05/29/2026
MONONA 4️⃣ vs SUN PRAIRIE 3️⃣
As the enthusiasm and fanfare of the season opening double up opening weekend has worn off, the Monona Braves have found themselves in a familiar position. Sitting atop the standings of the Eastern Section. This early in the season, Monona has already found themselves alone as the only team in the section without a loss.
It was also a familiar position for Monona’s ace, Sam Lund, as he toed the rubber for his first start of the season. Sam is yet again looking to defend his Eastern Section Pitcher of the Year title. Picking up exactly where he left off, Sam went 1, 2, 3 in the first inning with two backwards K’s and a weak infield fly to set the tone of the game.
Striving to get something greater than zero on the scoreboard, Mason Coyle led off the top of the second inning with a single. In his first at bat of the season, Andrew Rajkovich also drilled a single before Dom Najacht walked to load the bases. Taylor Carlson, batting for the second time in as many innings, ‘did a job’ to plate the game’s first run with a sacrifice fly to center field.
The lone run for Monona appeared as if it could run the table with Lund sitting down the side in order across the second inning. However, Sun Prairie countered in the third inning with a two out RBI single to tie the game up at one apiece. Lund appeared unfazed by the fortuitous run, and plowed forward to face one over the minimum for the next 10 outs.
Monona’s offense relentlessly found a way on base all game but struggled to crack the code of touching home plate safely over the next few innings. Through six innings, Monona had scattered six hits and ultimately left eight runners on base. The seventh inning changed for the Braves as they finally got some two out magic and eventually ran Sun Prairie’s starting pitcher out of the game. Kian O’Brien and Kyle McHugh set the blueprint with consecutive two out singles by first pitch swinging. Although some call him Coach, even he knows when to shut up and follow suit from veteran leadership. Again, first pitch swinging, Coach drove in the go ahead run with a two out RBI single. And just like that, in a span of three pitches with two outs, Sun Prairie went down a run and down their starting pitcher.
The Brave’s countered with a pitching move of their own. Lund finished his season opening outing with a line of 6ip, 8k, 1bb, 2h, 1er. Monona’s Zac Najacht was cut short of telling stories to kids in the bullpen of his college roommate, Abner Doubleday, and thrust into duty. Najacht dusted off the cobwebs to sit down the side in order while even fielding his position for a 1-3 putout.
With the game still at a stagnant scoring pace of 2-1, favoring Monona, in the bottom of the ninth inning, Sun Prairie finally put something together. Playing small ball, they plated a run off of two singles on either side of a sac bunt. Pushing the game to a tie after regulation.
In the tenth inning, Monona’s offense found it much easier to score when given the opportunity to begin with a runner on second base. Schmitz began as the placed runner and advanced to third as the Coyle broth3rs took back-to-back walks. With the bases loaded, Dom Najacht picked up his father, who blew the save opportunity in the previous inning, by punching across an RBI single. Taylor Carlson then absorbed a hit by pitch for his second RBI of the day and eventual game winning run.
In a game that felt like riding the Mad Mouse at Little Amerricka, Monona bested Sun Prairie and escaped out of Marshall by a final score of 4-3 in ten innings. Next up, Monona will look to open up Murphy-Anthony Field for the first time this year as they host DeForest on Sunday. The home opener kicks off at 1pm. Tent City check in and season pass vouchers will be disbursed after home team batting practice.
