MONROE — The Cheesemakers flipped the script in a nonconference doubleheader against former Badger opponent Portage May 18 on Senior Day. Monroe fell in the opener 7-1, committing four errors and giving up nine runs. In Game 2, the Cheesemakers cleaned up their defense and limited the Warriors to just three hits.

PORTAGE 7, MONROE 1

MONROE — The Warriors had a pair of crooked innings in Game 1, leading to the victory.   

Portage hit a one-out single between third and shortstop, and Monroe’s starting pitcher Ethan Rosenstiel walked the next batter on four pitches. The wind lifted the No. 4 batter’s hit, but right fielder Blake Drafall was unable to make the diving catch, loading the bases. 

The next two batters drove in runs on a sacrifice fly and RBI double. Rosenstiel appeared to get out of the inning with a strikeout, but his wild pitch escaped catcher Logan Meier and allowed the batter to reach. Rosenstiel sat down the last batter on four pitches to get out of the inning. 

The Warriors pushed one run across in the second and fourth for a 5-0 lead. They extended it to seven runs in the seventh, jumping on relief pitcher Owen Douglas. Portage lifted a sacrifice fly out to right, and the next batter launched an RBI double that hit the base of the fence on the fly.

Douglas, who was subbed in for Ian Berg, led off the bottom of the seventh with a single to right. He fouled off three pitches in the at bat. Douglas advanced to second on a groundout and took third on a passed ball. Keegan Dahmen then drove him in with an RBI single on the first pitch of his at bat, spoiling the shutout bid.

Despite putting up one run, Monroe had more scoring opportunities. 

In the bottom of the second, Rosenstiel led off with a single to the left side. He stole second and advanced to third on a groundout. Meier left him stranded, striking out in a seven-pitch at bat.

Cam Newcomer led off the bottom of the fifth with an infield single and took second on a wild pitch. Drafall then lined a two-out single to the right side on the first pitch of his at bat, putting runners on first and third. Leadoff batter Ashton Hale swung on the first pitch, too, but grounded out to second.

An aggressive plate approach hurt Monroe again in the sixth, as Meier flew out to right on the first pitch of his at bat. The Cheesemakers had bases loaded.

Newcomer led Monroe at the plate, going 2-for-3. Rosenstiel suffered the loss, giving up four runs on seven hits. He struck out four and walked four.

MONROE 5, PORTAGE 1

MONROE — The Cheesemakers broke a scoreless stalemate in the fifth with three runs and scored two insurance runs in the seventh for the win.

Cam Newcomer led off the fifth, drawing a five-pitch walk. Logan Meier reached on an error, and Owen Gilbertson singled to load the bases. Elsen Gratz laid down a sacrifice bunt, scoring Newcomer. Lucas Graham and Ashton Hale drew back-to-back walks, and two runs scored on wild pitches. 

In the seventh, Eli Schaefer drew a two-out walk. Owen Douglas singled, and Hale drew a five-pitch walk to load the bases. Marcus Ott then lined a two-RBI single to center.

Ott finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Hale and Newcomer drew two walks each. Keegan Dahmen picked up the win, throwing four innings of one-hit ball. He struck out five and didn’t issue a walk. 

DELAVAN-DARIEN 9, MONROE 6

DELAVAN — Monroe was in need of a win, as the Cheesemakers dropped two RVC games May 16-17. Monroe gave up a 6-3 lead against Delavan-Darien, allowing four runs in the fifth.

No. 9 hitter Blake Drafall sparked the lineup, going 2-for-2 with a walk, RBI and run scored. The top two hitters, Ashton Hale and Eli Schaefer, drew two walks each. Keegan Dahmen drove in two runs with a double, and Ott tallied two hits.

Ian Berg suffered the loss, giving up four runs on five hits. He struck out one, walked one and hit one.

EAST TROY 5, MONROE 2

EAST TROY — The Cheesemakers allowed the Trojans to rally late, giving up four runs in the sixth in an RVC loss May 16.

Ethan Rosenstiel tallied the only hit of the game — an RBI triple in the third. It came on the heels of an RBI groundout from Keegan Dahmen. Marcus Ott was charged with the loss, giving up three runs on two hits.