MCFARLAND — The sixth-seeded Cheesemakers pulled off their biggest win of season amidst impending storms on May 26 in the opening round of the WIAA Division 2 baseball playoffs. Monroe senior pitcher Henry Brukwicki shut down the Spartans, and the offense and defense did just enough to knock No. 3-seed McFarland out of the playoffs with a 4-1 victory.
Brukwicki threw 6.1 innings on exactly 100 pitches. He struck out nine batters while scattering four hits and two walks. His brother, George, a junior, got the final two outs of the seventh in relief to pick up the save.
Many games throughout southern Wisconsin were postponed due to a line of thunderstorms, but the two teams chose to play through the rain and wind.
The Cheesemakers committed just one error in the contest, a welcomed change of pace from a season otherwise inundated with mistakes in the field.
McFarland struck first in the bottom of the second inning, but the Cheesemakers weren’t deterred. In the top of the fourth, Henry Brukwicki walked and Keatin Sweeney singled to put two runners on with no outs. Brevin Rach then laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners. Keegan Dahmen then put the ball in play hard to short, where the Spartan infielder committed an error, allowing Brukwicki and Sweeney to score, giving Monroe a 2-1 lead.
The score didn’t change until the seventh inning, when the wet surface of the field turf — and perhaps some nerves — got the best of McFarland. With two out, George Brukwicki singled to left, scoring Tucker Markham from first. Brukwicki alertly went to second, and a throw from the McFarland catcher got away from the rest of his defenders. Brukwicki then rounded third and was able to score on the error.
Monroe had just three hits in the game, but drew seven walks to drive up the pitch count of Braylon Roder, who was able to go just four innings for the Spartans.
The journey in the postseason doesn’t get any easier, however. Monroe will face Madison Edgewood in the second round. The game was slated to be played May 31.
Earlier this season, Edgewood beat Monroe in late April: 6-1 and 5-1.
WIAA Division 3
New Glarus 12, Parkview 4
NEW GLARUS — The Glarner Knights opened the postseason ready to hit, despite the regional quarterfinal game being delayed a day due to thunderstorms.
Leyton Mihlbauer held Parkview in check on the mound, allowing four runs in 5.2 innings of work. Patrick Alt threw a scoreless 1.1 innings to close the door.
At the plate, Mihlbauer and Eli Zimmerman both had two hits. Mihlbauer, Alt, Zimmerman and Brett Warrell each scored twice, and Warrell drove in two runs.
New Glarus opened the game with five runs in the bottom of the first inning, tacked on another run in the second, then put up a 4-spot in the third to blow the game open. Parkview scored once in the fifth and thrice in the sixth to make it 10-4, but NG plated two more in the bottom of the sixth for insurance.
The Knights are scheduled to play rival Belleville in the regional semifinal, with the winner scheduled to play June 1 in the regional championship. The Wildcats defeated Monticello-Albany 15-0 in five innings in their game May 27.
Belleville edged New Glarus by a game in the Capitol South standings for the league crown, but the Knights scored a victory in the last meeting of the two teams May 20.
Fennimore 7, Darlington 4
FENNIMORE — The Redbirds entered the WIAA Division 3 playoffs as winners in 7 of their last 9 games. The Eagles were not scared of their avian opposition, however.
Darlington took a 3-2 lead in the fourth, but Fennimore scored four runs in the home half of the frame, then tacked on another score in the fifth.
Cadyn Burbach had two hits, while Braden Davis finished with two RBIs and a double for Darlington.
Gage Banfield, Riggs Black, Breylin Goebel and Burbach all split time on the mound, allowing four earned runs to score with six strikeouts, seven walks, three hit-by-pitches, and eight hits allowed.
Mark Kenny pitched the complete game for Fennimore, striking out six and allowing just one earned run to score.
WIAA Division 4
Belmont 6, Argyle 1
BELMONT — Will Helfvogt had three singles, but the Orioles were chopped down by the Braves in their playoff-opening game May 27.
Max Godfrey took the loss on the mound, allowing four runs across 4.2 innings. He struck out eight hits with a walk.
Kolby Lancaster got the win for the Braves, striking out six in a complete game effort.
In other area action, No. 2-seed Barneveld defeated Black Hawk 10-0 in five innings. Top-seeded Pecatonica was idle and was scheduled to host Belmont May 31. The winner would face either Southwestern or Barneveld.
