MONROE - Monroe baseball coach Steve Christensen may be happy for a clean slate in the scorebook after a series of one-run games proved to be a mystery this year.
Half of the Cheesemakers' games have been decided by one run, and the Cheesemakers are 2-6 in those contests. As they prepare for a WIAA Division 2 regional opener against Walworth Big Foot (3-14) at 4:30 p.m. Friday, solving the one-run riddle could be the key to surviving and advancing.
"We still have to make that step from playing close and losing to playing close and winning," Christensen said.
There is no secret formula for winning in the postseason. Solid pitching, fundamental defense and timely hitting can go a long way. For the Cheesemakers, the struggles in one-run games are a combination of hitting and pitching in the clutch.
That's why Christensen said he's considering tweaking the lineup.
"After 16 games, we still haven't figured out what our best lineup is," Christensen said. "If it gets into a run-scoring game, we are probably in trouble."
Limiting the damage on the mound will be critical.
"One of our big things is we don't have someone who goes out and strikes someone out," Christensen said. "It's a confidence boost when you have guys on second and third and strike someone out.
"Our pitchers just have to throw strikes. We just have to eliminate their big innings."
When asked if Big Foot or other teams may overlook the Cheesemakers with a 4-12 record, Christensen was frank.
"They might," he said. "You always hope. At this time of year it usually comes down to who can focus and who wants to play another week or two."
Here is a glimpse at the rest of Friday's regional quarterfinal matchups:
DIVISION 2
NO. 6 BRODHEAD AT NO. 3 CLINTON
Brodhead, behind Adam Scheidegger, hopes to pull off an upset of Clinton. Trent Gerber, who hit a two-run homer for the Cardinals against Monticello in a 3-2 win last week, looks to stay hot.
DIVISION 3
NO. 6 BELLEVILLE AT NO. 3 NEW GLARUS
Sugar River rivals Belleville and New Glarus square off in a WIAA Division 3 quarterfinal game. The Knights are looking to beat their Capitol South neighbor Wildcats for the third time this season.
NO. 5 SHULLSBURG/BENTON AT NO. 4 DARLINGTON
Darlington (5-11, 4-10 SWAL) will have a home field advantage against Shullsburg. If Darlington beats Shullsburg, a regional semifinal game against No. 1 seed and SWAL rival Mineral Point awaits.
DIVISION 4
NO. 5 ARGYLE AT NO. 4 SOUTHWESTERN
If the Orioles defeat Southwestern at Hazel Green in a WIAA Division 4 regional quarterfinal, No. 1 seed Barneveld awaits in the semis. After smacking a grand slam last week to beat Albany 7-1, junior catcher Kevin Berg hopes to provide some postseason heroics.
NO. 5 WILLIAMS BAY AT NO. 4 MONTICELLO
The Ponies undoubtedly will ride the pitching and hitting of senior D.J. McGowan. The Ponies still are dealing with the loss of cleanup hitter J.T. Meier, who tore an ACL.
NO. 6 ALBANY AT NO. 3 FAITH CHRISTIAN
Albany has proven it can play with the elite in the Six Rivers East, losing a one-run game to conference champion Barneveld earlier this season. Limiting errors and playing sound defense will be crucial for the Comets' upset bid.
Half of the Cheesemakers' games have been decided by one run, and the Cheesemakers are 2-6 in those contests. As they prepare for a WIAA Division 2 regional opener against Walworth Big Foot (3-14) at 4:30 p.m. Friday, solving the one-run riddle could be the key to surviving and advancing.
"We still have to make that step from playing close and losing to playing close and winning," Christensen said.
There is no secret formula for winning in the postseason. Solid pitching, fundamental defense and timely hitting can go a long way. For the Cheesemakers, the struggles in one-run games are a combination of hitting and pitching in the clutch.
That's why Christensen said he's considering tweaking the lineup.
"After 16 games, we still haven't figured out what our best lineup is," Christensen said. "If it gets into a run-scoring game, we are probably in trouble."
Limiting the damage on the mound will be critical.
"One of our big things is we don't have someone who goes out and strikes someone out," Christensen said. "It's a confidence boost when you have guys on second and third and strike someone out.
"Our pitchers just have to throw strikes. We just have to eliminate their big innings."
When asked if Big Foot or other teams may overlook the Cheesemakers with a 4-12 record, Christensen was frank.
"They might," he said. "You always hope. At this time of year it usually comes down to who can focus and who wants to play another week or two."
Here is a glimpse at the rest of Friday's regional quarterfinal matchups:
DIVISION 2
NO. 6 BRODHEAD AT NO. 3 CLINTON
Brodhead, behind Adam Scheidegger, hopes to pull off an upset of Clinton. Trent Gerber, who hit a two-run homer for the Cardinals against Monticello in a 3-2 win last week, looks to stay hot.
DIVISION 3
NO. 6 BELLEVILLE AT NO. 3 NEW GLARUS
Sugar River rivals Belleville and New Glarus square off in a WIAA Division 3 quarterfinal game. The Knights are looking to beat their Capitol South neighbor Wildcats for the third time this season.
NO. 5 SHULLSBURG/BENTON AT NO. 4 DARLINGTON
Darlington (5-11, 4-10 SWAL) will have a home field advantage against Shullsburg. If Darlington beats Shullsburg, a regional semifinal game against No. 1 seed and SWAL rival Mineral Point awaits.
DIVISION 4
NO. 5 ARGYLE AT NO. 4 SOUTHWESTERN
If the Orioles defeat Southwestern at Hazel Green in a WIAA Division 4 regional quarterfinal, No. 1 seed Barneveld awaits in the semis. After smacking a grand slam last week to beat Albany 7-1, junior catcher Kevin Berg hopes to provide some postseason heroics.
NO. 5 WILLIAMS BAY AT NO. 4 MONTICELLO
The Ponies undoubtedly will ride the pitching and hitting of senior D.J. McGowan. The Ponies still are dealing with the loss of cleanup hitter J.T. Meier, who tore an ACL.
NO. 6 ALBANY AT NO. 3 FAITH CHRISTIAN
Albany has proven it can play with the elite in the Six Rivers East, losing a one-run game to conference champion Barneveld earlier this season. Limiting errors and playing sound defense will be crucial for the Comets' upset bid.
