MADISON - Under the lights at Warner Park, Monroe ace Kris Rieder found his groove and shut down Madison Edgewood as the Cheesemakers knocked off the defending state champs for the second time this season, 2-1.
"The guys were excited to play under the lights. They are always geared up for Edgewood," Monroe head coach Dustin Huffman said.
The Crusaders scored their only run in the bottom of the first inning. That's when Rieder put the clamps down. Rieder struck out 11 batters and allowed just two hits and five walks while throwing 120 pitches over the seven innings.
"There was no way I was taking him out," Huffman said. "He was in the zone. He got into a flow and found his groove."
Rieder hit his spots throughout the game, including continually dropping first-pitch curveballs in for strikes.
Monroe got on the board in the sixth inning. Matt Whipple pinch hit and walked with Justin Rackow re-entering to run. With two outs, Cory Kundert singled down the right field line, setting up a first-and-third situation. Huffman then summoned Gabe Hermanson to run for Kundert.
"We wanted our speed on the bases," Huffman said.
Michael Turek then doubled home both runs.
"He hit that about has hard as any ball I have seen hit this year," Huffman said.
Monroe had three hits in the game (Drew Nafzger had the other) and walked five times. Both teams had two errors.
The Cheesemakers (7-5, 4-3 Badger South) host Milton Tuesday.
"The guys were excited to play under the lights. They are always geared up for Edgewood," Monroe head coach Dustin Huffman said.
The Crusaders scored their only run in the bottom of the first inning. That's when Rieder put the clamps down. Rieder struck out 11 batters and allowed just two hits and five walks while throwing 120 pitches over the seven innings.
"There was no way I was taking him out," Huffman said. "He was in the zone. He got into a flow and found his groove."
Rieder hit his spots throughout the game, including continually dropping first-pitch curveballs in for strikes.
Monroe got on the board in the sixth inning. Matt Whipple pinch hit and walked with Justin Rackow re-entering to run. With two outs, Cory Kundert singled down the right field line, setting up a first-and-third situation. Huffman then summoned Gabe Hermanson to run for Kundert.
"We wanted our speed on the bases," Huffman said.
Michael Turek then doubled home both runs.
"He hit that about has hard as any ball I have seen hit this year," Huffman said.
Monroe had three hits in the game (Drew Nafzger had the other) and walked five times. Both teams had two errors.
The Cheesemakers (7-5, 4-3 Badger South) host Milton Tuesday.
