MONROE - After a weekend of waiting for the big hit, the Cheesemakers got five in a row late in Tuesday's game against state-qualifier Fort Atkinson.
"Hits are contagious. It seems cliché, but you saw it right there. Everyone started swinging the bat better and put the ball in play," Monroe coach Dustin Huffman said after his team's 8-5 win. "I'm proud of our guys for sticking with it. Good things happen when you put the ball in play."
Monroe let a 4-1 first-inning lead go to waste as the Blackhawks, who made an unprecedented run to state in Division 1 last spring, tied the game at 4 in the late innings.
It was in the sixth that Monroe found what it was looking for. With one out and Kevin Klopfenstein on first, Michael Turek singled to right center to put runners at the corners. Senior Dylan Schwitz then crushed a single to the right center fence, bringing in a run. The swing typically would have been for extra bases, but Turek came back to first to tag up in case the ball was caught.
"It feels good to (get that hit)," Schwitz said. "But it wasn't just one guy - it was the whole team. It was a team effort. The game was ours to take and we took it. We just have to focus on doing more between (big) innings."
Back in the leadoff role for the first time this season - the same spot in the lineup he occupied in all of 2010 - Schwitz had himself a day, reaching base twice in four trips to the plate and scored two runs.
"As a leadoff hitter, I think he can relax and not try to drive in runs like he was in the 5 or 6 hole. He's accustomed to the leadoff spot, getting on base and putting the ball in play," Huffman said. "We kept saying all game that someone needs to clutch up and be a hero and Schwitz finally did for us. He stepped up."
With runners on first and second, Mitch Riese then clutched up and singled to right center to bring in a second run. Kramer Henning then rolled out to first, but Fort Atkinson couldn't turn a double play and Schwitz scored, making it 7-4. Mitch Marty, who pitched strong for six innings, then delivered a single to right to plate the final run.
"We had four or five hits and people were traded spots on the bases," Schwitz said. "It's good to get that first conference win. You know what they say, 'One win leads to another, which leads to another.'"
Marty struck out six and allowed seven hits, three walks and four runs (three earned) in grabbing the win on the mound - the first Badger South 'W' for the Cheesemakers this season.
"He (Mitch) battled for us all night. His changeup was working and he was able to spot his fastball," Huffman said. "He had hit his pitch count. He gave us the six that we needed."
Henning took to the hill in the seventh to close out the game and allowed a run before striking out Ryne Rowley looking to end it.
"For Kramer to come in and, for the most part, throw strikes and get after them and shut it down. It's nice to get him experience now for later in the season," Huffman said.
Riese was 1 for 2 with a pair of walks for Monroe and Austin Burandt also reached base three times.
Monroe scored four runs in the first inning after Fort Atkinson starter Brennan Waller struggled to find the plate. Waller walked three of the first four batters in the game before Burandt hit into an error that tied the score at 1-1. Drew Nafzger then singled in two runs. Another runner scored on a wild pitch.
"When a pitcher is struggling like that you really have to get on him, but we let him off the hook a few times," Huffman said.
Monroe (2-3) hosts Monona Grove on Thursday.
"With that first conference win under our belt, it lifts a little bit of the pressure. We can just go out and play baseball and not look at the standings," Huffman said.
"Hits are contagious. It seems cliché, but you saw it right there. Everyone started swinging the bat better and put the ball in play," Monroe coach Dustin Huffman said after his team's 8-5 win. "I'm proud of our guys for sticking with it. Good things happen when you put the ball in play."
Monroe let a 4-1 first-inning lead go to waste as the Blackhawks, who made an unprecedented run to state in Division 1 last spring, tied the game at 4 in the late innings.
It was in the sixth that Monroe found what it was looking for. With one out and Kevin Klopfenstein on first, Michael Turek singled to right center to put runners at the corners. Senior Dylan Schwitz then crushed a single to the right center fence, bringing in a run. The swing typically would have been for extra bases, but Turek came back to first to tag up in case the ball was caught.
"It feels good to (get that hit)," Schwitz said. "But it wasn't just one guy - it was the whole team. It was a team effort. The game was ours to take and we took it. We just have to focus on doing more between (big) innings."
Back in the leadoff role for the first time this season - the same spot in the lineup he occupied in all of 2010 - Schwitz had himself a day, reaching base twice in four trips to the plate and scored two runs.
"As a leadoff hitter, I think he can relax and not try to drive in runs like he was in the 5 or 6 hole. He's accustomed to the leadoff spot, getting on base and putting the ball in play," Huffman said. "We kept saying all game that someone needs to clutch up and be a hero and Schwitz finally did for us. He stepped up."
With runners on first and second, Mitch Riese then clutched up and singled to right center to bring in a second run. Kramer Henning then rolled out to first, but Fort Atkinson couldn't turn a double play and Schwitz scored, making it 7-4. Mitch Marty, who pitched strong for six innings, then delivered a single to right to plate the final run.
"We had four or five hits and people were traded spots on the bases," Schwitz said. "It's good to get that first conference win. You know what they say, 'One win leads to another, which leads to another.'"
Marty struck out six and allowed seven hits, three walks and four runs (three earned) in grabbing the win on the mound - the first Badger South 'W' for the Cheesemakers this season.
"He (Mitch) battled for us all night. His changeup was working and he was able to spot his fastball," Huffman said. "He had hit his pitch count. He gave us the six that we needed."
Henning took to the hill in the seventh to close out the game and allowed a run before striking out Ryne Rowley looking to end it.
"For Kramer to come in and, for the most part, throw strikes and get after them and shut it down. It's nice to get him experience now for later in the season," Huffman said.
Riese was 1 for 2 with a pair of walks for Monroe and Austin Burandt also reached base three times.
Monroe scored four runs in the first inning after Fort Atkinson starter Brennan Waller struggled to find the plate. Waller walked three of the first four batters in the game before Burandt hit into an error that tied the score at 1-1. Drew Nafzger then singled in two runs. Another runner scored on a wild pitch.
"When a pitcher is struggling like that you really have to get on him, but we let him off the hook a few times," Huffman said.
Monroe (2-3) hosts Monona Grove on Thursday.
"With that first conference win under our belt, it lifts a little bit of the pressure. We can just go out and play baseball and not look at the standings," Huffman said.
