MONROE - Sophomore Garrett Gogin is rolling into the WIAA Division 2 regional with seven hits in a three-game stretch and is one of the hottest hitters on the Monroe baseball team.
Gogin came up midseason and, along with junior Sean Saxby and sophomore Jaron Kuester, is batting more than .300 including
"We will certainly find a place for his bat," Monroe coach Dustin Huffman said.
Gogin can play catcher or outfield and when the Cheesemakers (4-20) open regional play at Clinton (4-17) Tuesday, Gogin will be one of the hottest bats in the lineup.
"It's really nice to have some versatility," Huffman said. "He gives us another guy in the middle of our order who can hit and drive in runs."
Clinton, which finished sixth in the Rock Valley South Conference just ahead of last place Brodhead-Juda, lost to the Cardinals 5-3 earlier this season. The Cheesemakers beat the Cardinals in the season opener 1-0. The Cheesemakers enter the postseason with two wins in their last four games.
"It's definitely a winnable game," Huffman said. "We are still waiting to put a whole game together. Playing in the Badger South Conference against Division 1 schools prepares you for the playoffs. "
Monroe junior Lucas Neuenschwander or Desmond Ford could take on a pitching role against Clinton. Ford battled a back injury in pitching a game against Orfordville Parkview last week.
"We will have to see how Desmond is feeling," Huffman said. "We will have to see how he is throwing on Monday and make a call. It will be all about playing good defense. We don't have to go out and be spectacular. We just have to make the plays we are supposed to."
If Monroe beats Clinton, the Cheesemakers would play in a regional semifinal at No. 1 seed and eighth-ranked Big Foot Wednesday.
"All of the pressure is on them," Huffman said of Big Foot. "They are the No. 1 seed and are expected to win. If we limit our errors and hit like we did at Evansville we will score some runs."
Brodhead-Juda will play at No. 3 seed Beloit Turner. If Brodhead-Juda wins, the Cardinals would play at No. 2 seed Edgerton Wednesday.
Division 3
Darlington received a No. 4 seed and will host No. 5 seed Iowa-Grant. The Redbirds (8-6) have swept both games against Iowa-Grant during the regular season knocking off the Panthers 3-1 and 7-1.
"The goal all year has been to win a regional title," Darlington coach Matt Austin said. "I think we can do that if we set our mind to it."
Darlington junior Jason Singer is hitting a team-best .408. As a lead-off hitter, Singer gives the Redbirds a chance to score each time he bats.
"He's a good leader in the lead-off spot," Austin said. "It's nice to have him at the top of the lineup."
Darlington freshman Jesse Sturtz (.390) and junior Ben Muhlstein (.364) give the Redbirds strong hitters near the bottom of the lineup.
"It's pretty deadly," Austin said of the Redbirds' lineup.
If the Redbirds defeat Iowa-Grant Tuesday, they would play at No. 1 seed Lancaster Wednesday. New Glarus received a No. 6 seed and will play at No. 3 seed Cambridge.
"If we are fortunate to beat Iowa-Grant, I think we can compete with Lancaster," Austin said. "Any team in our regional is as dangerous as the next and can go far."
Division 4
Pecatonica (21-4) received a No. 2 regional seed and will get a first-round bye. The Vikings are in a loaded regional with four teams ranked in the top seven in Division 4. Barneveld, the Six Rivers East Conference champion and ranked No. 2, received the No. 1 seed and is a team the Vikings could face in a regional championship game. The other state-ranked teams are Shullsburg-Benton (No. 5), Pecatonica (No. 7) and Highland (No. 9). Pecatonica will play the winner of Shullsburg-Benton and Southwestern Wednesday.
"Anyone who gets hot at the right time can win it," Pecatonica coach Jim Strommen said. "It won't be easy. From all of my years of doing this you never know. It's tournament time. Anything can happen."
The Vikings have ridden the strong pitching of senior Lucas McKeon and junior Drew Schliem.
"Pitching has been our strength all year," Strommen said. "It starts with pitching."
The other area Division 4 regional is a complete opposite of Pecatonica's regional. Argyle (7-17) is the No. 1 regional seed, but none of the six teams in the regional grouping have a winning record. Four of the six teams have two or less wins. Black Hawk (1-21) received a No. 4 seed and will host No. 5 seed Faith Christian. Monticello (2-19) received a No. 3 seed and will host No. 6 seed Williams Bay (0-14).
Argyle will play the winner of Black Hawk and Faith Christian Wednesday. Albany (7-14) received a No. 2 seed and a first-round bye. Albany will play the winner of Monticello and Williams Bay Wednesday. Argyle senior Alec Tretuthardt has thrown two no-hitters this year.
Argyle coach Chuck Bredeson said the Orioles haven't met their expectations of being ranked in the Division 4 preseason top 10 teams.
"We can beat every team in the regional by 15 runs or we could lose by 15 runs," Bredeson said.
Gogin came up midseason and, along with junior Sean Saxby and sophomore Jaron Kuester, is batting more than .300 including
"We will certainly find a place for his bat," Monroe coach Dustin Huffman said.
Gogin can play catcher or outfield and when the Cheesemakers (4-20) open regional play at Clinton (4-17) Tuesday, Gogin will be one of the hottest bats in the lineup.
"It's really nice to have some versatility," Huffman said. "He gives us another guy in the middle of our order who can hit and drive in runs."
Clinton, which finished sixth in the Rock Valley South Conference just ahead of last place Brodhead-Juda, lost to the Cardinals 5-3 earlier this season. The Cheesemakers beat the Cardinals in the season opener 1-0. The Cheesemakers enter the postseason with two wins in their last four games.
"It's definitely a winnable game," Huffman said. "We are still waiting to put a whole game together. Playing in the Badger South Conference against Division 1 schools prepares you for the playoffs. "
Monroe junior Lucas Neuenschwander or Desmond Ford could take on a pitching role against Clinton. Ford battled a back injury in pitching a game against Orfordville Parkview last week.
"We will have to see how Desmond is feeling," Huffman said. "We will have to see how he is throwing on Monday and make a call. It will be all about playing good defense. We don't have to go out and be spectacular. We just have to make the plays we are supposed to."
If Monroe beats Clinton, the Cheesemakers would play in a regional semifinal at No. 1 seed and eighth-ranked Big Foot Wednesday.
"All of the pressure is on them," Huffman said of Big Foot. "They are the No. 1 seed and are expected to win. If we limit our errors and hit like we did at Evansville we will score some runs."
Brodhead-Juda will play at No. 3 seed Beloit Turner. If Brodhead-Juda wins, the Cardinals would play at No. 2 seed Edgerton Wednesday.
Division 3
Darlington received a No. 4 seed and will host No. 5 seed Iowa-Grant. The Redbirds (8-6) have swept both games against Iowa-Grant during the regular season knocking off the Panthers 3-1 and 7-1.
"The goal all year has been to win a regional title," Darlington coach Matt Austin said. "I think we can do that if we set our mind to it."
Darlington junior Jason Singer is hitting a team-best .408. As a lead-off hitter, Singer gives the Redbirds a chance to score each time he bats.
"He's a good leader in the lead-off spot," Austin said. "It's nice to have him at the top of the lineup."
Darlington freshman Jesse Sturtz (.390) and junior Ben Muhlstein (.364) give the Redbirds strong hitters near the bottom of the lineup.
"It's pretty deadly," Austin said of the Redbirds' lineup.
If the Redbirds defeat Iowa-Grant Tuesday, they would play at No. 1 seed Lancaster Wednesday. New Glarus received a No. 6 seed and will play at No. 3 seed Cambridge.
"If we are fortunate to beat Iowa-Grant, I think we can compete with Lancaster," Austin said. "Any team in our regional is as dangerous as the next and can go far."
Division 4
Pecatonica (21-4) received a No. 2 regional seed and will get a first-round bye. The Vikings are in a loaded regional with four teams ranked in the top seven in Division 4. Barneveld, the Six Rivers East Conference champion and ranked No. 2, received the No. 1 seed and is a team the Vikings could face in a regional championship game. The other state-ranked teams are Shullsburg-Benton (No. 5), Pecatonica (No. 7) and Highland (No. 9). Pecatonica will play the winner of Shullsburg-Benton and Southwestern Wednesday.
"Anyone who gets hot at the right time can win it," Pecatonica coach Jim Strommen said. "It won't be easy. From all of my years of doing this you never know. It's tournament time. Anything can happen."
The Vikings have ridden the strong pitching of senior Lucas McKeon and junior Drew Schliem.
"Pitching has been our strength all year," Strommen said. "It starts with pitching."
The other area Division 4 regional is a complete opposite of Pecatonica's regional. Argyle (7-17) is the No. 1 regional seed, but none of the six teams in the regional grouping have a winning record. Four of the six teams have two or less wins. Black Hawk (1-21) received a No. 4 seed and will host No. 5 seed Faith Christian. Monticello (2-19) received a No. 3 seed and will host No. 6 seed Williams Bay (0-14).
Argyle will play the winner of Black Hawk and Faith Christian Wednesday. Albany (7-14) received a No. 2 seed and a first-round bye. Albany will play the winner of Monticello and Williams Bay Wednesday. Argyle senior Alec Tretuthardt has thrown two no-hitters this year.
Argyle coach Chuck Bredeson said the Orioles haven't met their expectations of being ranked in the Division 4 preseason top 10 teams.
"We can beat every team in the regional by 15 runs or we could lose by 15 runs," Bredeson said.
