MONROE - Brewers co-manager Lon Scheuerell said Monroe has struggled to come through with big hits with runners in scoring position.
Monroe left nine runners on base and Ridgeway's Zack Arneson scattered seven hits in tossing a shutout to hand Monroe a 5-0 loss on Sunday in a Home Talent League Western Section game.
"We just haven't been able to get the big hit this year," Scheuerell said. "We have had the opportunities. We were one or two hits away from making the game really close."
Monroe (4-8) had a golden scoring opportunity in the sixth inning. Drew Geissbuhler singled up the middle and Scott White lined a single to left. Arneson then got Rooney Janecke to pop out to third and struck out Matt Busjahn to end the threat. Taylor Riese went 2-for-3 and White was 2-for-4 to lead the Brewers.
The Brewers had another golden opportunity in the seventh. Ben Korth led off the seventh with a single up the middle. Adam Scherer beat out an infield single and Riese singled to right to load the bases. Arneson wiggled off the hook to get Geissbuhler to hit a comebacker to him that turned into an inning-ending double play.
"Drew hit the ball hard," Scheuerell said. "Unfortunately, he hit it right back to the pitcher. If that ball is hit two or three feet the other way, it's a base hit up the middle."
Monroe's Mitch Marty pitched seven innings and gave up four runs on eight hits. He struck out six and walked two. It looked like a pitcher's duel early on. Ridgeway's Tyler Peterson led off with a double in the first. He scored on Chris Thousand's RBI groundout. Thousand, went 2-for-5 with three RBIs including a big two-run double in the seventh that gave Ridgeway a 4-0 lead.
Janecke pitched one inning in relief and gave up one run. Kris Rieder tossed one shutout inning in relief and had three strikeouts.
"Mitch threw a great game," Scheuerell said. "The pitching has been pretty solid. The offense wasn't there at all."
The Brewers are in sixth in the Western Section and the top eight will make the playoffs. Monroe is still chasing Argyle and Wiota. Verona is the leader in the Western Section now.
"We would like to stay in sixth place," Scheuerell said. "It doesn't matter who you are playing. To beat anyone would be a confidence boost."
Monroe left nine runners on base and Ridgeway's Zack Arneson scattered seven hits in tossing a shutout to hand Monroe a 5-0 loss on Sunday in a Home Talent League Western Section game.
"We just haven't been able to get the big hit this year," Scheuerell said. "We have had the opportunities. We were one or two hits away from making the game really close."
Monroe (4-8) had a golden scoring opportunity in the sixth inning. Drew Geissbuhler singled up the middle and Scott White lined a single to left. Arneson then got Rooney Janecke to pop out to third and struck out Matt Busjahn to end the threat. Taylor Riese went 2-for-3 and White was 2-for-4 to lead the Brewers.
The Brewers had another golden opportunity in the seventh. Ben Korth led off the seventh with a single up the middle. Adam Scherer beat out an infield single and Riese singled to right to load the bases. Arneson wiggled off the hook to get Geissbuhler to hit a comebacker to him that turned into an inning-ending double play.
"Drew hit the ball hard," Scheuerell said. "Unfortunately, he hit it right back to the pitcher. If that ball is hit two or three feet the other way, it's a base hit up the middle."
Monroe's Mitch Marty pitched seven innings and gave up four runs on eight hits. He struck out six and walked two. It looked like a pitcher's duel early on. Ridgeway's Tyler Peterson led off with a double in the first. He scored on Chris Thousand's RBI groundout. Thousand, went 2-for-5 with three RBIs including a big two-run double in the seventh that gave Ridgeway a 4-0 lead.
Janecke pitched one inning in relief and gave up one run. Kris Rieder tossed one shutout inning in relief and had three strikeouts.
"Mitch threw a great game," Scheuerell said. "The pitching has been pretty solid. The offense wasn't there at all."
The Brewers are in sixth in the Western Section and the top eight will make the playoffs. Monroe is still chasing Argyle and Wiota. Verona is the leader in the Western Section now.
"We would like to stay in sixth place," Scheuerell said. "It doesn't matter who you are playing. To beat anyone would be a confidence boost."
