MONROE - Brewers co-player manager Lon Scheuerell wasn't sweating a bases-loaded jam with Monroe clinging to an 8-7 lead against Wiota.
"I was more worried that it would get dark out," Scheuerell said after Ben Korth helped the Brewers hang on to a wild 8-7 win over Wiota in a Home Talent Night League game Thursday.
The Brewers blew a 7-1 lead late in the game, but needed every pitch to wiggle off the hook and win their fourth straight Thursday league game. Brewers co-player manager Rooney Janecke walked two Wiota batters to load the bases. Korth came in and struck out Alex Abraham. He then got Tommy Meier to ground out to end the threat.
Both Monroe and Wiota combined walked 20 batters. Five Wiota pitchers combined walked 11, but only five of them scored. Four Brewers pitchers walked a combined nine batters and Monroe committed four errors.
Each team struggled in the clutch. Wiota went 1-for-12 hitting with runners in scoring position and left 12 on base. Monroe went 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position and stranded 12.
"I think both teams can obviously improve in that area," Scheuerell said. "The score could have been a lot higher if both teams were hitting."
Wiota manager Dick Schliem understands that walks can demoralize a team.
"It was ugly both ways," Schliem said. "There is a stat in baseball that if you walk a guy, 70 percent of the time they score."
Monroe (4-1) jumped out to an early lead when Adam Siegenthaler scored on a wild pitch by Wiota's Jeremy Williams. Korth then drove in Janecke on a groundout to give the Brewers a 2-0 lead.
Monroe's Kris Rieder, who was on base every time he batted (1-for-1 with two walks), had an RBI single in the second that scored Marty. When Siegenthaler reached on an error, it allowed Jake Teasdale to score to give the Brewers a 4-1 lead.
Janecke led off by crushing a double to center in the third. He scored when Cody Boals reached on an error. Wiota pitcher Taylor Wiegel then walked in a run by walking Taylor Riese to give the Brewers a 6-1 lead.
Monroe's Matt Busjahn delivered a pinch-hit RBI single in the fourth to give the Brewers a 7-1 lead.
Wiota (4-2) didn't go quietly. The Indians batted around the order and broke through with a five-run fifth. Monroe starting pitcher Mike Cleary struggled with his control. Two Monroe pitchers combined walked four and the Brewers committed two of their four errors in the inning that led to four unearned runs for the Indians.
Wiegel reached on an error. Abraham, who went 2-for-3, lined a single to left. Cleary then walked Brad Schliem and Jeff Solberg reached on an error that allowed a run to score. Cleary walked in a run to cut the Brewers' lead to 7-3. Brock Bidlingmaier, who was 2-for-4, then had an RBI infield single that sliced the lead to 7-4. Wiota's Nick Flannery hit a sacrifice fly to cut the Brewers' lead to 7-6, but that's as close as the Indians would get.
"They were really helping us," Schliem said.
The Brewers are just happy to escape with a win.
"It's a nice win," Scheuerell said. "Thursday night is a great opportunity to get everyone playing time."
"I was more worried that it would get dark out," Scheuerell said after Ben Korth helped the Brewers hang on to a wild 8-7 win over Wiota in a Home Talent Night League game Thursday.
The Brewers blew a 7-1 lead late in the game, but needed every pitch to wiggle off the hook and win their fourth straight Thursday league game. Brewers co-player manager Rooney Janecke walked two Wiota batters to load the bases. Korth came in and struck out Alex Abraham. He then got Tommy Meier to ground out to end the threat.
Both Monroe and Wiota combined walked 20 batters. Five Wiota pitchers combined walked 11, but only five of them scored. Four Brewers pitchers walked a combined nine batters and Monroe committed four errors.
Each team struggled in the clutch. Wiota went 1-for-12 hitting with runners in scoring position and left 12 on base. Monroe went 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position and stranded 12.
"I think both teams can obviously improve in that area," Scheuerell said. "The score could have been a lot higher if both teams were hitting."
Wiota manager Dick Schliem understands that walks can demoralize a team.
"It was ugly both ways," Schliem said. "There is a stat in baseball that if you walk a guy, 70 percent of the time they score."
Monroe (4-1) jumped out to an early lead when Adam Siegenthaler scored on a wild pitch by Wiota's Jeremy Williams. Korth then drove in Janecke on a groundout to give the Brewers a 2-0 lead.
Monroe's Kris Rieder, who was on base every time he batted (1-for-1 with two walks), had an RBI single in the second that scored Marty. When Siegenthaler reached on an error, it allowed Jake Teasdale to score to give the Brewers a 4-1 lead.
Janecke led off by crushing a double to center in the third. He scored when Cody Boals reached on an error. Wiota pitcher Taylor Wiegel then walked in a run by walking Taylor Riese to give the Brewers a 6-1 lead.
Monroe's Matt Busjahn delivered a pinch-hit RBI single in the fourth to give the Brewers a 7-1 lead.
Wiota (4-2) didn't go quietly. The Indians batted around the order and broke through with a five-run fifth. Monroe starting pitcher Mike Cleary struggled with his control. Two Monroe pitchers combined walked four and the Brewers committed two of their four errors in the inning that led to four unearned runs for the Indians.
Wiegel reached on an error. Abraham, who went 2-for-3, lined a single to left. Cleary then walked Brad Schliem and Jeff Solberg reached on an error that allowed a run to score. Cleary walked in a run to cut the Brewers' lead to 7-3. Brock Bidlingmaier, who was 2-for-4, then had an RBI infield single that sliced the lead to 7-4. Wiota's Nick Flannery hit a sacrifice fly to cut the Brewers' lead to 7-6, but that's as close as the Indians would get.
"They were really helping us," Schliem said.
The Brewers are just happy to escape with a win.
"It's a nice win," Scheuerell said. "Thursday night is a great opportunity to get everyone playing time."
