MONROE - The Monroe High School baseball team enters the WIAA Division 2 regional hoping to make a long postseason run that could see them playing on their home field for a chance to advance to the state tournament.
Monroe (12-12, 7-5 Badger South) finished above .500 in the Badger South Conference for the first time since 2011.
"It's cliche, but we have to take it game by game," Monroe coach Dustin Huffman said. "That is how you have to look at it. The cards will fall where they may."
Monroe will begin its postseason journey by hosting Clinton in a regional quarterfinal at 5 p.m. today.
Last year, the Cheesemakers entered the tournament as a No. 3 seed and upset Beloit Turner to reach a regional championship game. The Cheesemakers are hoping to repeat that feat and advance to the sectional this year, which Monroe will host.
"If we get rolling in the right direction, I feel like we can play with just about anybody," Huffman said. "It would be great to play in the sectional we are hosting in front of a good crowd."
Monroe senior Garrett Gogin is the leading hitter for the Cheesemakers at .514 with 38 hits, 32 RBI, 10 doubles and one home run. Senior Jaron Kuester is hitting .429 with three home runs and 27 RBI.
The Cheesemakers are relying on the one-two pitching punch of juniors Hunter Weckerly and Hogan Edwards. Edwards is 6-3 with a 2.93 ERA and 40 strikeouts. Weckerly has posted a 4-6 mark with a 2.83 ERA.
Also in Division 2, Brodhead-Juda (8-12) will host Edgerton. The Cardinals are led by Layne Millard, who is hitting .414 with 10 RBI and 11 stolen bases. Brodhead-Juda's Tyler Hoesly (.324) and Tyler Schwartzlow (.314) have also proven to be dependable hitters the Cardinals can count on.
"It will be a good matchup," Brodhead-Juda coach Aaron Guilbault said. "Edgerton is historically a strong baseball program, but we have done a lot of good things this year and are hoping to make a strong run in the playoffs."
Brodhead-Juda defeated Edgerton earlier this year.
"I'm sure they will want to come into our field and return the favor," Guilbault said.
Division 3
Darlington (15-5) received a No. 2 seed and will have a bye today. The Redbirds, the SWAL champions are led by Tyler Osterday, who is hitting .400 and Ryan Glendenning (.333). The Redbirds will play the winner of Lancaster and Cuba City at 4:30 p.m. May 31 in Darlington. New Glarus will open up regional play at Deerfield.
Division 4
Pecatonica (22-1) enters the tournament ranked No. 1 in the state in Division 4. The Vikings received a No. 1 regional seed and will have a first-round bye today. Despite being a No. 1 seed the past two years, Pecatonica has lost before the regional championship game.
"They have heard me say on any given day any team can beat anyone especially in the game of baseball," Pecatonica coach Jim Strommen said. "If you get a hot pitcher doing a good job, and you get timely hitting anything can happen. That is the beauty of baseball. It's not always the most gifted team that comes out on top."
Senior Kyle Kleppe leads the Vikings, hitting a team-best .550 with 42 RBI. Senior Brooks Chandler (.481 with 21 RBI, 19 stolen bases and 47 runs scored) is a catalyst.
Argyle (14-10) received a No. 4 seed in the Johnson Creek sectional and will host Southwestern in a regional quarterfinal. The Orioles are riding a four-game winning streak entering the tournament. Argyle is 12-3 in the last 15 games. One loss for the Orioles during that stretch was a 1-0 to Pecatonica.
The Orioles are led by junior Collin Argue who is hitting a team-best .421 with 32 hits, three home runs, 46 RBI, 29 runs scored and 13 stolen bases. Senior teammate Riley Ostby (.410, 25 hits, 24 RBI, 29 stolen bases) and junior teammate Cam Treuthardt (.387 with 29 hits, 33 RBI and 21 stolen bases) and are also offensive threats in the lineup. If Argyle beats Southwestern, the Orioles would get a rematch against Pecatonica in a regional semifinal May 31.
"We have a very tough matchup with Southwestern," Argyle coach Jeff Solberg said. "They are a good team. We will need to be focused and play our best ball. It's one and done now so we only get one chance at them."
Fourth-seeded Albany will host Monticello in a regional quarterfinal. Albany (11-11) swept two games from Monticello during the regular season outscoring the Ponies 19-2. If the Comets can knock off the Ponies for the third time this year, a regional semifinal matchup against No. 1 seed Barneveld awaits. Barneveld has beaten Albany twice this season - 3-1 in April and 4-2 in May.
Monroe (12-12, 7-5 Badger South) finished above .500 in the Badger South Conference for the first time since 2011.
"It's cliche, but we have to take it game by game," Monroe coach Dustin Huffman said. "That is how you have to look at it. The cards will fall where they may."
Monroe will begin its postseason journey by hosting Clinton in a regional quarterfinal at 5 p.m. today.
Last year, the Cheesemakers entered the tournament as a No. 3 seed and upset Beloit Turner to reach a regional championship game. The Cheesemakers are hoping to repeat that feat and advance to the sectional this year, which Monroe will host.
"If we get rolling in the right direction, I feel like we can play with just about anybody," Huffman said. "It would be great to play in the sectional we are hosting in front of a good crowd."
Monroe senior Garrett Gogin is the leading hitter for the Cheesemakers at .514 with 38 hits, 32 RBI, 10 doubles and one home run. Senior Jaron Kuester is hitting .429 with three home runs and 27 RBI.
The Cheesemakers are relying on the one-two pitching punch of juniors Hunter Weckerly and Hogan Edwards. Edwards is 6-3 with a 2.93 ERA and 40 strikeouts. Weckerly has posted a 4-6 mark with a 2.83 ERA.
Also in Division 2, Brodhead-Juda (8-12) will host Edgerton. The Cardinals are led by Layne Millard, who is hitting .414 with 10 RBI and 11 stolen bases. Brodhead-Juda's Tyler Hoesly (.324) and Tyler Schwartzlow (.314) have also proven to be dependable hitters the Cardinals can count on.
"It will be a good matchup," Brodhead-Juda coach Aaron Guilbault said. "Edgerton is historically a strong baseball program, but we have done a lot of good things this year and are hoping to make a strong run in the playoffs."
Brodhead-Juda defeated Edgerton earlier this year.
"I'm sure they will want to come into our field and return the favor," Guilbault said.
Division 3
Darlington (15-5) received a No. 2 seed and will have a bye today. The Redbirds, the SWAL champions are led by Tyler Osterday, who is hitting .400 and Ryan Glendenning (.333). The Redbirds will play the winner of Lancaster and Cuba City at 4:30 p.m. May 31 in Darlington. New Glarus will open up regional play at Deerfield.
Division 4
Pecatonica (22-1) enters the tournament ranked No. 1 in the state in Division 4. The Vikings received a No. 1 regional seed and will have a first-round bye today. Despite being a No. 1 seed the past two years, Pecatonica has lost before the regional championship game.
"They have heard me say on any given day any team can beat anyone especially in the game of baseball," Pecatonica coach Jim Strommen said. "If you get a hot pitcher doing a good job, and you get timely hitting anything can happen. That is the beauty of baseball. It's not always the most gifted team that comes out on top."
Senior Kyle Kleppe leads the Vikings, hitting a team-best .550 with 42 RBI. Senior Brooks Chandler (.481 with 21 RBI, 19 stolen bases and 47 runs scored) is a catalyst.
Argyle (14-10) received a No. 4 seed in the Johnson Creek sectional and will host Southwestern in a regional quarterfinal. The Orioles are riding a four-game winning streak entering the tournament. Argyle is 12-3 in the last 15 games. One loss for the Orioles during that stretch was a 1-0 to Pecatonica.
The Orioles are led by junior Collin Argue who is hitting a team-best .421 with 32 hits, three home runs, 46 RBI, 29 runs scored and 13 stolen bases. Senior teammate Riley Ostby (.410, 25 hits, 24 RBI, 29 stolen bases) and junior teammate Cam Treuthardt (.387 with 29 hits, 33 RBI and 21 stolen bases) and are also offensive threats in the lineup. If Argyle beats Southwestern, the Orioles would get a rematch against Pecatonica in a regional semifinal May 31.
"We have a very tough matchup with Southwestern," Argyle coach Jeff Solberg said. "They are a good team. We will need to be focused and play our best ball. It's one and done now so we only get one chance at them."
Fourth-seeded Albany will host Monticello in a regional quarterfinal. Albany (11-11) swept two games from Monticello during the regular season outscoring the Ponies 19-2. If the Comets can knock off the Ponies for the third time this year, a regional semifinal matchup against No. 1 seed Barneveld awaits. Barneveld has beaten Albany twice this season - 3-1 in April and 4-2 in May.
