MONROE - With the potential Badger South title on the line Friday, the Cheesemakers came up two runs short of conference leader Oregon.
"We played a pretty clean game," Monroe head coach Dustin Huffman said after the Cheesemakers' 4-2 loss. "We made the plays we needed to make. We battled. That's all you can really hope for."
The Panthers (11-7, 6-3) scattered four runs through the first five innings before Monroe (11-7, 5-5) tried to rally late.
After Dylan Schwitz flew out to deep right, Drew Nafzger reached on an error. Mitch Marty was then hit in the back and Kramer Henning walked to load the bases. Senior Taylor Riese fell behind 0-2 in the count and fouled off back-to-back pitches before squeaking an RBI single through the right side of the infield.
"I just wanted to hit the ball where it was pitched," Riese said. "It was outside and I just slapped at it. Anyway I can help the team, I'll do it."
Kris Rieder then hit a deep RBI sacrifice fly to center to plate the game's final run.
"You get a couple guys on, and the bench gets excited. You could hear them. Whether you believe it or not, that does affect the defense and the pitcher," Huffman said. "Our bench get up and get down depending on how the game goes, but we need them to be up all the time."
Oregon got on the board in the third inning on a single to right field. The next inning, the Panthers scored a run on a sac fly.
"A couple small things like throwing to the wrong cut-off man, throwing to second when we should be cutting (for home). You never know," Huffman said.
In the fifth, Monroe's starting pitcher Logan Wells tried to catch a liner with his bare hand, knocking down the ball and making an off-throw to first in which Henning made a highlight-reel leaping catch and tag to get the runner out. Unfortunately for Wells, who had allowed six hits, three walks and a hit batter prior to the injury, the ball left a deep bruise on his thumb.
"At first you don't think about getting hit, your instincts are to go get the ball," Wells said. "But my thumb felt weird. It just wasn't right."
After taking over dozen practice throws to the plate, Wells stepped back on the rubber and Oregon's Brooks McMahon immediately singled to left, plating a third run. Wells then picked off McMahon on a first and third situation, but a fourth run scored. Michael Wolff came in relief for the final two innings and allowed just one hit.
"Early in the game Wells struggled getting ahead (in counts). He walked some guys and they got some clutch hits," Huffman said, adding that he was pleased with the way Wolff stepped up out of the bullpen. "Wolff's been a nice little addition for us here lately. He battles and throws strikes. He finds a way to get guys out."
Monroe had runners on in five of the seven innings, but could only push runs across in the sixth. Nafzger and Henning each reached base three times. Nafzger had a hit and reached on a pair of errors and Henning walked three times. After falling behind 0-2 in his first at bat, Henning didn't swing again, allowing 12 straight balls to go by him.
Matt Marszalek shut down the Cheesemakers for the second time this season. He allowed four hits and three walks in the complete game victory.
The Cheesemakers get back into the action Tuesday when they travel to Stoughton (6-3 conference). A final conference game against Monona Grove (5-3) May 22 could help decide conference.
"We're by no means out of this yet. All six teams (in contention) are separated by two games. We have some work to do," Huffman said.
"We played a pretty clean game," Monroe head coach Dustin Huffman said after the Cheesemakers' 4-2 loss. "We made the plays we needed to make. We battled. That's all you can really hope for."
The Panthers (11-7, 6-3) scattered four runs through the first five innings before Monroe (11-7, 5-5) tried to rally late.
After Dylan Schwitz flew out to deep right, Drew Nafzger reached on an error. Mitch Marty was then hit in the back and Kramer Henning walked to load the bases. Senior Taylor Riese fell behind 0-2 in the count and fouled off back-to-back pitches before squeaking an RBI single through the right side of the infield.
"I just wanted to hit the ball where it was pitched," Riese said. "It was outside and I just slapped at it. Anyway I can help the team, I'll do it."
Kris Rieder then hit a deep RBI sacrifice fly to center to plate the game's final run.
"You get a couple guys on, and the bench gets excited. You could hear them. Whether you believe it or not, that does affect the defense and the pitcher," Huffman said. "Our bench get up and get down depending on how the game goes, but we need them to be up all the time."
Oregon got on the board in the third inning on a single to right field. The next inning, the Panthers scored a run on a sac fly.
"A couple small things like throwing to the wrong cut-off man, throwing to second when we should be cutting (for home). You never know," Huffman said.
In the fifth, Monroe's starting pitcher Logan Wells tried to catch a liner with his bare hand, knocking down the ball and making an off-throw to first in which Henning made a highlight-reel leaping catch and tag to get the runner out. Unfortunately for Wells, who had allowed six hits, three walks and a hit batter prior to the injury, the ball left a deep bruise on his thumb.
"At first you don't think about getting hit, your instincts are to go get the ball," Wells said. "But my thumb felt weird. It just wasn't right."
After taking over dozen practice throws to the plate, Wells stepped back on the rubber and Oregon's Brooks McMahon immediately singled to left, plating a third run. Wells then picked off McMahon on a first and third situation, but a fourth run scored. Michael Wolff came in relief for the final two innings and allowed just one hit.
"Early in the game Wells struggled getting ahead (in counts). He walked some guys and they got some clutch hits," Huffman said, adding that he was pleased with the way Wolff stepped up out of the bullpen. "Wolff's been a nice little addition for us here lately. He battles and throws strikes. He finds a way to get guys out."
Monroe had runners on in five of the seven innings, but could only push runs across in the sixth. Nafzger and Henning each reached base three times. Nafzger had a hit and reached on a pair of errors and Henning walked three times. After falling behind 0-2 in his first at bat, Henning didn't swing again, allowing 12 straight balls to go by him.
Matt Marszalek shut down the Cheesemakers for the second time this season. He allowed four hits and three walks in the complete game victory.
The Cheesemakers get back into the action Tuesday when they travel to Stoughton (6-3 conference). A final conference game against Monona Grove (5-3) May 22 could help decide conference.
"We're by no means out of this yet. All six teams (in contention) are separated by two games. We have some work to do," Huffman said.
