Cubs force extra innings before loss

     Trailing 8-3 with two innings to go, the Monticello Cubs put on a rally to tie the score 8-8 in a semi-pro baseball game played Tuesday, May 16 at Rickardsville.

     But Rickardsville scored in the bottom of the 11^th, stealing a 9-8 win in Eastern Iowa Hawkeye League action.

     “I thought we did a nice job of battling back, but stranded too many runners in scoring position,” Monticello player/manager Garett Hanken said. “As we get into the season we will get some of these things worked out.”

     Monticello (0-1 EIHL, 0-2 overall) scored twice in the top of the eighth inning when it loaded the bases with two out, and on consecutive at bats, Mason Newhard was hit by a pitch and Michael Reuter walked, forcing home Lucas Stutt and Hanken, respectively.

     In the ninth, trailing 8-5, Hanken and Newhard walked with the bases loaded, and Michael Reuter drove home Lucas Stutt on a sacrifice for the run that tied the game.

     The Cubs threatened again in the top of the 10^th inning, loading the bases with two out, but couldn’t score.

     Monticello had nine hits in the game, with Newhard and Lucas Stutt both going 2-for-5. The Cubs used five pitchers, with Kyle Huxford taking the loss.

     “It was good to get several guys some innings on the mound, since we haven’t played much this spring,” Hanken said. “It was nice to have Michael (Reuter) back behind the plate after a solid season and career at Central College.”

May 16

Rickardsville 9, Monticello 8

(11 innings)

MONTICELLO                           AB    R     H     BI

Newhard 2b                                 5      1      2      2

Reuter, M. c                                 3      2      1      2

Thompson ss                               3      0      0      0

Reuter, A. lf                                  5      0      1      0

Huxford rf                                     7      0      0      1

Stutt, B. 3b                                   5      1      1      1

Monk, Z. cf                                    5      1      1      0

Stutt, L. 1b                                    5      2      2      0

Hanken dh                                    4      1      1      1

Kray p                                           0      0      0      0

Totals                                          42     8      9      7

Monti         100 200 023 00    –     8      9      3

R’ville         211 103 000 01   –      9    13      1

LOB – Monticello 16, Rickardsville 16.

Monticello                  IP     H     R    ER   BB   SO

Kray                             3      5      4      4      3      3

Reuter, A.                     3      3      4      3      3      3

Thompson                    1      1      0      0      0      1

Newhard                       3      1      0      0      3      1

Huxford (L, 0-1)            0      3      1      1      1      0

Totals                          10    11     9      8     10     8