JANESVILLE - The Monroe Senior Legion baseball team's defense broke down in a 13-3 loss to the Kenosha Merchants in the American Legion Class AAA Region 7 Tournament Wednesday.
Monroe (10-8) committed an uncharacteristic seven errors in the eight inning loss. Monroe gave up three unearned runs in the first inning and three unearned runs in the seventh. With Kenosha leading 6-3 in the seventh, it fell apart for Monroe.
Monroe center fielder Matt Woodstock decided to play back on a liner and then slipped, which allowed three runs to score. And then a fourth run scored on the play when Monroe overthrew third base.
"Matt was kind of caught in no mans land," Monroe coach Eric Losenegger said. "He didn't know whether to come in for a diving catch or stay back. He stayed back and slipped."
Monroe also committed two errors in the seventh.
"Those two errors in the seventh really took the wind out of our sails," Losenegger said.
Monroe pitcher Drew Nafzger tossed six innings and two of the 10 runs he gave up were earned. He struck out three and walked four. Josh Farrey pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief. Kenosha pounded out 14 hits.
"Drew pitched well," Losenegger said. "He battled. If we don't make those errors, it's a new ball game. Kenosha is a good hitting team. They really put the ball in play."
Monroe was limited to just four hits. The four players who singled include Tyler Malcook, Mitchell Riese, Woodstock and Mitch Marty.
Monroe will play Janesville or Genoa City in the double elimination tournament today.
"By no means is our goal done," Losenegger said. "We can still get to the state tournament. We made it harder on ourselves. It's one and done from here on out."
Monroe (10-8) committed an uncharacteristic seven errors in the eight inning loss. Monroe gave up three unearned runs in the first inning and three unearned runs in the seventh. With Kenosha leading 6-3 in the seventh, it fell apart for Monroe.
Monroe center fielder Matt Woodstock decided to play back on a liner and then slipped, which allowed three runs to score. And then a fourth run scored on the play when Monroe overthrew third base.
"Matt was kind of caught in no mans land," Monroe coach Eric Losenegger said. "He didn't know whether to come in for a diving catch or stay back. He stayed back and slipped."
Monroe also committed two errors in the seventh.
"Those two errors in the seventh really took the wind out of our sails," Losenegger said.
Monroe pitcher Drew Nafzger tossed six innings and two of the 10 runs he gave up were earned. He struck out three and walked four. Josh Farrey pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief. Kenosha pounded out 14 hits.
"Drew pitched well," Losenegger said. "He battled. If we don't make those errors, it's a new ball game. Kenosha is a good hitting team. They really put the ball in play."
Monroe was limited to just four hits. The four players who singled include Tyler Malcook, Mitchell Riese, Woodstock and Mitch Marty.
Monroe will play Janesville or Genoa City in the double elimination tournament today.
"By no means is our goal done," Losenegger said. "We can still get to the state tournament. We made it harder on ourselves. It's one and done from here on out."
