MONROE - Dustin Huffman isn't so much looking for big leaps, but baby steps from his young Monroe baseball team.
In that regard, the coach saw some progress in Thursday's 16-6, six-inning loss to Badger South Conference favorite Madison Edgewood.
The Cheesemakers (0-3, 0-2 Badger South) scored a season-high six runs against the Crusaders' No. 1 starter in Shawn Elliott - something to build on for a team that has scuffled offensively in the early going.
"That's the positive to look at for this game," Huffman said. "It's 'Hey, you hit the conference's best pitcher and got him for six runs and hit the ball pretty hard.'
"We were really happy with how we responded to some adversity early."
Edgewood (3-0, 1-0 Badger South) scored three times in the top of the first - Mike Pleimling's two-run home run to right-center field the big blow.
But Monroe bounced right back in its half, freshman third baseman Chase Hellenbrand collecting an RBI-single to center and sophomore Isiah Siemers ripping a three-run triple to left to give the Cheesemakers a 4-3 lead.
"We got a huge hit from Siemers and that's something that should jump-start something positive for the rest of the game, and unfortunately it didn't," Huffman said. "We just kind of puttered out."
Indeed, Edgewood scored three runs in the second, two in the third and three more in the fourth to take an 11-4 lead. Monroe plated two runs in the fourth inning on Austin Burandt's bases-loaded walk and Hellenbrand's RBI single to center to pull within 11-6, but Crusaders reliever Andy Mack retired six straight batters to end the game via the 10-run rule.
Edgewood coach Rich Newton said his team's heavy-hitting lineup helped offset a subpar outing by Elliott, who threw a five-inning no-hitter against McFarland on March 29. The Crusaders have four home runs in three games - including two by Pleimling, who entered the game 6-for-7 and went 2-for-4 with two hits, a sacrifice fly and four RBIs.
"Mostly our offense carried us," Newton said. "Pleimling's home run was a little wind-aided, but we're hitting the ball hard. We didn't know how the new (BBCOR) bats were going to affect things, but so far we're putting good wood on the ball. Guys are getting pitches they can drive and they're taking advantage of it."
The Cheesemakers mustered just four hits for the second straight game, but three of them came from two of the youngest players on the field - Hellenbrand (two) and Siemers.
"Chase Hellenbrand getting his first RBI(s) and his first hits batting in the No. 4 hole as a freshman, that's a huge moment for him," Huffman said. "And Siemers getting his first RBIs should be a huge confidence-booster for him."
Monroe starter Trent Wyssbrod went four innings and allowed 11 runs, several of them unearned.
"Trent threw strikes," Huffman said. "We just need other guys to step up - and mostly on defense. We've got to get rid of these mental mistakes."
In that regard, the coach saw some progress in Thursday's 16-6, six-inning loss to Badger South Conference favorite Madison Edgewood.
The Cheesemakers (0-3, 0-2 Badger South) scored a season-high six runs against the Crusaders' No. 1 starter in Shawn Elliott - something to build on for a team that has scuffled offensively in the early going.
"That's the positive to look at for this game," Huffman said. "It's 'Hey, you hit the conference's best pitcher and got him for six runs and hit the ball pretty hard.'
"We were really happy with how we responded to some adversity early."
Edgewood (3-0, 1-0 Badger South) scored three times in the top of the first - Mike Pleimling's two-run home run to right-center field the big blow.
But Monroe bounced right back in its half, freshman third baseman Chase Hellenbrand collecting an RBI-single to center and sophomore Isiah Siemers ripping a three-run triple to left to give the Cheesemakers a 4-3 lead.
"We got a huge hit from Siemers and that's something that should jump-start something positive for the rest of the game, and unfortunately it didn't," Huffman said. "We just kind of puttered out."
Indeed, Edgewood scored three runs in the second, two in the third and three more in the fourth to take an 11-4 lead. Monroe plated two runs in the fourth inning on Austin Burandt's bases-loaded walk and Hellenbrand's RBI single to center to pull within 11-6, but Crusaders reliever Andy Mack retired six straight batters to end the game via the 10-run rule.
Edgewood coach Rich Newton said his team's heavy-hitting lineup helped offset a subpar outing by Elliott, who threw a five-inning no-hitter against McFarland on March 29. The Crusaders have four home runs in three games - including two by Pleimling, who entered the game 6-for-7 and went 2-for-4 with two hits, a sacrifice fly and four RBIs.
"Mostly our offense carried us," Newton said. "Pleimling's home run was a little wind-aided, but we're hitting the ball hard. We didn't know how the new (BBCOR) bats were going to affect things, but so far we're putting good wood on the ball. Guys are getting pitches they can drive and they're taking advantage of it."
The Cheesemakers mustered just four hits for the second straight game, but three of them came from two of the youngest players on the field - Hellenbrand (two) and Siemers.
"Chase Hellenbrand getting his first RBI(s) and his first hits batting in the No. 4 hole as a freshman, that's a huge moment for him," Huffman said. "And Siemers getting his first RBIs should be a huge confidence-booster for him."
Monroe starter Trent Wyssbrod went four innings and allowed 11 runs, several of them unearned.
"Trent threw strikes," Huffman said. "We just need other guys to step up - and mostly on defense. We've got to get rid of these mental mistakes."
