VERONA — Postseason victories have been tough to come by for the Cheesemakers’ baseball program over the last two decades. Over the last 20 seasons, Monroe is just 12-20 in the playoffs, with just two of those seasons netting two playoff wins.
“It’s definitely not the way we wanted it to end tonight, especially against Edgewood, a conference rival. But nobody picked us to win on Thursday against McFarland, and we did that,” said Eric Losenegger, Monroe’s baseball coach. “For four or five innings here today we played with Edgewood. You know, Rich Newton (Edgewood’s coach who earned his 300th career victory in the game) was nervous tonight with Henry on the mound and some of the things he’s capable of doing.”
After securing an upset victory on the road at McFarland May 26, the Cheesemakers knew they would still be the underdogs against Madison Edgewood, the No. 2 seed in the regional. At Verona’s Stampfl Field on May 31, the Crusaders lived up to their billing, beating Monroe 10-0 in six innings — the third time this season Edgewood toppled the Cheesemakers.
“The first thing I told the guys after the game was that we didn’t play bad tonight. They put better swings on the ball than we did. This is a good team,” Losenegger said. “If you came out to watch us early in the year and we turned things into a snowball fight and give the other team eight or nine runs, but we didn’t do that tonight. Edgewood earned all 10 of them that you got, so you just tip your cap to them.”
Against McFarland, Monroe ace Henry Brukwicki, a senior, brought his best stuff and shut down the Spartans to pick up a 4-1 win. Edgewood, however, took advantage of even the slightest of mistakes from Brukwicki, chasing him after just three innings.
“I wasn’t hitting my spots as well as I would have liked to, but that’s a good team. It is what it is,” Brukwicki said. “I knew that coming in, and that was maybe part of the problem, too — I was trying to miss bats and you can’t really miss their bats. They can hit it. They are a very good team offensively.”
After a scoreless first, Edgewood plated a run in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice fly. In the third, Edgewood tacked on two more runs against Brukwicki.
“Henry by no means had his best stuff, but he battled. It’s what he’s done for us for four years. I love the kid to death, and we’re going to miss him like crazy,” Losenegger said.
A 3-run fourth inning was the last for Brukwicki. Sophomore Keegan Dahmen relieved and pitched a scoreless fifth, but Edgewood added four more runs in the bottom of the sixth to walk of the game via mercy rule.
Monroe had five hits in the game — all singles, and by five different players. Brukwicki was the lone Cheesemaker to walk.
For Edgewood, Teddy McNeil doubled three times and walked in another at bat. Chase Koch had two hits, Joe Hartleib doubled and Leo Koenig drove in three. Henry Bishop struck out six on 77 pitches over six innings.
Brukwicki struck out just one batter and walked six with five hits. Dahmen hit two batters, gave up three hits and a walk, and three of his four charged runs were earned in 1.2 innings of work.
Monroe finishes the year 5-14. Losenegger said he has cherished his senior class, and Brukwicki walked off the diamond with fond memories as well.
“It was so fun to get a good playoff win with this group of seniors. I love these guys. They are my favorite group I’ve ever played with. The juniors, too. The team chemistry was great,” Brukwicki said. “It had to come to an end eventually.”
Henry also reflected on sharing time on the diamond with brother, George, a junior.
“I think we made each other better,” Henry said. “He’s always been my throwing partner. Every time I’ve practiced, he’s been out there with me. It definitely helped both of us perform. It was super fun playing with him in both football and baseball. I’ll definitely miss that.”
Losenegger said there is also optimism already for next season, as plenty of key players from this year’s squad return, like Dahmen, and all-conference players George Brukwicki and Tucker Markham.
“We’ve got some good sophomores that got some big at-bats in some big innings in Badger Conference situations. I hope this excitement got them a little bit more desire and drive and want to get out and work. I’m on the football coaching staff, and I find a way to make baseball and football work, and these guys are 3-sport athletes, and I understand that, but they have to commit to this like they do the other sports. If they can do that, they will see the benefits of it. I think this group had enough fun this year that those guys for next year will do what they need to,” Losenegger said.