MONROE - Sophomore Jaron Kuester went 3-for-4 and junior Desmond Ford turned in a solid pitching performance to lead Monroe to a 5-0 win over Fort Atkinson Saturday.
With the win, Monroe (2-11, 1-7 Badger South) snapped a 28-game conference losing streak. The last time the Cheesemakers won a conference game came April 12, 2012 when Monroe defeated Oregon 10-7.
"For them it's more mental than physical," Monroe coach Dustin Huffman said. "It's just that they haven't been able to get over the hump. This should give them some confidence. When you are not winning games year after year you lose your confidence. I think we took a step in the right direction on Saturday."
Ford pitched a complete game to earn the win. He tossed a five-hit shutout. He struck out two and walked five.
"We were just trying to see what we could get out of him," Huffman said of Ford. "Logan (Weckerly's) innings have been adding up. We wanted to save him for Monday. We were hoping to get three or four solid innings out of him (Ford). He threw strikes and pitched to contact. He got a lot of fly balls."
Kuester helped the Cheesemakers get off to a hot start. He singled and stole second in the first inning. Junior Chase Hellenbrand was hit by a pitch. Matt Coplien, who went 2-for-4, came through lining an RBI single to left field to give the Cheesemakers a 1-0 lead.
The Cheesemakers added to their lead in the second. Carter Adkins singled and Kuester delivered an RBI single to right. Monroe sophomore Brent Edmunds and Kuester both moved into scoring position when the ball got away from the catcher. Monroe junior Brian Wang reached on an error and Edmunds scored to give the Cheesemakers a 3-0 lead.
Huffman said getting an early 3-0 lead gave the Cheesemakers a little more wiggle room.
"You can just throw strikes on the mound," Huffman said. "I think the defense can calm down and know they don't have to be perfect, just make one play and get one out at a time."
Edmunds went 1-for-2 with one RBI and Adkins was 1-for-3.
Monroe will host Madison West in a non-conference game today and will then host Portage on Tuesday. The next conference game for the Cheesemakers will be Friday at Oregon.
"We have been so close in some conference games this year," Huffman said. "They can play with anyone."
With the win, Monroe (2-11, 1-7 Badger South) snapped a 28-game conference losing streak. The last time the Cheesemakers won a conference game came April 12, 2012 when Monroe defeated Oregon 10-7.
"For them it's more mental than physical," Monroe coach Dustin Huffman said. "It's just that they haven't been able to get over the hump. This should give them some confidence. When you are not winning games year after year you lose your confidence. I think we took a step in the right direction on Saturday."
Ford pitched a complete game to earn the win. He tossed a five-hit shutout. He struck out two and walked five.
"We were just trying to see what we could get out of him," Huffman said of Ford. "Logan (Weckerly's) innings have been adding up. We wanted to save him for Monday. We were hoping to get three or four solid innings out of him (Ford). He threw strikes and pitched to contact. He got a lot of fly balls."
Kuester helped the Cheesemakers get off to a hot start. He singled and stole second in the first inning. Junior Chase Hellenbrand was hit by a pitch. Matt Coplien, who went 2-for-4, came through lining an RBI single to left field to give the Cheesemakers a 1-0 lead.
The Cheesemakers added to their lead in the second. Carter Adkins singled and Kuester delivered an RBI single to right. Monroe sophomore Brent Edmunds and Kuester both moved into scoring position when the ball got away from the catcher. Monroe junior Brian Wang reached on an error and Edmunds scored to give the Cheesemakers a 3-0 lead.
Huffman said getting an early 3-0 lead gave the Cheesemakers a little more wiggle room.
"You can just throw strikes on the mound," Huffman said. "I think the defense can calm down and know they don't have to be perfect, just make one play and get one out at a time."
Edmunds went 1-for-2 with one RBI and Adkins was 1-for-3.
Monroe will host Madison West in a non-conference game today and will then host Portage on Tuesday. The next conference game for the Cheesemakers will be Friday at Oregon.
"We have been so close in some conference games this year," Huffman said. "They can play with anyone."
