Five wins in eight games for busy MHS

     Monticello faced perhaps the most grueling part of its softball schedule last week – eight games in six days – but came away with with five wins.

     Included were a doubleheader sweep at North Cedar June 5, a home loss to West Branch June 6, a win at Tipton June 8, and a 2-2 record at the Jesup Tournament June 9-10.

     The Panthers won both games at North Cedar June 5, but in markedly different ways. Monticello took the first one 9-1, the second one 9-8.

     Jaelynn Kraus fired a three-hitter with four strikeouts in the first game, and her teammates helped her out with a five-run top of the first inning. The highlight there was a bases-clearing triple by Aspen Gillmore.

     Monticello scored in three more innings, and collected 15 hits in all. Sydney Hansen and Kraus both went 3-for-4, while Shay Stephen, Taylor McDonald and Jacqueline Petersen had two hits apiece. Hansen also stole two bases.

     The Panthers grabbed an early lead in the second game too, but North Cedar came back, getting within one run on two occasions.

     An RBI triple by Rylee Warthen and RBI double by Kraus keyed a three-run first inning. The Panthers scored twice in the second on a sacrifice fly by Stephen and a single by Kraus.

     Monticello held leads of 6-3 and 8-4, but the Knights scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to cut the margin to 8-7. In the top of the seventh, Petersen reached base on an error, stole second, and scored on a single by Lauren Ries.

     That proved to be big for the Panthers. North Cedar put runners on first and second with none out in the bottom of the seventh.

     “They had us on the ropes,” Monticello coach Bret McDonald said.

     Then, on a strikeout, the runner on first was caught off the base, as catcher Stephen fired to Ries, who tagged her for the second out.

     “That was a huge play,” coach McDonald said, “and good heads-up by our girls.”

     The Knights did get one run across, but a popup to Petersen at second ended the game.

     Monticello had 14 hits, including triples by Taylor McDonald, Stephen and Warthen. Reese Cox pitched the first 2 2/3 innings, and was relieved by Kraus, who worked the last 4 1/3 to get the win.

     The home game against West Branch, a 9-3 loss June 6, was tied 1-1, before the Bears put up a seven-run top of the third inning to take an 8-1 lead.

     “If we don’t have that one bad inning, it’s close,” McDonald said. “It’s awfully tough to come back from that.”

     Monticello was held to four hits. Caitlyn Cruise had three stolen bases, and Jacqueline Petersen had two.

     The Panthers bounced back in a big way June 8 at Tipton, rolling to an 11-2 win. Cruise pitched a six-hitter to record her first win of the season, and the Monticello offense backed her with 15 hits. Warthen went 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs, Petersen was 3-for-4 as well. Getting two hits each were Taylor McDonald, Stephen, Kraus and Gillmore.

     “We did exactly what we had to do,” coach McDonald said. “And we got out of some jams.”

     At the Jesup Tournament, Monticello battled the hot, windy conditions to win two of four games. The Panthers opened on Friday with a 10-3 win over Edgewood-Colesburg in five innings. Leading 3-2 through 2½ innings, Monticello scored twice in the third inning and five times in the fifth to close out the game. Taylor McDonald, Hansen and Petersen each had two of the Panthers’ five hits. Lauren Ries, Petersen and Gillmore all doubled. Cruise pitched a five-hitter with five strikeouts.

     In Friday’s second game, the Panthers lost a 6-5 heartbreaker to Jesup. Monticello scored twice in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game 5-5, but gave up the winning run in the bottom half.

     “We had our chances early,” the coach said, adding that during Jesup’s five-run fifth inning, “it was the first time we didn’t take care of the ball as well as we should.”

     Stephen was 2-for-4 with a double. Kraus hit a double as well, and took the loss pitching.

     On Saturday, the Panthers scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth in a 5-3 win over Waterloo East. Warthen and Hansen each had two of the team’s 10 hits; one of Hansen’s hits was a double. Kraus was the winning pitcher, allowing six hits and striking out four.

     “That was probably our best all-around game of the year,” coach McDonald said. “We played well defensively, and Jaelynn pitched outstanding.”

     Mount Vernon handed the Panthers a 6-2 defeat in the final game of the tournament. Monticello was held to four hits; Stephen went 2-for-4.

     “I thought we competed well in every game, in tough conditions,” the coach said. “The kids really played hard the whole weekend.”

 

June 5

Monticello 9, North Cedar 1

(first game)

MONTICELLO                            AB     R     H     BI

Stephen c                                      4      1      2      0

Ta. McDonald cf                            4      1      2      1

Kraus p                                          4      1      3      2

Warthen 3b                                    4      1      1      0

Petersen 2b                                   4      1      2      0

Hansen lf                                       4      3      3      1

Gillmore rf                                      4      0      1      3

Ries 1b                                          4      0      1      2

To. McDonald ss                            4      1      0      0

Totals                                           36     9     15     9

Monticello                   501  002  1    –   9   15      0

North Cedar               100  000  0   –    1      3      1

LOB – Monticello 6, North Cedar 6.

3B – Gillmore.

SB – Hansen 2, Stephen, Ta. McDonald,

Gillmore.

Monticello                  IP     H     R    ER   BB   SO

Kraus (W, 3-2)             7      3      1      0      4      4

Totals                          7      3      1      0      4      4

 

Monticello 9, North Cedar 8

MONTICELLO                            AB     R      H    BI

Stephen c                                      4      1      1      1

Ta. McDonald cf                            4      2      3      2

Kraus dp                                       4      1      3      3

Warthen 3b                                   4      1      1      1

Petersen 2b                                  4      0      1      1

Hansen lf                                      4      0      0      0

Gillmore rf                                     4      1      2      0

Ries 1b                                          4      1      1      1

To. McDonald ss                           4      1      2      0

Cox p                                            0      0      0      0

Totals                                          36     9    14      9

Monticello                   320  102  1    –   9  14       1

North Cedar                003  013  1  –     8  11       3

LOB – Monticello 6, North Cedar 5.

3B – Stephen, Ta. McDonald, Warthen.

2B – Kraus.

SB – Ta. McDonald 2, Petersen, Gillmore.

Monticello                  IP       H      R   ER   BB   SO

Cox                           2 2/3     4      3      2      0      2

Kraus (W, 4-2)          4 1/3     7      5      5      1      2

Totals                          7       11      8      7      1      4

 

June 6

West Branch 9, Monticello 3

MONTICELLO                            AB    R      H     BI

Stephen c                                      4      0      0      0

Ta. McDonald cf                            1      2      0      0

Kraus dp                                        2      0      1      0

Warthen 3b                                    4      0      0      0

Cruise p                                         3      1      1      1

Hansen lf                                       4      0      1      1

Petersen 2b                                   3      0      0      1

Gillmore rf                                      2      0      0      0

Ries 1b                                           2      0      1      0

To. McDonald ss                            0      0      0      0

Totals                                           25     3      4      3

West Branch              107  100  1    –   9      7      1

Monticello                   010  010  1   –    3      4      3

LOB – Monticello 10, West Branch 8.

SB – Cruise 3, Petersen 2, Ta. McDonald.

Monticello                  IP      H     R    ER   BB   SO

Cruise (L, 0-1)              7      7      9      6      7      4

Totals                           7      7      9      6      7      4

 

June 8

Monticello 11, Tipton 2

MONTICELLO                            AB    R     H     BI

Stephen 3b                                   5      2      2      3

Ta. McDonald ss                           5      2      2      0

Kraus lf                                          4      3      2      2

Warthen dp                                    4      1      3      3

Cruise p                                         4      0      1      0

Petersen 2b                                   4      2      3      0

Hansen cf                                      4      0      0      0

Gillmore rf                                      4      1      2      0

Ries 1b                                          4      0      0      0

To. McDonald c                             0      0      0      0

Totals                                          38     11    15     8

Monticello                   003  502  1    – 11    15     5

Tipton                         001  000  1   –    2      6      3

LOB – Tipton 12, Monticello 6.

2B – Warthen 2, Kraus, Cruise, Gillmore.

SB – Ta. McDonald, Gillmore.

Monticello                  IP     H     R    ER   BB   SO

Cruise (W, 1-1)            7      6      2      1      4      3

Totals                          7      6      2      1      4      3

 

June 9

Jesup Tournament

Monticello 10, Ed-Co 3

(five innings)

MONTICELLO                            AB     R      H    BI

Stephen 3b                                    4      2      0      1

Ta. McDonald ss                            4      1      2      0

Kraus lf                                          2      1      0      1

Cruise p                                         3      0      0      0

Hansen cf                                      2      3      2      3

Petersen 2b                                   2      2      2      1

Patterson pr                                   0      0      0      0

Gillmore rf                                      2      0      1      2

Ries 1b                                          3      0      1      2

To. McDonald c                              3      0      0      0

Cox cr                                            0      0      0      0

Totals                                          25    10      8     10

Ed-Co                         011  01         –   3      5      5

Monticello                   302  05         – 10      8      3

LOB – Monti 7. Edgewood-Colesburg 6.

2B – Petersen, Gillmore, Ries.

SB – Kraus, Petersen, To. McDonald.

Monticello                  IP     H     R    ER   BB   SO

Cruise (W, 2-1)            7      5      3      2      3      5

Totals                          7      5      3      2      3      5

 

Jesup 6, Monticello 5

MONTICELLO                            AB     R     H     BI

Stephen c                                      4      1      2      0

Ta. McDonald cf                             4      1      1      0

Kraus p                                          2      2      1      1

Patterson cr                                   0      0      0      0

Warthen 3b                                    3      0      1      1

Cruise dp                                       4      1      1      2

Hansen lf                                       4      0      0      0

Petersen 2b                                   4      0      1      1

Gillmore rf                                      3      0      1      0

Ries 1b                                          3      0      0      0

To. McDonald ss                           0      0      0      0

Totals                                          31     5      8      5

Monticello                   100  020  2    –   5      8      4

Jesup                          000  050  1   –    6      8      2

One out when winning run scored.

LOB – Jesup 11, Monticello 9.

2B – Stephen, Kraus.

SB – Cruise 4, Kraus 2, Stephen, Warthen,

Hansen.

Monticello                  IP      H     R    ER   BB   SO

Kraus (L, 4-3)               7      8      6      4      2      4

Totals                           7      8      6      4      2      4

 

June 10

Jesup Tournament

Monticello 5, Waterloo East 3

MONTICELLO                            AB    R     H     BI

Stephen 3b                                   4      0      1      0

Ta. McDonald ss                           4      0      1      0

Kraus p                                         4      1      1      0

Warthen dp                                   3      1      2      0

Cruise rf                                        2      1      1      0

Hansen cf                                     3      2      2      2

Petersen 2b                                  3      0      1      1

Gillmore lf                                     3      0      0      1

Ries 1b                                         3      0      1      1

To. McDonald c                            0      0      0      0

Totals                                          29    5     10     5

Waterloo East           100  020  0    –   3      6      4

Monticello                  000  302  x   –    5    10      3

LOB – Waterloo East 7, Monticello 7.

2B – Hansen.

SB – Ta. McDonald.

Monticello                  IP     H     R    ER   BB   SO

Kraus (W, 5-3)             7      6      3      1      2      4

Totals                          7      6      3      1      2      4

 

Mount Vernon 6, Monticello 2

MONTICELLO                            AB    R      H    BI

Stephen 3b                                   4      1      2      1

Ta. McDonald ss                           4      0      1      1

Kraus dp                                       1      0      0      0

Patterson cr                                  0      0      0      0

Warthen rf                                     2      0      0      0

Cruise p                                        3      0      0      0

Hansen cf                                     3      0      0      0

Petersen 2b                                  2      1      1      0

Gillmore lf                                     3      0      0      0

Ries 1b                                         3      0      0      0

To. McDonald c                            0      0      0      0

Totals                                         25      2      4      2

Monticello                 001  000  1    –   2      4      2

Mount Vernon           121  002  x   –    6      4      1

LOB – Monticello 7, Mount Vernon 6.

2B – Stephen, Ta. McDonald.

SB – Stephen 2, Kraus 2, Ta. McDonald.

Monticello                  IP      H     R    ER   BB  SO

Cruise (L, 2-2)              7      4      6      4      5      2

Totals                           7      4      6      4      5      2