MONROE - Senior third baseman Hogan Edwards had a lot to smile about after the Monroe High School baseball team snuffed out a late rally and knocked off Edgerton 6-4 Tuesday in the season opener.
The Cheesemakers pounded out seven hits. Senior Isaac Allen reached base all three times he batted, going 2-for-2 with two RBI and getting hit by a pitch. Edwards went 2-for-3 with one RBI and one stolen base.
"It felt really great to beat them in the first game," Edwards said. "I knew we had it in us. It was just a matter if we would make the plays in the field. We have had limited days outside. That did not stop us from making the plays and going out and hitting the ball hard."
Monroe senior Brad Ripp started and pitched four innings to get the win. He gave up two runs on two hits. The Crimson Tide had two hits off Ripp in the first inning that led to one run. Ripp cruised after that. Ripp and Monroe sophomore Max Lange combined to keep the Crimson Tide hitless for four innings after the rough start. Lange pitched three innings and gave up two runs on four hits. He struck out five and hit two batters.
"It's really a good feeling knowing I have a good defense behind me," Ripp said. "I knew all I had to do was throw strikes and count on them to make plays behind me. I think I was a little nervous at the start of the game. As the game went on, I got more confident."
Monroe coach Dustin Huffman saw many positives the Cheesemakers can build on.
"We told them afterwards it wasn't perfect, and there is room for improvement, but it's a good starting point," Huffman said. "We started March 28 with limited practices and swings, and we will take this. I thought we had a good approach at the plate. We let the high pitches go. We were aggressive on the balls we wanted to attack in the zone."
Huffman was excited to see Ripp bounce back after giving up a run in the first.
"Brad really did a nice job of settling down after the first," Huffman said. "Brad did a heck of a job. He came out and pitched to contact. It's early in the season, and it's all about getting out there and getting the experience. If he can go out and improve each night that is a good starting point for us."
After trailing 1-0 early on, it didn't take the Cheesemakers long to answer. Monroe senior Jacob Ritschard walked to lead off the bottom of the first. One batter later, Edwards ripped a bouncing RBI single to left to tie the game at 1.
The Cheesemakers took the lead for good in the second. Monroe freshman Jared Dillon walked to set up the scoring opportunity. Allen then lined a go-ahead RBI double to left to give the Cheesemakers a 2-1 lead. Ritschard delivered a key RBI double to center to extend the Cheesemakers' lead to 3-1.
"Isaac has been on the varsity for two years. He stepped up to the plate and got a couple of clutch hits we needed," Edwards said.
Monroe broke the game open with a three-run third. Edwards doubled, and Dagon Rach was hit by a pitch. Junior Hunter Ward stuck out but reached base on a dropped third strike. Allen was hit by a pitch to bring in a run. Monroe freshman Nick Bansley had the big blow of the third, delivering a two-run single to center that gave the Cheesemakers a 6-2 lead.
It marked the season debuts for Bansley and Dillon on the varsity as freshmen. Bansley went 1-for-2 with two RBI and one stolen base, and Dillon walked two of the four times he batted.
"I know what it is like playing on the varsity as a freshman because I did it," Edwards said. "Coming into the season as a freshman can be nerve wracking. I thought our two freshmen tonight came out and did their job."
Huffman also commended the play of Dillon and Bansley in their first starts.
"Coming in as freshmen this is a big stage," Huffman said. "They handled themselves really well and were calm. I was really happy with how they handled themselves and the composure they had."
Edgerton's Brady Christianson singled in the sixth off Lange. Jaden Johnson scored from third after the ball got away at first base as the Crimson Tide cut the Cheesemakers' lead to 6-3.
In the seventh, Edgerton's Dan Zeimet doubled to center off Lange. With two outs, Lange then hit a batter on a curveball. Edgerton's Nick Hessian then came through, punching an RBI single to right to cut the Cheesemakers' lead to 6-4. Lange closed the game when he got Charlie Hatlen to pop out to left.
"It's nice to start out and get the first-game jitters out of the way," Huffman said.
Monroe will host Lena-Winslow in another nonconference game on Friday.
"Now, we have to hit the ground running," he said. "We have to get ready to compete in a tough Badger South Conference."
The Cheesemakers pounded out seven hits. Senior Isaac Allen reached base all three times he batted, going 2-for-2 with two RBI and getting hit by a pitch. Edwards went 2-for-3 with one RBI and one stolen base.
"It felt really great to beat them in the first game," Edwards said. "I knew we had it in us. It was just a matter if we would make the plays in the field. We have had limited days outside. That did not stop us from making the plays and going out and hitting the ball hard."
Monroe senior Brad Ripp started and pitched four innings to get the win. He gave up two runs on two hits. The Crimson Tide had two hits off Ripp in the first inning that led to one run. Ripp cruised after that. Ripp and Monroe sophomore Max Lange combined to keep the Crimson Tide hitless for four innings after the rough start. Lange pitched three innings and gave up two runs on four hits. He struck out five and hit two batters.
"It's really a good feeling knowing I have a good defense behind me," Ripp said. "I knew all I had to do was throw strikes and count on them to make plays behind me. I think I was a little nervous at the start of the game. As the game went on, I got more confident."
Monroe coach Dustin Huffman saw many positives the Cheesemakers can build on.
"We told them afterwards it wasn't perfect, and there is room for improvement, but it's a good starting point," Huffman said. "We started March 28 with limited practices and swings, and we will take this. I thought we had a good approach at the plate. We let the high pitches go. We were aggressive on the balls we wanted to attack in the zone."
Huffman was excited to see Ripp bounce back after giving up a run in the first.
"Brad really did a nice job of settling down after the first," Huffman said. "Brad did a heck of a job. He came out and pitched to contact. It's early in the season, and it's all about getting out there and getting the experience. If he can go out and improve each night that is a good starting point for us."
After trailing 1-0 early on, it didn't take the Cheesemakers long to answer. Monroe senior Jacob Ritschard walked to lead off the bottom of the first. One batter later, Edwards ripped a bouncing RBI single to left to tie the game at 1.
The Cheesemakers took the lead for good in the second. Monroe freshman Jared Dillon walked to set up the scoring opportunity. Allen then lined a go-ahead RBI double to left to give the Cheesemakers a 2-1 lead. Ritschard delivered a key RBI double to center to extend the Cheesemakers' lead to 3-1.
"Isaac has been on the varsity for two years. He stepped up to the plate and got a couple of clutch hits we needed," Edwards said.
Monroe broke the game open with a three-run third. Edwards doubled, and Dagon Rach was hit by a pitch. Junior Hunter Ward stuck out but reached base on a dropped third strike. Allen was hit by a pitch to bring in a run. Monroe freshman Nick Bansley had the big blow of the third, delivering a two-run single to center that gave the Cheesemakers a 6-2 lead.
It marked the season debuts for Bansley and Dillon on the varsity as freshmen. Bansley went 1-for-2 with two RBI and one stolen base, and Dillon walked two of the four times he batted.
"I know what it is like playing on the varsity as a freshman because I did it," Edwards said. "Coming into the season as a freshman can be nerve wracking. I thought our two freshmen tonight came out and did their job."
Huffman also commended the play of Dillon and Bansley in their first starts.
"Coming in as freshmen this is a big stage," Huffman said. "They handled themselves really well and were calm. I was really happy with how they handled themselves and the composure they had."
Edgerton's Brady Christianson singled in the sixth off Lange. Jaden Johnson scored from third after the ball got away at first base as the Crimson Tide cut the Cheesemakers' lead to 6-3.
In the seventh, Edgerton's Dan Zeimet doubled to center off Lange. With two outs, Lange then hit a batter on a curveball. Edgerton's Nick Hessian then came through, punching an RBI single to right to cut the Cheesemakers' lead to 6-4. Lange closed the game when he got Charlie Hatlen to pop out to left.
"It's nice to start out and get the first-game jitters out of the way," Huffman said.
Monroe will host Lena-Winslow in another nonconference game on Friday.
"Now, we have to hit the ground running," he said. "We have to get ready to compete in a tough Badger South Conference."
