Western-Star.com

A 7-4 loss Tuesday afternoon, May 6, at Dixie cost the Monroe High School baseball team a chance to play for it's second consecutive outright Southwestern Buckeye League Buckeye division championship.

The Greyhounds took advantage of multiple Hornet errors in handing Monroe it's second SWBL Buckeye division loss of the season and avenging a 13-12 loss on April 8 at Monroe.

"We made about six to eight errors and stranded about eight runners. We can't win when we do that," Monroe baseball coach Bob Hunt said.

Instead, the most the Hornets can attain is a share of the title with Carlisle when they face the Indians Friday afternoon at 5 p.m. at Carlisle. The Indians dominated the first meeting of the season, beating the Hornets 13-0 on April 23 at Monroe.

"We'll have to play pretty well if we want to beat them," Hunt said. "They're pretty good."

Monroe (16-6, 9-2 SWBL Buckeye) will finish the regular season with a home game against Middletown at 11 a.m. Saturday. The Hornets will then face SWBL rival Oakwood at 5 p.m. Thursday, May 15, in the Division II sectional semifinals. Monroe, by virtue of having the higher seed, will host the Lumberjacks in the playoff opener.

Heading into the final week of regular season play, Monroe's statistical leaders were: Kevin Enchelmeyer (.441 batting average, .500 on base percentage, 30 hits, 25 runs scored, 21 RBIs), Jason Osterman (.390 avg., .519 OBP, 23 hits, 25 runs, 18 RBI), J.C. Kellis (.387 avg., .468 OBP, 24 hits, 20 runs, 22 RBIs) and Devin King (.328 avg., .400 OBP, 22 hits, 19 runs, 8 RBIs). Those four players along with Tyler Haskins and Cody Ridinger have started every game for Monroe this season.

On the mound, Jake Hofer has led the way for the Hornets with a 4-0 record and an earned run average of 2.68. Over six starts, Hofer has recorded 16 walks and 28 strikeouts.

Contact this reporter at dgedney@coxohio.com.

Vote for this story!