, who each went 2-for-4 and drove in runs in the seventh.
Monroe will host Waunakee in a doubleheader today, with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
"I think our best baseball is ahead of us," Huffman said. "Hopefully, we can keep this going in the doubleheader against Waunakee. We will have to really focus and pick up our intensity against Waunakee."
"We talked to the team and we set this as a make or break week," Huffman said.
So far, it's leaning toward "make."
Monroe (2-3, 1-2 Badger South) won its second game in as many days Friday by hanging on to beat Orangeville 11-7 in a non-conference game.
Junior Dusty Burkhalter and the Cheesemakers made the most of the blustery conditions, with the junior pitching six innings and allowing three runs - one earned - while scattering six hits.
Monroe pounded out 10 hits.
"They have responded well to the challenge," Huffman said. "We swung the bats well tonight. We had a lot of guys hit the ball harder tonight than they have all year. If we keep that up, we will be in a pretty good position."
The Cheesemakers jumped on Orangeville starter Adam Koester for two runs in the first inning. Junior Kevin Klopfenstein crushed a leadoff double to left and classmate Mitch Riese lined an RBI double to left center. Senior Austin Burandt, who was 2-for-4 with two RBIs, delivered an RBI single up the middle to give the Cheesemakers a 2-0 lead.
The Cheesemakers batted around and erupted for seven runs in the second off Koester, who allowed nine runs - four earned - on eight hits in 1 2/3 innings. The Broncos committed five errors in the game, with defensive miscues opening the door for Monroe's big second inning.
"We have guys who are inexperienced and are afraid to make a mistake," Orangeville coach Rooney Janecke said. "There are times when we look good and times when we look bad. When you have a young team, you have to expect that. Hopefully, once we get three-fourths of the way through the season, they will have been through the fire."
Burkhalter and Isaiah Siemers reached on errors to set the table in the second. Junior Trent Wyssbrod, who was 2-for-4 with three RBIs, belted a two-run single to right to give the Cheesemakers a 4-0 lead and freshman Chase Hellenbrand delivered a three-run single to right.
A dropped fly ball in center allowed two more runs to score and Monroe enjoyed a 9-0 lead
"It took a few games to get the experience on the varsity," Wyssbrod said. "Now we are rolling. I just wanted to prove that I could hit the ball and keep hitting the rest of the year."
Huffman was excited with how Burkhalter executed on the mound.
"We preach to our pitchers to throw strikes," he said. "He (Burkhalter) did that. He came out and threw strikes and let his defense help him."
The Broncos received solid relief pitching, as Bryce Brown and Rob Wilson only allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings.
Orangeville (7-8) rallied for four runs in the seventh off Monroe reliever Alex Einbeck. The Broncos were led by Ryan Kuhlemeier and Brown, who each went 2-for-4 and drove in runs in the seventh.
Monroe will host Waunakee in a doubleheader today, with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
"I think our best baseball is ahead of us," Huffman said. "Hopefully, we can keep this going in the doubleheader against Waunakee. We will have to really focus and pick up our intensity against Waunakee."
