Monroe Cheesemakers Win 9-7 Over Belleville
The Monroe Cheesemakers built up a 9-1 lead over the first six innings, and held on for a 9-7 win over the Belleville Wildcats in non-conference high school baseball on Mon. April 14 at Monroe. The Cheesemakers wasted no time in taking the lead as they scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning. After the Wildcats scored a run in the 4th, the Cheesemakers added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to increase their lead to 5-1. Monroe made it 6-1 with a run in the 5th and appeared to have a comfortable lead at 9-1 with a three-run 6th inning.
But the Wildcats roared back with a six-run rally in the top of the 7th that fell just short as sophomore Ian Berg came on in relief for the Cheesemakers and closed the door to pick up a save.
Senior Cam Newcomer led a 10-hit attack for Monroe, going 3x4 and scored a run. Senior Cole Meighan got a hit, drove in a run, and scored a run. Junior 2nd baseman Eli Schaefer was 1x4 with a hit, a run scored, and an RBI. Junior catcher Logan Meier drove in two runs with a base hit and scored a run for the Cheese.
Sophomore Zane Seffrood started on the mound for Monroe. He pitched six innings and allowed just two hits and one run, which was unearned. With the loss, Belleville dropped to 2-4 overall and hosted Columbus on Tues. April 15. Monroe improved to 3-0 with the win and hosted Brodhead-Juda on Tues. April 15.
Cheesemakers Win Over Cardinals 13-6
The Monroe Cheesemakers picked up a big win over the Brodhead-Juda Cardinals in a match-up of Rock Valley Conference teams on April 15. The Cheesemakers, of the RVC-Valley, defeated the Cardinals, of the RVC-Rock, 13-6 to remain unbeaten at 4-0 on the season.
The Cardinals got the first run of the game on a bases loaded RBI walk by junior starting pitcher Sam Searls in the third inning. The Cheesemakers countered with a five-run third inning off Searls. Senior leftfielder Cam Newcomer had a sacrifice fly that scored a run and the big blow came on a bases loaded triple by junior starting pitcher Marcus Ott.
Brodhead-Juda pulled to within 5-4 by scoring three runs in the fifth. Two runs scored on senior Gabe Bockhop’s triple to center. Searls drove in another run with an RBI groundout to score Bockhop. The Cheese pulled away with an eight-run fifth inning that made the score 13-4. The Cardinals committed an error that allowed two runs to score, Newcomer brought in two more runs with a base hit. The Cheesemakers took advantage of seven Brodhead-Juda errors.
Newcomer went 3x4 with three RBIs. Senior centerfielder Cole Meighan was 3x5 and scored two runs. Senior shortstop Ashton Hale was 3x5 with an RBI. Junior catcher Logan Meier was 2x4 at the plate with an RBI and three runs scored.
Monroe head coach Dustin Huffman was really happy with the performance he got from pitcher Marcus Ott.
“He’s one we know can go out and hit spots with three different pitches and he has been red hot at the plate right now as well. So, he’s in a good spot right now,” said Huffman.
Ott pitched 6 2/3 innings and gave up three hits. Only two of the six runs he allowed were earned. Ott walked three and struck out five.
The Cheesemakers hosted Turner on April 17. With the loss, Brodhead-Juda dropped to 4-3 overall. The Cardinals played a non-conference game at Columbus on April 18.
