Cubs play four, close out EIHL schedule

     Postponements early in the season created a logjam of games near the end, as the Monticello Cubs squeezed in four more last week.

     From July 18 through Aug. 6 – a span of 20 days – the Cubs played 11 semi-pro baseball games.

     The Cubs picked up one win in the most recent quartet of contests, a 5-2 Eastern Iowa Hawkeye League (EIHL) win over Farley Aug. 1 in Monticello.

     In that game, Kegan Arduser stepped in to pitch five innings and pick up the win, allowing just one run on two hits. Michael Reuter worked the final two innings to get a save.

     “We were low on arms, but Kegan threw one heck of a game,” Monticello player-manager Garett Hanken said. “He did a great job of keeping some pretty experienced hitters off balance. Mike stepped up and did a nice job closing it out.”

     Monticello (3-13 EIHL, 8-20 overall) led 2-1 through three innings, but scored three in the fourth to take control. Lucas Stutt and Arduser had RBI singles in the inning.

     “Any win is a good win, but we needed this one,” Hanken said.

     The Cubs also lost three games last week, starting with a 14-4 defeat at Cascade July 31. Cascade led 4-2 through five innings, then posted 10 runs in the bottom of the sixth. Jacob Thompson went 3-for-4 for Monticello.

     “We played a great game through five innings, but it got sideways on us in a hurry,” Hanken said.

     In the first round of the Holy Cross Tournament Aug. 3, the Cubs lost 9-1 to Worthington.

     “We couldn’t catch a break,” Hanken said. “They put the ball in play and seemed to find hits everywhere.”

     Kyle Sperfslage and Jacob Thompson both were 2-for-3 at the plate for the Cubs.

     On Aug. 6, the Cubs closed out their league schedule and their home schedule against Key West, and lost 4-2. The Ramblers scored single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to post the win.

     Key West took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning, but the Cubs answered with two in the bottom half. Thompson walked and A.J. Reuter doubled, putting runners on second and third with one out. Tanner Felton followed with an RBI ground out, and Kyle Huxford hit an RBI single to drive home the second run. Monticello was held to three hits.

     A.J. Reuter, Parker Kray and Tyler Felton shared pitching duties, with Kray taking the loss.

     “They combined to throw a quality game,” Hanken said. “This was a winnable game, but we didn’t get anything going.”

     Monticello will begin play in the Peosta Tournament Saturday, Aug. 12, 4:30 p.m. against Epworth.

     “Even though the league season is over, we have chances to win a few more games in the Peosta and Placid Tournaments,” Hanken said.

July 31

Cascade 14, Monticello 4

MONTICELLO                           AB     R     H     BI

Monk, Z. lf                                    4      0      0      0

Reuter, M. c                                 3      1      1      0

Thompson ss                               4      1      3      0

Reuter, A. p                                  4      1      1      0

Felton, Ta. cf                                4      1      1      1

Huxford, K. rf                                3      0      2      1

Manternach p                               2      0      2      1

Stutt, L. 3b                                   3      0      1      1

Felton, Ty. 2b                               4      0      0      0

Totals                                         31     4     11     4

Monticello         000 200 2           –      4     11     1

Cascade          120 10(10) x        –    14     10     1

LOB – Monticello 11, Cascade 8.

2B ­– A. Reuter, Ta. Felton.

Monticello                  IP      H     R    ER   BB   SO

Manternach                  3      1      2      1      2      2

Felton, Ta. (L, 0-1)        2      6      6      6      4      3

Kray                              1      3      4      4      0      1

Totals                           6     10    14    11      6      6 

Aug. 1

Monticello 5, Farley 2

MONTICELLO                           AB    R      H    BI

Monk, Z. lf                                    3      1      1      0

Reuter, M. 2b                                3      0      0      1

Thompson ss                                3      1      0      1

Felton, Ta. cf                                 3      0      1      1

Huxford rf                                      3      1      1      0

Manternach 3b                              2      1      0      0

Felton, Ty. 2b                                3      0      0      0

Stutt, L. 1b                                    3      1      1      1

Arduser, K. p                                 3      0      1      1

Totals                                          26     5      5      5

Farley                 100 000 1           –     2      4      3

Monticello           101 300 x           –     5      5      1

LOB – Farley 5, Monticello 3.

2B – Ta. Felton.

Monticello                  IP     H     R     ER  BB   SO

Arduser, K. (W, 1-0)     5      2      1      0      3      0

Reuter, M. (S, 1)          2      2      1      1      1      0

Totals                          7      4      2      1      4      0  

Aug. 3

Holy Cross Tournament

(first round)

Worthington 9, Monticello 1

(five innings)

MONTICELLO                           AB     R     H     BI

Monk, Z. cf                                   2      1      0      0

Sperfslage, K. 2b                         3      0      2      0

Reuter, M. c                                 3      0      1      0

Thompson ss                               3      0      2      1

Huxford rf                                     3      0      0      0

Felton, Ty. p                                  2      0      1      0

Stutt, L. 3b                                    2      0      1      0

Arduser, K. lf                                 2      0      1      0

Hanken 1b                                    1      0      0      0

Totals                                          21     1      8      1

Monticello          100 00                 –     1      8      1

Worthington       014 4x                 –     9     13     0

LOB – Monticello 7, Worthington 7.

SB – Hanken.

Monticello                  IP     H     R    ER   BB   SO

Felton, Ty. (L, 1-6)   3 1/3   13     9      9      3      3

Thompson                 2/3      0      0      0      0      1

Totals                         4      13      9      9      3      4 

Aug. 6

Key West 4, Monticello 2

MONTICELLO                           AB     R     H     BI

Monk, Z. lf                                    4      0      0      0

Reuter, M. 2b                               4      0      0      0

Thompson ss                               2      1      0      0

Reuter, A. p                                  2      1      1      0

Felton, Ta. cf                                2      0      0      1

Huxford rf                                     3      0      1      1

Manternach 3b                             3      0      1      0

Miller 1b                                       1      0      0      0

Kray p                                          0      0      0      0

Hanken ph                                   1      0      0      0

Felton, Ty. 2b                               3      0      0      0

Totals                                         25     2      3      2

Key West           002 001 1           –     4      7      1

Monticello          002 000 0           –     2      3      1

LOB – Key West 7, Monticello 7.

2B – A. Reuter.

Monticello                  IP      H     R    ER   BB   SO

Reuter, A.                     4      5      2      2      0      7

Kray (L, 0-1)                 2      1      1      0      1      1

Felton, Ty.                     1      1      1      1      0      0

Totals                           7      7      4      3      1      8