Cubs win Dyersville opener

SEMI-PRO BASEBALL

A strong defensive performance and a five-run second inning, along with a complete game pitching performance from A.J. Reuter, led to a Monticello Cubs win to kick off the Dyersville Semi-Pro Baseball Tournament. 

 

The Cubs defeated Worthington 7-3 in the game, played July 27 at Commercial Club Park in Dyersville. Monticello advanced to the quarterfinal round, where it was scheduled to play Epworth in a July 30 game. 

 

“A.J. Reuter pitched very well for us, and it might have been the best defensive game we played all year,” Monticello player-manager Tanner Felton said.

 

“We took advantage of some mistakes Worthington made and didn’t stop scoring runs.” 

 

The Cubs (3-11, 5-15) had five hits in the five-run second inning, including a two-run double by A.J. Reuter, to erase an early 1-0 deficit. Monticello extended the lead to 7-1 with two more in the fourth, and held off a late Worthington rally. 

 

A.J. Reuter allowed seven hits with nine strikeouts and no walks in the win. Andrew Mescher batted 2-for-2 with a double. 

 

Monticello had several other games in recent action, starting with a 10-8 win at Farley July 10, in which the Cubs collected 13 hits. Mescher batted 3-for-5 with a home run and two runs batted in. Getting two hits apiece were Jacob Thompson, Tanner Felton, Matt Holmes, Zach Monk and Greg Kraus. Mescher pitched five innings to get the win, and Thompson worked the final two to pick up a save. 

 

“I was really hoping to come out firing against Farley, and that’s exactly what we did,” Tanner Felton said. “We hit the ball as well as we had all year against a solid pitcher. This was a big win for us.” 

 

The Cubs almost pulled off another big win July 12, rallying from a 4-0 deficit to fall short at Cascade by a score of 4-3. 

 

“We played an all-around good game,” Tanner Felton said. “Matt Holmes threw a great game for us, and made a lot of big outs when we needed him to. We did not hit the ball very well in this game, but took advantage of situations on the bases to help us get three runs.” 

 

Monticello had three hits. Holmes pitched six innings and struck out six. 

 

At the Cascade Tournament July 14, the Cubs lost a first round game to Bernard, 2-0. Monticello had nine hits, but could not push a run across. A.J. Reuter pitched a five-hitter with five strikeouts, but took the loss. 

 

“A.J. threw a good game for us,” Tanner Felton said. “We struggled to really get the bats going. It was a well-played game for both teams, but was a tough loss for us.” 

 

Tanner Felton, Kyle Sperfslage and Zach Monk each went 2-for-3. 

 

The next two games had the bizarre similarity of the home team batting first. The Cubs traveled to Cascade for a makeup game July 23, which was actually a home game for Monticello, and lost 8-5. The Reds scored three runs in each of the first two innings and led throughout. 

 

“We have struggled all season with our opponents having big first innings,” Tanner Felton said. “Every game we have that happen it seems like we bounce back and play well the rest of the game. We ended up making a run in the fifth and sixth innings but wasn’t enough to win.” 

 

Michael Reuter and Mescher had doubles in the game. Starting pitcher Tyler Felton took the loss. 

 

Then, the Cubs played host to the Dubuque Budweisers July 24, but since it was a makeup game that Dubuque was supposed to host, the “Buds” served as the home team. 

 

Dubuque scored six runs in the bottom of the first inning, and led the rest of the way to defeat Monticello 7-2. 

 

The Cubs’ two runs came on a two-run homer by Tanner Felton in the third inning. Monticello was held to four hits. 

 

Krouse is Queen candidate 

Anisa Krouse was selected to be Monticelllo’s candidate for the Dyersville Queen Pageant, to be held Friday, Aug. 2. 

 

Category:

Subscriber Login