Monroe - The Cheesemakers kept their bats warm from the weekend as they handled Orangeville's pitching with ease in a 12-2 win in six innings.
"We had some big hits out there," Monroe head coach Dustin Huffman said. "We had our share of decent hitting. We did some good things, but we also did some bad things out there."
Monroe opened the game on fire before settling down, something Huffman said his team is accustomed to.
"We still get up early and then just settle in. We've tried to harp on the guys to get that killer instinct and to not let up," he said. "We can't count them out. If you keep going at the other team, you're going to wear them down mentally."
Dylan Schwitz led off the first inning with a double for the Cheesemakers. Drew Nafzger, Taylor Riese, Justin Rackow, Cory Kundert and Michael Turek all drove in runs, giving Monroe a comfortable 5-0 lead.
"Credit goes to Monroe. They really hit the baseball," Orangeville head coach Rooney Janecke said.
Mitch Marty doubled to lead off the second and Riese again brought in the run. Monroe also scored a run in the bottom of the third on a fielding error.
The Broncos did get on the board in the fourth, plating both of their runs off of Nafzger, who started for Monroe. Huffman said he was impressed by the way his lefty pitched.
"He's been working hard all offseason, throwing bullpen sessions and doing what he can to improve. He's done a nice job and he did what we asked him to do today," Huffman said of Nafzger, who struck out four, walked four and gave up four hits in five innings. "He was still a little wild and inconsistent, but it should build a little confidence."
Kramer Henning pitched the top of the sixth, but didn't need to take the mound for the seventh. The Cheesemakers scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth, including Henning's game-ending RBI groundout.
Michael Turek led all hitters for Monroe by going 4-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs. Riese, Marty and Nafzger each had two hits for Monroe.
Marty, Monroe's catcher, picked off two runners at first.
Regardless of the win, the four innings of lulled action irritated Huffman.
"We get a 6-run lead and then just put it on cruise. We need to put together a full seven innings," he said.
Perhaps the most talked about moment of the game came in the top half of the third. Orangeville loaded the bases with one out when Clayton Shick hit a sharp grounder to second that Riese dove for. Riese ate up the grounder and threw to first to get the force. Henning then threw across the diamond to get the runner at second on his way to third for a tag out and the inning-ending double play. Initially, the home plate umpire called the original runner at third safe at home. However, between innings the officials came together and erased the run, claiming the second out was still a force out.
"We lost by 10 runs, but it is still frustrating. At the time it can make the game a four or five run game instead of what it was. The kids can lose a little bit of confidence on a play like that. It deflates you a little bit," Janecke said.
Monroe (11-6, 5-4 Badger South) will likely need to play a complete seven innings of baseball tonight at Monona Grove (11-6, 5-3). The Silver Eagles, along with the Cheesemakers, are in a tight six-team race for the Badger South title. Oregon (10-6, 6-3) leads the pack, one game ahead of Monroe, with three games left.
"We had some big hits out there," Monroe head coach Dustin Huffman said. "We had our share of decent hitting. We did some good things, but we also did some bad things out there."
Monroe opened the game on fire before settling down, something Huffman said his team is accustomed to.
"We still get up early and then just settle in. We've tried to harp on the guys to get that killer instinct and to not let up," he said. "We can't count them out. If you keep going at the other team, you're going to wear them down mentally."
Dylan Schwitz led off the first inning with a double for the Cheesemakers. Drew Nafzger, Taylor Riese, Justin Rackow, Cory Kundert and Michael Turek all drove in runs, giving Monroe a comfortable 5-0 lead.
"Credit goes to Monroe. They really hit the baseball," Orangeville head coach Rooney Janecke said.
Mitch Marty doubled to lead off the second and Riese again brought in the run. Monroe also scored a run in the bottom of the third on a fielding error.
The Broncos did get on the board in the fourth, plating both of their runs off of Nafzger, who started for Monroe. Huffman said he was impressed by the way his lefty pitched.
"He's been working hard all offseason, throwing bullpen sessions and doing what he can to improve. He's done a nice job and he did what we asked him to do today," Huffman said of Nafzger, who struck out four, walked four and gave up four hits in five innings. "He was still a little wild and inconsistent, but it should build a little confidence."
Kramer Henning pitched the top of the sixth, but didn't need to take the mound for the seventh. The Cheesemakers scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth, including Henning's game-ending RBI groundout.
Michael Turek led all hitters for Monroe by going 4-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs. Riese, Marty and Nafzger each had two hits for Monroe.
Marty, Monroe's catcher, picked off two runners at first.
Regardless of the win, the four innings of lulled action irritated Huffman.
"We get a 6-run lead and then just put it on cruise. We need to put together a full seven innings," he said.
Perhaps the most talked about moment of the game came in the top half of the third. Orangeville loaded the bases with one out when Clayton Shick hit a sharp grounder to second that Riese dove for. Riese ate up the grounder and threw to first to get the force. Henning then threw across the diamond to get the runner at second on his way to third for a tag out and the inning-ending double play. Initially, the home plate umpire called the original runner at third safe at home. However, between innings the officials came together and erased the run, claiming the second out was still a force out.
"We lost by 10 runs, but it is still frustrating. At the time it can make the game a four or five run game instead of what it was. The kids can lose a little bit of confidence on a play like that. It deflates you a little bit," Janecke said.
Monroe (11-6, 5-4 Badger South) will likely need to play a complete seven innings of baseball tonight at Monona Grove (11-6, 5-3). The Silver Eagles, along with the Cheesemakers, are in a tight six-team race for the Badger South title. Oregon (10-6, 6-3) leads the pack, one game ahead of Monroe, with three games left.
