MONROE - Monroe baseball coach Dustin Huffman played the odds bringing the infield in to prevent Oregon from scoring the go-ahead run in a tie game in the seventh inning.
Oregon pinch-hitter Logan Hurda bounced a two-run single between third base and shortstop to give the Panthers a 3-1 win over Monroe Thursday.
Would the Cheesemakers have been able to make the play with the infield at regular depth?
"It would have been a tough play for Chase (Hellenbrand) at third base to get to," Huffman said. "Desmond (Ford) may have got to it, but he would not have been able to get anything on the throw to the plate. The run probably would have still scored."
Monroe (4-5, 1-3 Badger South) and Oregon were locked in a 1-1 game into the seventh inning. Oregon's Jake Odegard reached on an error and Chris McGuine singled. That set the stages for Hurda who singled in the game-winning runs off Monroe senior pitcher Logan Weckerly.
However, it was a passed ball that allowed both runners to move into scoring position that set up the game-winning hit.
"We can't have a passed ball there," Huffman said.
Weckerly turned in a solid pitching performance. He gave up just one earned run on four hits. He struck out five and didn't issue a walk.
"It's probably the top pitched game I have seen as a coach from our side," Huffman said. "He was throwing his fastball and curveball where he wanted to. He was on his game."
The Cheesemakers had a chance to break open the game in the fifth loading the bases with no outs. Monroe senior Carter Adkins hit a hard sinking line drive.
"It was too shallow to tag up on," Huffman said.
Junior Brent Edmunds scored on a wild pitch, but the Cheesemakers could only manage to score one run.
Oregon pinch-hitter Logan Hurda bounced a two-run single between third base and shortstop to give the Panthers a 3-1 win over Monroe Thursday.
Would the Cheesemakers have been able to make the play with the infield at regular depth?
"It would have been a tough play for Chase (Hellenbrand) at third base to get to," Huffman said. "Desmond (Ford) may have got to it, but he would not have been able to get anything on the throw to the plate. The run probably would have still scored."
Monroe (4-5, 1-3 Badger South) and Oregon were locked in a 1-1 game into the seventh inning. Oregon's Jake Odegard reached on an error and Chris McGuine singled. That set the stages for Hurda who singled in the game-winning runs off Monroe senior pitcher Logan Weckerly.
However, it was a passed ball that allowed both runners to move into scoring position that set up the game-winning hit.
"We can't have a passed ball there," Huffman said.
Weckerly turned in a solid pitching performance. He gave up just one earned run on four hits. He struck out five and didn't issue a walk.
"It's probably the top pitched game I have seen as a coach from our side," Huffman said. "He was throwing his fastball and curveball where he wanted to. He was on his game."
The Cheesemakers had a chance to break open the game in the fifth loading the bases with no outs. Monroe senior Carter Adkins hit a hard sinking line drive.
"It was too shallow to tag up on," Huffman said.
Junior Brent Edmunds scored on a wild pitch, but the Cheesemakers could only manage to score one run.
