MONROE - The Monroe baseball team squandered leads in two games and an avalanche of errors did in the Cheesemakers as Waunakee swept a doubleheader on Saturday.
Monroe (2-5, 1-2 Badger South) lost both games of the twinbill 17-6 to the Warriors. The Cheesemakers committed 18 errors in the doubleheader - nine in each game.
"It was just a strange day," Monroe coach Dustin Huffman said. "All of a sudden, a couple of players make mistakes and it seems like everyone joins suit. Right now, it's just mental. They get the reps in practice. We have to find a way to stop making mental errors."
Monroe had a 6-2 lead in the first game and a 5-0 lead in the second game, but the Warriors battled back.
Waunakee erupted for six runs after two outs in the fourth inning off Monroe junior starting pitcher Trent Wyssbrod. The Cheesemakers had three errors in the fourth and that opened the door for the Warriors' big inning.
Waunakee No. 9 hitter Caleb Varebrook lined an RBI single to center. Waunakee senior Max Chamberlin, who was 2-for-4 with three RBIs, delivered a two-run single up the middle. Nick Amato, who was 2-for-3, then roped a game-tying RBI double to right center to tie the game at 6.
"When we have that many errors you will have kids with their heads down," said Monroe sophomore Ryan Hughes who was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. "You have to play through it. We just struggled. We didn't come up with the plays."
The Cheesemakers looked sharp early on taking advantage of Waunakee starting pitcher Blake Bieri's wildness. Bieri walked three batters in the first and freshman Chase Hellenbrand put the Cheesemakers on the board knocking in a run on a fielder's choice.
The Cheesemakers batted around the order in a three-run third. Monroe junior Alex Einbeck reached on an error and Hellenbrand was hit by a pitch. Hughes then ripped a two-run double to left and junior Jared Weber delivered an RBI single to give the Cheesemakers a 6-2 lead.
"I have kind of been struggling hitting at the plate," Hughes said. "It felt really good to get that hit. I thought we were going to be able to pull away. It's just how it goes with baseball."
The Cheesemakers jumped on the Warriors with a five-run first in the second game. Monroe juniors Kevin Klopfenstein and Mitch Riese were hit by pitches to start the first. Senior Austin Burandt then followed with an RBI double. Hughes delivered an RBI single and later scored on a wild pitch. Einbeck walked and junior Dusty Burkhalter's RBI single gave the Cheesemakers a 5-0 lead.
The Warriors exploded for 12 runs in the second off Weber. Weber pitched three innings and gave up 12 runs, but only five earned on 11 hits.
"We had a couple of walks and a lot of errors," Huffman said. "It's one of the ugliest half innings you will ever see. Hopefully, we put that behind us."
Monroe (2-5, 1-2 Badger South) lost both games of the twinbill 17-6 to the Warriors. The Cheesemakers committed 18 errors in the doubleheader - nine in each game.
"It was just a strange day," Monroe coach Dustin Huffman said. "All of a sudden, a couple of players make mistakes and it seems like everyone joins suit. Right now, it's just mental. They get the reps in practice. We have to find a way to stop making mental errors."
Monroe had a 6-2 lead in the first game and a 5-0 lead in the second game, but the Warriors battled back.
Waunakee erupted for six runs after two outs in the fourth inning off Monroe junior starting pitcher Trent Wyssbrod. The Cheesemakers had three errors in the fourth and that opened the door for the Warriors' big inning.
Waunakee No. 9 hitter Caleb Varebrook lined an RBI single to center. Waunakee senior Max Chamberlin, who was 2-for-4 with three RBIs, delivered a two-run single up the middle. Nick Amato, who was 2-for-3, then roped a game-tying RBI double to right center to tie the game at 6.
"When we have that many errors you will have kids with their heads down," said Monroe sophomore Ryan Hughes who was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. "You have to play through it. We just struggled. We didn't come up with the plays."
The Cheesemakers looked sharp early on taking advantage of Waunakee starting pitcher Blake Bieri's wildness. Bieri walked three batters in the first and freshman Chase Hellenbrand put the Cheesemakers on the board knocking in a run on a fielder's choice.
The Cheesemakers batted around the order in a three-run third. Monroe junior Alex Einbeck reached on an error and Hellenbrand was hit by a pitch. Hughes then ripped a two-run double to left and junior Jared Weber delivered an RBI single to give the Cheesemakers a 6-2 lead.
"I have kind of been struggling hitting at the plate," Hughes said. "It felt really good to get that hit. I thought we were going to be able to pull away. It's just how it goes with baseball."
The Cheesemakers jumped on the Warriors with a five-run first in the second game. Monroe juniors Kevin Klopfenstein and Mitch Riese were hit by pitches to start the first. Senior Austin Burandt then followed with an RBI double. Hughes delivered an RBI single and later scored on a wild pitch. Einbeck walked and junior Dusty Burkhalter's RBI single gave the Cheesemakers a 5-0 lead.
The Warriors exploded for 12 runs in the second off Weber. Weber pitched three innings and gave up 12 runs, but only five earned on 11 hits.
"We had a couple of walks and a lot of errors," Huffman said. "It's one of the ugliest half innings you will ever see. Hopefully, we put that behind us."
