ALBANY - Monroe's senior legion team followed the lead of starting pitcher Kris Rieder and buried Albany Monday, 5-1.
Rieder tossed all seven innings and held Albany to just four hits and one earned run while striking out 10.
"I was hitting my spots a lot better than usual," Rieder said. "It was all working for me. Curveball was catching and my fastball was faster than it's been."
Rieder added that playing Home Talent League baseball has also helped him improve his game.
"Obviously the competition level is higher because they are older guys with more experience. You have to work a lot harder," Rieder said.
Monroe fell to Albany seven days prior, 11-9.
"We were going to have to bring our 'A' game if we wanted to play well, and we didn't," said Bryce Hulbert, Albany's starting pitcher. "I knew they were going to be tough. They didn't play that well the first game."
Hulbert allowed nine hits and five runs while striking out three in 5 2/3 innings. It was the defense behind Hulbert that led to many of Monroe's scoring opportunities. Albany committed three errors and dropped a routine pop up in foul territory.
"It hurts, but I should fight through that. That should be on me," Hulbert said.
Monroe's first run came in the top of the second as Jon Elmer reached on a walk, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a hit by Ricky Geisler.
In the third inning, Monroe went up 3-0 when Kramer Henning hit a no-doubt two-run home run to deep right center with one out.
"I knew if I just hit it, it would be out," Henning said, who went 1-for-4 in the contest.
Monroe scored two more in the sixth, knocking out Hulbert. Taylor Riese struck out looking to end the frame with two more ducks on the pond.
"My first three at bats I saw the ball really well," Riese said, who had three hits in his previous three at bats. "Last one I struck out looking on a high curveball that broke outside. But getting three hits, I'll take that."
Albany plated its only run in the bottom of the sixth, but left the bases loaded.
"I felt like the team level was down and not up when we should have been up. We were still in the game. It's 5-1, it's a close game. We should have brought it," Hulbert said, who graduated from Albany High School a month ago. "It's nice to come out and play some more because (these) will be probably my last baseball games."
Monroe improves to 7-2-1 on the season and travels to Evansville Wednesday. Albany will play Whitewater the same night.
Rieder tossed all seven innings and held Albany to just four hits and one earned run while striking out 10.
"I was hitting my spots a lot better than usual," Rieder said. "It was all working for me. Curveball was catching and my fastball was faster than it's been."
Rieder added that playing Home Talent League baseball has also helped him improve his game.
"Obviously the competition level is higher because they are older guys with more experience. You have to work a lot harder," Rieder said.
Monroe fell to Albany seven days prior, 11-9.
"We were going to have to bring our 'A' game if we wanted to play well, and we didn't," said Bryce Hulbert, Albany's starting pitcher. "I knew they were going to be tough. They didn't play that well the first game."
Hulbert allowed nine hits and five runs while striking out three in 5 2/3 innings. It was the defense behind Hulbert that led to many of Monroe's scoring opportunities. Albany committed three errors and dropped a routine pop up in foul territory.
"It hurts, but I should fight through that. That should be on me," Hulbert said.
Monroe's first run came in the top of the second as Jon Elmer reached on a walk, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a hit by Ricky Geisler.
In the third inning, Monroe went up 3-0 when Kramer Henning hit a no-doubt two-run home run to deep right center with one out.
"I knew if I just hit it, it would be out," Henning said, who went 1-for-4 in the contest.
Monroe scored two more in the sixth, knocking out Hulbert. Taylor Riese struck out looking to end the frame with two more ducks on the pond.
"My first three at bats I saw the ball really well," Riese said, who had three hits in his previous three at bats. "Last one I struck out looking on a high curveball that broke outside. But getting three hits, I'll take that."
Albany plated its only run in the bottom of the sixth, but left the bases loaded.
"I felt like the team level was down and not up when we should have been up. We were still in the game. It's 5-1, it's a close game. We should have brought it," Hulbert said, who graduated from Albany High School a month ago. "It's nice to come out and play some more because (these) will be probably my last baseball games."
Monroe improves to 7-2-1 on the season and travels to Evansville Wednesday. Albany will play Whitewater the same night.
