MONROE- When Verona moves to the Big Eight Conference next year, Monroe coach Steve Christensen won't have to ponder extra-inning moves against the Wildcats.
The Cheesemakers (3-8, 2-7 Badger South) added another cliffhanging chapter to their rivalry with the Wildcats after a 6-5, eight-inning loss at Monroe High School Thursday night.
The Cheesemakers rallied from a 5-2 deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning. Monroe sophomore Cory Kundert coaxed a lead-off walk off Verona's Nick Olson. With one out, Monroe senior Kyle Klopfenstein, who went 4-for-4, singled. The big blow came when lefty senior Nate Barta crushed a game-tying three-run homer to right.
"I didn't feel the ball hit the bat," Barta said. "I just looked up and thought, 'Oh, that has to be out of here.'" Barta said. "I knew all I had to do is get a hit and a run would score. I was not looking to hit a home run. I just wanted to put the ball in play."
Jake Teasdale and Taylor Weckerly followed with singles. The Wildcats went to the bullpen and brought in southpaw Derek Robinson, who walked Shawn Hart to load the bases. Robinson then pitched out of the jam by inducing two groundouts. Verona coach Brad D'Orazio was relieved to dodge a bullet in the seventh when the Cheesemakers' bats came to life. It marks the second time in a week the Wildcats have defeated the Cheesemakers by a run in an eight-inning game.
"He (Barta) put a great swing on that ball," D'Orazio said. "I feel very fortunate. They had all the momentum going."
Verona senior Alex Jennings singled off Mitch Tordoff to lead off the eighth. The Wildcats (7-6, 4-4) scored the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly by Justin Scanlon.
"We were just a little bit short," Christensen said. "It's a little disheartening to me."
Scanlon, who had three RBI, helped the Wildcats jump out to a 2-0 lead in the first with a two-run double off Teasdale. Teasdale pitched six innings and gave up three runs on eight hits. He pitched out of a no-out, bases-loaded jam in the third.
Tordoff came on in the seventh and gave up a one-out double to John Volker. Tordoff then walked the next two batters to load the bases. Verona junior Detric McCain then lined a two-run single to left center to give the Wildcats a 5-2 lead.
"I kind of put those two guys out there in a tough spot because they haven't been on the mound in awhile," Christensen said. "After he (Teasdale) got out of the first, he battled his way through trouble."
Monroe continues its homestand with little rest as Oregon visits this evening for another Badger South game at 5 p.m.
The Cheesemakers (3-8, 2-7 Badger South) added another cliffhanging chapter to their rivalry with the Wildcats after a 6-5, eight-inning loss at Monroe High School Thursday night.
The Cheesemakers rallied from a 5-2 deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning. Monroe sophomore Cory Kundert coaxed a lead-off walk off Verona's Nick Olson. With one out, Monroe senior Kyle Klopfenstein, who went 4-for-4, singled. The big blow came when lefty senior Nate Barta crushed a game-tying three-run homer to right.
"I didn't feel the ball hit the bat," Barta said. "I just looked up and thought, 'Oh, that has to be out of here.'" Barta said. "I knew all I had to do is get a hit and a run would score. I was not looking to hit a home run. I just wanted to put the ball in play."
Jake Teasdale and Taylor Weckerly followed with singles. The Wildcats went to the bullpen and brought in southpaw Derek Robinson, who walked Shawn Hart to load the bases. Robinson then pitched out of the jam by inducing two groundouts. Verona coach Brad D'Orazio was relieved to dodge a bullet in the seventh when the Cheesemakers' bats came to life. It marks the second time in a week the Wildcats have defeated the Cheesemakers by a run in an eight-inning game.
"He (Barta) put a great swing on that ball," D'Orazio said. "I feel very fortunate. They had all the momentum going."
Verona senior Alex Jennings singled off Mitch Tordoff to lead off the eighth. The Wildcats (7-6, 4-4) scored the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly by Justin Scanlon.
"We were just a little bit short," Christensen said. "It's a little disheartening to me."
Scanlon, who had three RBI, helped the Wildcats jump out to a 2-0 lead in the first with a two-run double off Teasdale. Teasdale pitched six innings and gave up three runs on eight hits. He pitched out of a no-out, bases-loaded jam in the third.
Tordoff came on in the seventh and gave up a one-out double to John Volker. Tordoff then walked the next two batters to load the bases. Verona junior Detric McCain then lined a two-run single to left center to give the Wildcats a 5-2 lead.
"I kind of put those two guys out there in a tough spot because they haven't been on the mound in awhile," Christensen said. "After he (Teasdale) got out of the first, he battled his way through trouble."
Monroe continues its homestand with little rest as Oregon visits this evening for another Badger South game at 5 p.m.
