OREGON - For a loud, promising moment, Monroe coach Steve Christensen's advice was heard. Shortly, thereafter, it was as good as gone.
After taking a half-hearted first swing at a Skyler Debilzen pitch, Cheesemakers junior Josh Popanz launched a two-run home run to left field after his skipper hollered at him to take a healthy cut at it.
The bomb came after a Nick Rieder RBI-double and a run-scoring infield single by Shawn Hart in the top of the fourth and gave Monroe a 4-3 lead. But Debilzen settled in, not allowing a hit the rest of the way. Meanwhile, his offense cracked all three of its homers in the bottom of the third to put up an eight-spot in the inning and lock down the eventual final of 16-4 in five innings.
"The wind was really blowing and it was straight out," Christensen observed.
Monroe starter Jake Teasdale singled to start the second-inning rally, but his first start since twirling a no-hitter against Baraboo, the squad's lone victory, was otherwise forgettable. The senior allowed eight hits and seven earned runs over two innings, while fanning two.
"We didn't field the ball well and we made some mistakes on 0-2 pitches," Christensen said. "We struggled to stay in the game mentally and it will be interesting to see how we respond to these last two defeats."
Monroe (1-4, 0-3 Badger South) gets all of one practice before hosting Monona Grove in another Badger South ballgame Thursday.
"The schedule for these two weeks doesn't lend itself to correcting things in practice," Christensen said.
After taking a half-hearted first swing at a Skyler Debilzen pitch, Cheesemakers junior Josh Popanz launched a two-run home run to left field after his skipper hollered at him to take a healthy cut at it.
The bomb came after a Nick Rieder RBI-double and a run-scoring infield single by Shawn Hart in the top of the fourth and gave Monroe a 4-3 lead. But Debilzen settled in, not allowing a hit the rest of the way. Meanwhile, his offense cracked all three of its homers in the bottom of the third to put up an eight-spot in the inning and lock down the eventual final of 16-4 in five innings.
"The wind was really blowing and it was straight out," Christensen observed.
Monroe starter Jake Teasdale singled to start the second-inning rally, but his first start since twirling a no-hitter against Baraboo, the squad's lone victory, was otherwise forgettable. The senior allowed eight hits and seven earned runs over two innings, while fanning two.
"We didn't field the ball well and we made some mistakes on 0-2 pitches," Christensen said. "We struggled to stay in the game mentally and it will be interesting to see how we respond to these last two defeats."
Monroe (1-4, 0-3 Badger South) gets all of one practice before hosting Monona Grove in another Badger South ballgame Thursday.
"The schedule for these two weeks doesn't lend itself to correcting things in practice," Christensen said.
