MONROE - The last time the Monroe baseball team had a winning season came in coach Dustin Huffman's second year in 2011.
This year, Huffman guided Monroe to a 14-12 regular season. The Cheesemakers enter the WIAA Division 2 regional tournament as a No. 3 seed despite having the second best record in the regional at the time of the seeding. Monroe will host Brodhead-Juda (1-15) in a regional quarterfinal game at 5 p.m. Tuesday. The top two seeds in the regional - No. 1 Edgerton and No. 2 Beloit Turner received byes.
Huffman isn't concerned about Monroe's draw as a No. 3 seed.
"It doesn't matter who you play," Huffman said. "You have to come out mentally ready, play sharp or you go home. Any time you can don't have to play an extra game, it's great. When things are going well, we can play with anyone."
Monroe has beat Brodhead-Juda twice this season - 9-1 in Monroe and 9-0 in Brodhead. The Cardinals committed nine errors in the two losses to the Cheesemakers. Both Brodhead-Juda's Brennan Bescup and Matt Schmidt were went 2-for-3 against the Cheesemakers in the game in Monroe. However, Huffman isn't taking anything for granted.
"They are better than their record shows," he said. "They have three solid hitters at the top of their lineup."
The Cheesemakers are expected to start Lucas Neuenschwander against the Cardinals. If Monroe wins, the Cheesemakers would play at Beloit Turner in a regional semifinal Wednesday where ace pitcher Logan Weckerly could be in line to pitch.
"If Logan is on the mound, he will always give us a chance to compete and get that win," Huffman said.
Division 3
Darlington received a No. 2 regional seed and will have a first-round bye Tuesday. The Redbirds (15-5), the SWAL champions for the first time since 1999, will play the winner of Cuba City and Wisconsin Heights in a regional semifinal Wednesday. The Redbirds defeated Cuba City 2-0 and 3-1 to sweep the two games against the Cubans this year.
"We are right where we want to be," Darlington coach Brad Solberg said. "We have three or four sophomores who are playing like upperclassmen. We are hitting the ball well and playing sharp in the field."
The No. 1 seed in the regional is Lancaster, which handled Darlington giving them an 11-1 loss earlier this season.
New Glarus (2-19) received a No. 6 seed and will play at Waterloo at 4:45 p.m. Tuesday. The Glarner Knights are 2-3 in their last five games.
Division 4
Pecatonica (20-4), the Six Rivers East Conference champions, received a No. 2 seed and also will have a first-round bye. The Vikings will play the winner of Barneveld and Southwestern Wednesday.
"It's a new challenge now," Pecatonica coach Jim Strommen said. "We have had a great regular season. It's a one-and-done type season now."
The top part of the Vikings' lineup has been dangerous. Pecatonica junior Kyle Kleppe is hitting about .500 with more than 30 RBI. Pecatonica senior Drew Schliem is hitting .490 with more than 30 RBI and junior Brooks Chandler is hitting about .480.
Pecatonica has a stable of pitchers led by sophomore A.J. Hendrickson (8-1) who has been a workhorse this year. Chandler, Kleppe and Schliem provide the Vikings with pitching depth. Due to arm problems, Schliem has been limited in his innings he has pitched this year. However, he pitched two innings in the regular season finale last week and had a three-inning stint two weeks ago.
Strommen isn't committing to using Schliem in a relief or starting pitching role.
"We will just have to wait and see how that situation works out," Strommen said. "He has been working his way back."
The No. 1 seed in the regional is Highland (21-4), which is led by two power pitchers - Austin Yager and John Linscheid. Yager is 9-2 with five shutouts and a 0.85 ERA and Linscheid is 8-0 with three shutouts and a 0.94 ERA.
"They have a lefty-righty combination in Austin Yager and Austin Linscheid that have really carried their team," Strommen said of Highland.
In the bottom half of the Barneveld sectional, Argyle (15-10) is a No. 1 regional-seed and also will have a bye Tuesday. Black Hawk received a No. 4 seed and will host Faith Christian Tuesday. The winner will play at Argyle Wednesday.
Argyle's Cam Treuthardt is hitting a team-high .452 with 22 RBI and 13 stolen bases. Sophomore Collin Argue is hitting .394 with 30 runs scored and 10 stolen bases. Senior Kyle Olson is hitting .384 with a team-high 22 RBI and 13 stolen bases, while junior Riley Ostby is hitting .361 with 18 RBI, 29 runs scored and 11 stolen bases. The Orioles are coming off a doubleheader sweep against Potosi.
"That was probably our best games of the year," Argyle coach Jeff Solberg said. "We have to focus and really concentrate on making a run. I think the experience of making it to the sectional final last year will help in these bigger games."
Argyle senior Colton Ploessl has a 3.74 ERA and has struck out 67 in 82 innings pitched. Olson's strikeout to walk rate is better than 2 to 1 with 67 strikeouts and 30 walks in 60 innings. Olson has a 3.01 ERA.
Monticello (0-20) received a No. 6 seed and will play at third-seeded Albany (8-14) Tuesday. The winner will then play at No. 2 seed Williams Bay Wednesday. Jeff Solberg considers Albany a surprise team that could upset Williams Bay. The Comets are 2-2 in their last four games.
"The last time we played Albany they gave us a really good game," he said. "With the way Albany has been playing, I think they could give Williams Bay a good game and could beat them."
This year, Huffman guided Monroe to a 14-12 regular season. The Cheesemakers enter the WIAA Division 2 regional tournament as a No. 3 seed despite having the second best record in the regional at the time of the seeding. Monroe will host Brodhead-Juda (1-15) in a regional quarterfinal game at 5 p.m. Tuesday. The top two seeds in the regional - No. 1 Edgerton and No. 2 Beloit Turner received byes.
Huffman isn't concerned about Monroe's draw as a No. 3 seed.
"It doesn't matter who you play," Huffman said. "You have to come out mentally ready, play sharp or you go home. Any time you can don't have to play an extra game, it's great. When things are going well, we can play with anyone."
Monroe has beat Brodhead-Juda twice this season - 9-1 in Monroe and 9-0 in Brodhead. The Cardinals committed nine errors in the two losses to the Cheesemakers. Both Brodhead-Juda's Brennan Bescup and Matt Schmidt were went 2-for-3 against the Cheesemakers in the game in Monroe. However, Huffman isn't taking anything for granted.
"They are better than their record shows," he said. "They have three solid hitters at the top of their lineup."
The Cheesemakers are expected to start Lucas Neuenschwander against the Cardinals. If Monroe wins, the Cheesemakers would play at Beloit Turner in a regional semifinal Wednesday where ace pitcher Logan Weckerly could be in line to pitch.
"If Logan is on the mound, he will always give us a chance to compete and get that win," Huffman said.
Division 3
Darlington received a No. 2 regional seed and will have a first-round bye Tuesday. The Redbirds (15-5), the SWAL champions for the first time since 1999, will play the winner of Cuba City and Wisconsin Heights in a regional semifinal Wednesday. The Redbirds defeated Cuba City 2-0 and 3-1 to sweep the two games against the Cubans this year.
"We are right where we want to be," Darlington coach Brad Solberg said. "We have three or four sophomores who are playing like upperclassmen. We are hitting the ball well and playing sharp in the field."
The No. 1 seed in the regional is Lancaster, which handled Darlington giving them an 11-1 loss earlier this season.
New Glarus (2-19) received a No. 6 seed and will play at Waterloo at 4:45 p.m. Tuesday. The Glarner Knights are 2-3 in their last five games.
Division 4
Pecatonica (20-4), the Six Rivers East Conference champions, received a No. 2 seed and also will have a first-round bye. The Vikings will play the winner of Barneveld and Southwestern Wednesday.
"It's a new challenge now," Pecatonica coach Jim Strommen said. "We have had a great regular season. It's a one-and-done type season now."
The top part of the Vikings' lineup has been dangerous. Pecatonica junior Kyle Kleppe is hitting about .500 with more than 30 RBI. Pecatonica senior Drew Schliem is hitting .490 with more than 30 RBI and junior Brooks Chandler is hitting about .480.
Pecatonica has a stable of pitchers led by sophomore A.J. Hendrickson (8-1) who has been a workhorse this year. Chandler, Kleppe and Schliem provide the Vikings with pitching depth. Due to arm problems, Schliem has been limited in his innings he has pitched this year. However, he pitched two innings in the regular season finale last week and had a three-inning stint two weeks ago.
Strommen isn't committing to using Schliem in a relief or starting pitching role.
"We will just have to wait and see how that situation works out," Strommen said. "He has been working his way back."
The No. 1 seed in the regional is Highland (21-4), which is led by two power pitchers - Austin Yager and John Linscheid. Yager is 9-2 with five shutouts and a 0.85 ERA and Linscheid is 8-0 with three shutouts and a 0.94 ERA.
"They have a lefty-righty combination in Austin Yager and Austin Linscheid that have really carried their team," Strommen said of Highland.
In the bottom half of the Barneveld sectional, Argyle (15-10) is a No. 1 regional-seed and also will have a bye Tuesday. Black Hawk received a No. 4 seed and will host Faith Christian Tuesday. The winner will play at Argyle Wednesday.
Argyle's Cam Treuthardt is hitting a team-high .452 with 22 RBI and 13 stolen bases. Sophomore Collin Argue is hitting .394 with 30 runs scored and 10 stolen bases. Senior Kyle Olson is hitting .384 with a team-high 22 RBI and 13 stolen bases, while junior Riley Ostby is hitting .361 with 18 RBI, 29 runs scored and 11 stolen bases. The Orioles are coming off a doubleheader sweep against Potosi.
"That was probably our best games of the year," Argyle coach Jeff Solberg said. "We have to focus and really concentrate on making a run. I think the experience of making it to the sectional final last year will help in these bigger games."
Argyle senior Colton Ploessl has a 3.74 ERA and has struck out 67 in 82 innings pitched. Olson's strikeout to walk rate is better than 2 to 1 with 67 strikeouts and 30 walks in 60 innings. Olson has a 3.01 ERA.
Monticello (0-20) received a No. 6 seed and will play at third-seeded Albany (8-14) Tuesday. The winner will then play at No. 2 seed Williams Bay Wednesday. Jeff Solberg considers Albany a surprise team that could upset Williams Bay. The Comets are 2-2 in their last four games.
"The last time we played Albany they gave us a really good game," he said. "With the way Albany has been playing, I think they could give Williams Bay a good game and could beat them."
