ARGYLE - With eight players from Monroe on the Argyle Home Talent League baseball roster, manager Travis Erickson may want to change the name of the team.
The eight Monroe High School graduates playing for Argyle are Dylan Schwitz (2011 graduate), Drew Nafzger (2011), Kramer Henning (2011), Dylan Cleveland (2011), Kris Rieder (2010), Ryan Erickson (2013), Logan Weckerly (2015) and Hogan Edwards (2017).
The bulk of the team, which has 25 players, is from Argyle and Monroe. Lukas Kolasch (Monticello), Tyler Malcook (Brodhead) and Taylor Rupnow (South Wayne) also are members of the team.
Monroe used to field an HTL team called the Monroe Brewers. The team was comprised of players from Monroe and Orangeville, but it disbanded in 2015 due to a lack of players.
The influx of players on the Argyle Beavers has made for an interesting mix. Five of the eight players from Monroe played for the HTL's Brewers at least one year.
Schwitz, who plays shortstop for the Beavers, has played in the league for five years, including one season with the Monroe Brewers.
"It would be cool to play for your hometown," Schwitz said. "I have been playing here (Argyle) for so long that it feels like my hometown. The reason I came here is because Drew (Nafzger) knew the manager. If they (former MHS baseball players) want to play they will find somewhere to play. It's too bad Monroe doesn't have a team. It's a vicious circle. You have to have the numbers in this game. You never know when someone will get hurt. Numbers help."
Nafzger is also in his fifth year playing in the league and is a right fielder. He has played four years in Argyle and one year in Monroe. He started playing with Argyle after graduating from Monroe because he said his father, Curt Nafzger, played for Argyle in the league when he was younger.
"It feels more like home," Nafzger said of playing for Argyle. "I wanted to try something new and follow my dad's path. It's good to still keep the guys together. I have played with Dylan Schwitz and Kramer my whole life."
Nafzger, who is tied for 16th in the league in hitting (.370), said playing in the league for Argyle is a laid-back experience although players do take the games seriously.
Argyle plays a 17-game regular-season schedule in the Western Section's South Division on Sundays and also plays a 10-game regular-season schedule in a night league on Thursdays.
Argyle has won two of its past three games in the Sunday league. With a 7-7 record, Argyle is in the hunt to make the playoffs. Wiota leads the South division with a 9-4 record, one game ahead of Ridgeway (8-6) and two ahead of Argyle and Blanchardville.
"If we keep playing like we have been we should win out," Schwitz said. "If we win out, we make the playoffs. This is the part of the season that everyone lives for with something on the line."
Four of the former MHS baseball players - Erickson, Rieder, Weckerly and Edwards - are being used as pitchers. Erickson has started five games in the Sunday league and has enjoyed his time playing with many familiar faces even though it may be in a different colored jersey than the red one he wore with the Cheesemakers.
"It feels like home," Erickson said. "Coming to a different town, but having those guys like Schwitz, Nafzger and Kramer (Henning) welcomed me. It was nice having those guys taking me under their wings."
Erickson is the only lefty pitcher the Beavers have used on Sundays. He is getting more comfortable each time he pitches. This is his third year with the Beavers.
"The big thing is confidence," Erickson said. "I have a solid defense behind me. I trust those guys to back me up. "The bats are a lot quicker. It's faster than high school. I feel like I have gained the respect from the guys in the field behind me. They trust me to throw my pitches in good spots to get outs."
Each of the pitchers root for each other and are competitive, trying to pitch a gem better than the others.
"One guy comes in and does his job and the next guy comes in and takes off where the other one left off," Erickson said.
Erickson doesn't mind driving extra miles to play in Argyle.
"I don't mind not having a team in Monroe," he said. "It's close to home, and we have eight guys on the roster from Monroe."
The eight Monroe High School graduates playing for Argyle are Dylan Schwitz (2011 graduate), Drew Nafzger (2011), Kramer Henning (2011), Dylan Cleveland (2011), Kris Rieder (2010), Ryan Erickson (2013), Logan Weckerly (2015) and Hogan Edwards (2017).
The bulk of the team, which has 25 players, is from Argyle and Monroe. Lukas Kolasch (Monticello), Tyler Malcook (Brodhead) and Taylor Rupnow (South Wayne) also are members of the team.
Monroe used to field an HTL team called the Monroe Brewers. The team was comprised of players from Monroe and Orangeville, but it disbanded in 2015 due to a lack of players.
The influx of players on the Argyle Beavers has made for an interesting mix. Five of the eight players from Monroe played for the HTL's Brewers at least one year.
Schwitz, who plays shortstop for the Beavers, has played in the league for five years, including one season with the Monroe Brewers.
"It would be cool to play for your hometown," Schwitz said. "I have been playing here (Argyle) for so long that it feels like my hometown. The reason I came here is because Drew (Nafzger) knew the manager. If they (former MHS baseball players) want to play they will find somewhere to play. It's too bad Monroe doesn't have a team. It's a vicious circle. You have to have the numbers in this game. You never know when someone will get hurt. Numbers help."
Nafzger is also in his fifth year playing in the league and is a right fielder. He has played four years in Argyle and one year in Monroe. He started playing with Argyle after graduating from Monroe because he said his father, Curt Nafzger, played for Argyle in the league when he was younger.
"It feels more like home," Nafzger said of playing for Argyle. "I wanted to try something new and follow my dad's path. It's good to still keep the guys together. I have played with Dylan Schwitz and Kramer my whole life."
Nafzger, who is tied for 16th in the league in hitting (.370), said playing in the league for Argyle is a laid-back experience although players do take the games seriously.
Argyle plays a 17-game regular-season schedule in the Western Section's South Division on Sundays and also plays a 10-game regular-season schedule in a night league on Thursdays.
Argyle has won two of its past three games in the Sunday league. With a 7-7 record, Argyle is in the hunt to make the playoffs. Wiota leads the South division with a 9-4 record, one game ahead of Ridgeway (8-6) and two ahead of Argyle and Blanchardville.
"If we keep playing like we have been we should win out," Schwitz said. "If we win out, we make the playoffs. This is the part of the season that everyone lives for with something on the line."
Four of the former MHS baseball players - Erickson, Rieder, Weckerly and Edwards - are being used as pitchers. Erickson has started five games in the Sunday league and has enjoyed his time playing with many familiar faces even though it may be in a different colored jersey than the red one he wore with the Cheesemakers.
"It feels like home," Erickson said. "Coming to a different town, but having those guys like Schwitz, Nafzger and Kramer (Henning) welcomed me. It was nice having those guys taking me under their wings."
Erickson is the only lefty pitcher the Beavers have used on Sundays. He is getting more comfortable each time he pitches. This is his third year with the Beavers.
"The big thing is confidence," Erickson said. "I have a solid defense behind me. I trust those guys to back me up. "The bats are a lot quicker. It's faster than high school. I feel like I have gained the respect from the guys in the field behind me. They trust me to throw my pitches in good spots to get outs."
Each of the pitchers root for each other and are competitive, trying to pitch a gem better than the others.
"One guy comes in and does his job and the next guy comes in and takes off where the other one left off," Erickson said.
Erickson doesn't mind driving extra miles to play in Argyle.
"I don't mind not having a team in Monroe," he said. "It's close to home, and we have eight guys on the roster from Monroe."
