Cubs bounce back from tough loss

     The Monticello Cubs bounced back from what player-manager Tanner Felton said “might have been our toughest loss of the year,” by beating Placid 7-1 in the the first round of the Holy Cross Semi-Pro Baseball Tournament.

     The loss, a 5-4, nine-inning decision against Epworth, came in the quarterfinal round of the Dyersville Tournament July 30. The Cubs rallied from a 4-0 deficit to tie the game 4-4 in the fifth inning, only to give up an unearned run in the top of the ninth.

     “We battled back and forth the whole game,” Tanner Felton said. “It was intense; both teams wanted it. Matt Holmes threw another great game for us, and we had plenty of opportunities to win the game.”

     Each team left 10 runners on base. Monticello had nine hits, including two each from Zach Monk, Kyle Sperfslage and Holmes. Sperfslage also had two stolen bases.

     Holmes pitched all nine innings, giving up no earned runs on nine hits and striking out six.

     Two days later, the 7-1 win over Placid at the Holy Cross Tournament helped make up for the loss. Tyler Felton pitched a six-hitter with 10 strikeouts and three walks.

     He was backed by an offense that scored five runs in the first inning and two in the second. The Cubs’ scoring in the first inning was boosted by two Placid errors. In the second inning, Tanner Felton hit a two-run double.

     “We came out hitting the ball really well,” Tanner Felton said. “Tyler Felton pitched well for us.”

     Tanner Felton finished 2-for-3 with two doubles and three runs batted in. Lucas Stutt batted 2-for-4.

     The Cubs were scheduled to play Holy Cross in the quarterfinals Aug. 5; a win would put them in the semifinals Aug. 7.

     Monticello also has its final Eastern Iowa Hawkeye League game Aug. 8 at Rickardsville at 7 p.m., and will play Aug. 10, 2:30 p.m. in the first round of the Peosta Tournament.