MONROE - The hits, missing for over a week, finally came back home to roost for the Cheese-makers.
"We haven't hit the ball well the last couple of games," head coach Dustin Huffman said after his team's 8-5 win over McFarland Friday. "Fortunately we had some guys hit the ball hard today. I'm pretty happy with that."
Monroe (6-4, 3-3 Badger South) scored two runs early in the first inning. With runners on first and second and no outs, three-hitter Kramer Henning bunted for a hit down the first base line, with the unneeded throw traveling into right field, scoring both runs. Spartans starter Kyle Komplin was relieved after just four batters.
"The past three or four games we've all been looking for walks and haven't been swinging," said Monroe starting pitcher Mitch Marty, who struck out three, allowed seven hits and three runs (one earned). "Today we finally swung at some pitches and got the hits when we needed them."
McFarland worked their way back into the game when nine-hitter Jake Thomas jacked a solo over the fence in right to lead off the third. In the fourth, McFarland tied the game on an unearned run.
Gathering his players into a huddle in front of the dugout, Huffman asked for someone to put the bat on the ball. The Cheesemakers responded with a 6-run fifth, all of which unearned. Monroe had five hits in the frame and batted around the order.
Kris Rieder led off and reached on a dropped third strike, Taylor Riese bunted him to second and Logan Wells brought Rieder in on a hard liner to first, which was ruled an error. Michael Turek then lined a shot down the first base line and Drew Nafzger singled in two to right.
"It was the bottom of the order again. Nafzger stepped in and had a huge two-RBI single. Turek hit one real hard," Huffman said. "We had a lot of guys come in who haven't had a lot of swings this year put the bat on the ball and hit it hard."
Marty and Dylan Schwitz each had two-RBI singles and Henning added two more RBIs with a dump into left field.
"I've changed my approach a little," said Schwitz, who finished the game 3-for-3 with two runs and a walk. "I get a little closer to the plate and force the pitcher to throw to my spot. Every time I hit it (in the infield) I know there's 50/50 chance I can beat it out so I always run hard."
Marty allowed two more unearned runs in the top of the sixth.
"Mitch has a good baseball head on him. We don't have to tell him too much. He can go out there and knows what to throw," Huffman said. "He pitched to outs. We had a couple of errors in the field out there and they (McFarland) found some gaps, but for the most part (Marty) scattered them."
Cory Kundert battled through the seventh to cap the win.
"I told them to relax, be smart and enjoy it - forget about baseball for the weekend and we'll get back at it again on Monday," Huffman said.###
The Cheesemakers travel to Baraboo Tuesday before facing Madison Edgewood on the road April 29.
"We haven't hit the ball well the last couple of games," head coach Dustin Huffman said after his team's 8-5 win over McFarland Friday. "Fortunately we had some guys hit the ball hard today. I'm pretty happy with that."
Monroe (6-4, 3-3 Badger South) scored two runs early in the first inning. With runners on first and second and no outs, three-hitter Kramer Henning bunted for a hit down the first base line, with the unneeded throw traveling into right field, scoring both runs. Spartans starter Kyle Komplin was relieved after just four batters.
"The past three or four games we've all been looking for walks and haven't been swinging," said Monroe starting pitcher Mitch Marty, who struck out three, allowed seven hits and three runs (one earned). "Today we finally swung at some pitches and got the hits when we needed them."
McFarland worked their way back into the game when nine-hitter Jake Thomas jacked a solo over the fence in right to lead off the third. In the fourth, McFarland tied the game on an unearned run.
Gathering his players into a huddle in front of the dugout, Huffman asked for someone to put the bat on the ball. The Cheesemakers responded with a 6-run fifth, all of which unearned. Monroe had five hits in the frame and batted around the order.
Kris Rieder led off and reached on a dropped third strike, Taylor Riese bunted him to second and Logan Wells brought Rieder in on a hard liner to first, which was ruled an error. Michael Turek then lined a shot down the first base line and Drew Nafzger singled in two to right.
"It was the bottom of the order again. Nafzger stepped in and had a huge two-RBI single. Turek hit one real hard," Huffman said. "We had a lot of guys come in who haven't had a lot of swings this year put the bat on the ball and hit it hard."
Marty and Dylan Schwitz each had two-RBI singles and Henning added two more RBIs with a dump into left field.
"I've changed my approach a little," said Schwitz, who finished the game 3-for-3 with two runs and a walk. "I get a little closer to the plate and force the pitcher to throw to my spot. Every time I hit it (in the infield) I know there's 50/50 chance I can beat it out so I always run hard."
Marty allowed two more unearned runs in the top of the sixth.
"Mitch has a good baseball head on him. We don't have to tell him too much. He can go out there and knows what to throw," Huffman said. "He pitched to outs. We had a couple of errors in the field out there and they (McFarland) found some gaps, but for the most part (Marty) scattered them."
Cory Kundert battled through the seventh to cap the win.
"I told them to relax, be smart and enjoy it - forget about baseball for the weekend and we'll get back at it again on Monday," Huffman said.###
The Cheesemakers travel to Baraboo Tuesday before facing Madison Edgewood on the road April 29.
