MONROE - Justin Hahn deserved better.
The southpaw knew he'd have to work deep into Monroe's Home Talent League Western Section season-opener with Dodgeville on Sunday, but some costly errors early in the ballgame led to his and his eight teammates' demise.
Dodgeville pushed across two runs, just one earned, in the first as the Brewers committed two errors. Hahn, who was guilty of one of them, wriggled off the hook with the bases loaded before disaster struck with two outs in the third inning.
After shortstop Adam Siegehthaler and second baseman Scott Scheuerell nearly turned two on cleanup hitter Eric James, Ryan Reilly popped out to Joel Wild, also out of his element at third base before Eric Rohowetz was plunked by Hahn.
Then Knights center fielder Kurt Riha slapped a tailing liner to right field that player-manager Lon Scheuerell lumbered after before going to his knees in a last-moment lunge, only to have the ball just tip off his glove as two runs scored.
Scheuerell, most comfortable in his usual role as slugging lefty designated hitter, joins the list of Monroe's proverbial fish out of water.
"We basically had four starters out there and three of them were out of position," fellow player-manager Rooney Janecke said.
Monroe is awaiting the arrival of Shaun Dascher and Ben Korth of Rockford College, as well as Cody Boals, Mike Cleary, Mike Busjahn and Adam Scherer of Highland. All the ballplayers are playing potentially-season-ending games this week before Monroe takes on rival Wiota next Sunday.
Knights starter Curt Weier struck out 15 batters and scattered six hits.
"No offense to the guys we had out there, they did a great job," Janecke said. "But I think we're gonna be pretty good and the guys we're getting will make better contact."
With a scant bullpen, Hahn went the distance and the crafty lefty fanned 11 in the process as he refused any runs after the third inning.
"He was happy afterward, he's always accurate and hits his spots," Janecke said.
Wild was the only Brewer with two hits. Janecke thought he provided the only offense of the day when he spun on a fastball in the sixth, only to watch a gusting wind suspend it long enough in left for Travis Elvert to run under it.
"I crushed it, I thought I got all of it. Then the wind got it," Janecke said.
Dodgeville leadoff hitter Gary James had three hits and Weier helped his cause with two hits.
Where they dug in on defense Sunday wasn't the only disorienting feeling for several of Monroe's players.
"Some of these guys haven't played in 15 years," Janecke said.
The southpaw knew he'd have to work deep into Monroe's Home Talent League Western Section season-opener with Dodgeville on Sunday, but some costly errors early in the ballgame led to his and his eight teammates' demise.
Dodgeville pushed across two runs, just one earned, in the first as the Brewers committed two errors. Hahn, who was guilty of one of them, wriggled off the hook with the bases loaded before disaster struck with two outs in the third inning.
After shortstop Adam Siegehthaler and second baseman Scott Scheuerell nearly turned two on cleanup hitter Eric James, Ryan Reilly popped out to Joel Wild, also out of his element at third base before Eric Rohowetz was plunked by Hahn.
Then Knights center fielder Kurt Riha slapped a tailing liner to right field that player-manager Lon Scheuerell lumbered after before going to his knees in a last-moment lunge, only to have the ball just tip off his glove as two runs scored.
Scheuerell, most comfortable in his usual role as slugging lefty designated hitter, joins the list of Monroe's proverbial fish out of water.
"We basically had four starters out there and three of them were out of position," fellow player-manager Rooney Janecke said.
Monroe is awaiting the arrival of Shaun Dascher and Ben Korth of Rockford College, as well as Cody Boals, Mike Cleary, Mike Busjahn and Adam Scherer of Highland. All the ballplayers are playing potentially-season-ending games this week before Monroe takes on rival Wiota next Sunday.
Knights starter Curt Weier struck out 15 batters and scattered six hits.
"No offense to the guys we had out there, they did a great job," Janecke said. "But I think we're gonna be pretty good and the guys we're getting will make better contact."
With a scant bullpen, Hahn went the distance and the crafty lefty fanned 11 in the process as he refused any runs after the third inning.
"He was happy afterward, he's always accurate and hits his spots," Janecke said.
Wild was the only Brewer with two hits. Janecke thought he provided the only offense of the day when he spun on a fastball in the sixth, only to watch a gusting wind suspend it long enough in left for Travis Elvert to run under it.
"I crushed it, I thought I got all of it. Then the wind got it," Janecke said.
Dodgeville leadoff hitter Gary James had three hits and Weier helped his cause with two hits.
Where they dug in on defense Sunday wasn't the only disorienting feeling for several of Monroe's players.
"Some of these guys haven't played in 15 years," Janecke said.
