Late-inning rally helps MHS advance in districts

Trailing 4-2 in the fifth inning of a district tournament game didn’t seem to bother the Monticello Panthers, who rallied for two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to defeat Northeast of Goose Lake 6-4. 

The Class 2A, District 5 baseball quarterfinal game was played July 13 at Cole Park in Bellevue. 

There have been other games this season in which the Panthers trailed. 

“We’ve actually had quite a few,” Monticello coach Kolby Harms said. “It’s not a situation you like to be in, but it’s something we’ve done a couple times. So that experience helped a little bit.” 

Senior catcher Tyler Blattner agreed: “Even though we were down, we were going to work hard and make sure that we got it done. We’re happy we get to keep playing. I hope we can keep it rolling.” 

The Panthers (11-15) rolled into the district semifinals, where they were scheduled to play Dyersville Beckman July 16 in Dyersville. The winner will play in a district championship game July 20, also in Dyersville. 

Monticello scored its first two runs on nearly identical plays in the second and fourth innings. In each case, the Panthers had runners on first and third, allowed the runner on first to get in a pickle between first and second, allowing the runner on third to score. 

In the second inning, courtesy runner Kade Folken got caught up between first and second, and Gavin Cooper came home with a head first slide to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead. 

In the fourth, Tyler Blattner doubled and came out for courtesy runner Kain Luensman. He went to third on a fielder’s choice, and after Tyler Luensman reached base on an infield signal, Tyler Luensman left first base to get in a rundown, and Kain Luensman scored. 

“We talked last week about being mentally locked in,” coach Harms said. “We executed on the basepaths, and did what we had to do to manufacture runs.” 

Northeast struck for four runs in the top of the fifth to take a 4-2 lead, with a two-run homer by Anthony Adney as the key blow. Starting pitcher Jeff Carlson was then replaced by Dylan Roher, who got the next hitter to ground out to short, ending the rally. 

The Panthers answered quickly. Tate Petersen singled down the leftfield line, and went to second on a one-out walk to Justin Recker. After a second out, Gavin Cooper walked to put runners at first and third, and Blattner doubled to bring both runners home and tie the game 4-4. 

Monticello regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Tyler Luensman and Avery Martensen singled, and Tate Petersen singled to right to bring home Tyler Luensman with the go-ahead run. Mootz followed with a grounder that produced two rundowns, but Martensen and Petersen were able to get back to third and second, respectively, while Mootz was safe at first. 

Sauser then hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Martensen for a 6-4 Panther lead. 

Roher was able to retire the Rebels in order in the top of the seventh. The first two flew out to Gavin Cooper in center, and the third batter hit one that dropped in rightfield, but Tyler Luensman was able to fire to first for an out before the runner got there, ending the game. 

The Panthers had a 12- hit attack. Petersen finished 3-for-4, and also snared a key line drive at second base that ended a second-and-third rally for Northeast in the sixth. Blattner finished 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs. Gavin Cooper and Tyler Luensman also went 2-for-3. 

Roher got the win, working 2 1/3 innings and allowing no runs and no hits while striking out one. 

“Tate had some big hits for us, and then to have Dylan close out the game for you; that’s a tough thing to ask of two eighth-graders,” Harms said. 

Last regular season games 

Prior to the district game, the Panthers played a pair of back-to-back games last week to wrap up the regular season. The first of those was against second-ranked Wilton, a 10-4 Monticello defeat, July 10 at Wilton. 

The Panthers led 2-0 through two innings, but Wilton scored six over the third and fourth innings to lead 6-2, and added four in the bottom of the sixth. 

Seven Monticello players had hits in the game. Sauser, Petersen and Recker each took a turn pitching, with Sauser taking the loss. 

“I was really impressed by our play, keeping it a close game,” Harms said. “We faced one of the better pitchers we’ve seen all year, and had seven hits. We really grinded out some at bats.” 

Then came Monticello’s final home game of the season, a 13-3, six-inning Senior Night victory July 11 at Dailey Field. Monticello led 4-3 through four innings, but broke the game open with four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, including a bases-clearing double by Mootz; and a five-run sixth to end it. A two-run double by Mootz gave Monticello the game-ending 10-run lead. 

“I think we were pressing a little bit,” Harms said. “Our pitching was really good that night, and our offense got going once we relaxed.” 

Four Panthers pitched; Roher worked 2 2/3 innings in relief of Martensen and Mootz and ended up with the win. Carlson pitched for the last out. 

Martensen batted 3-for-5 with two RBIs, and Mootz finished 2-for-5 with two doubles and five RBIs. Petersen and Recker had two hit apiece.