Panthers battle, but lose three

     One thing became apparent as the Monticello High School softball team finally opened its season: this team can battle.

     The Panthers played three games, all on the road, losing 6-5 at Wilton in the opener June 15, falling 5-2 at Iowa City Regina June 18, and dropping an 11-2 decision at Anamosa June 19.

     Monticello (0-3) made a dramatic comeback in the season-opening game at Wilton June 15. The Panthers had fallen behind 5-0, with a bases-clearing triple by Wilton’s Payton Ganzer being the key hit during a four-run second inning.

     But the Panthers whittled their way back into it. Monticello scored twice in the fifth inning to make it 5-2. In the sixth, an RBI double by Mallory Steiner, was followed by an RBI ground out by Katie Roher. Brea Stahlberg then hit a two-out double to score courtesy runner Karle Kramer with the tying run, making it 5-5.

     “That was good to see, that we fought back and tied the game,” Monticello coach Bret McDonald said.

     The Beavers answered in the bottom half, however, on a double, a bunt and a sacrifice fly, to take a 6-5 lead. The Panthers were unable to get the equalizer in the seventh.

     Steiner pitched all seven innings, allowing just two earned runs, but took the loss. Reese Cox was 2-for-3 with a triple.

     On Thursday, Regina scored five runs over the first three innings, erasing an early 1-0 Panther lead, on the way to a 5-2 win. Monticello scored first on an RBI double by Steiner, scoring Jaelyn Aitchison, but the Regals picked up single runs in the first and second innings, and three in the third.

     Monticello was held to four hits.

     Four Panthers went 1-for-3 at the plate: DeLainy Fellinger, Piper Hansen, Aitchison and Steiner.

     “Our biggest things is, we’re not swinging the bat real well,” McDonald said. “To me we’re not swinging at good pitches. And if you swing at a bad pitch, nine times out of 10, you’re not going to get a hit.”

     Steiner pitched a scoreless 3 2/3 innings in relief of starter Cox.

     Then came the rivalry game against Anamosa June 19. This was supposed to be a home game for the Panthers, but was moved to Anamosa while final preparations were being made on Monticello’s new field.

     The Blue Raiders jumped out to a 4-0 lead through two innings, as Grace Lubben hit doubles in each of the first two innings, clearing the bases in the second.

     “We knew they were going to be good,” coach McDonald said. “They just hit the ball really, really well.”

     Monticello cut the margin to 4-2 with a pair of runs in the top of the third. Aitchison singled with one out, and Cox brought her around with a triple, before scoring on an error.

     Anamosa widened its lead to 7-2, however, with three runs in the bottom of the third, and added four runs in the fifth.

     “We seem to just make that one untimely mistake that turns a one-run inning into a three or four run inning,” the coach said.

     Aitchison was 2-for-3 with a stolen base for Monticello, and Katie Roher went 1-for-2. Steiner took the loss as the starting pitcher, and Aitchison pitched the final four innings.

New field

ribbon cutting

     A dedication ceremony for the new MHS softball field will be Thursday, June 25 between the JV and varsity softball games against North Cedar.

     The event will involve the Monticello Ambassadors, and include a ribbon cutting ceremony.

June 15

Wilton 6, Monticello 5

MONTICELLO                            AB    R     H     BI

Aitchison cf                                   4      0      0      0

Cox lf                                             3      1      2      0

Steiner p                                        4      0      1      1

Van Dorn cr                                   0      1      0      0

McDonald ss                                 3      0      1      0

Roher 3b                                       2      0      1      1

Fellinger c                                     3      0      1      0

Kramer cr                                      0      2      0      0

Stahlberg 1b                                  3      0      1      1

Hansen, P. 2b                                3      1      1      1

McQuillen rf                                   2      0      0      0

Totals                                           28     5      8      4

Monticello                   000  023  0   –    8      7      2

Wilton                         041  001  x   –    6      7      0

LOB – Wilton 6, Monticello 4.

3B – Cox.

2B – Steiner, Stahlberg.

Monticello                        IP     H     R    ER   BB   SO

Steiner (L, 0-1)                  6      7      6      2      4      0

Totals                                6      7      6      2      4      0

June 18

Iowa City Regina 5, Monti 2

MONTICELLO                            AB     R     H     BI

Aitchison cf                                   3      1      1      0

Cox p                                            2      0      0      0

Steiner 3b                                     3      0      1      1

Mescher cr                                    0      0      0      0

Roher c                                         3      0      0      0

Fellinger 2b                                   3      0      1      0

Kramer cr                                      0      1      0      0

Stahlberg 1b                                  2      0      0      0

Hansen, P. rf                                 3      0      1      1

McQuillen lf                                   3      0      0      0

Totals                                           22    2      4      2

Monticello                  100  000  1   –    2      4      1

Iowa City Regina        113  000  x   –    5    10      2

LOB – Regina 7, Monticello 4.

2B – Steiner.

Monticello                     IP        H     R    ER   BB   SO

Cox (L, 0-1)                  2 1/3     7      5      4      1      2

Steiner                         3 2/3      3      0      0      2      3

Totals                             6        10     5      4      3      5

June 19

Anamosa 11, Monticello 2

MONTICELLO                            AB     R     H     BI

Aitchison cf                                   3      1      2      0

Cox lf                                            3      1      1      1

Steiner p                                       4      0      1      1

Kramer cr                                      0      0      0      0

McDonald ss                                 3      0      0      0

Fellinger c                                     3      0      0      0

Roher 3b                                       2      0      1      0

Stahlberg 1b                                 2      0      0      0

Hansen, P. 2b                               3      0      1      0

McQuillen rf                                  2      0      0      0

Manternach ph                             1      0      0      0

Totals                                          26    2      6      2

Monticello                 002  000  0   –    2      6      1

Anamosa                 133  040  x    –   11     9      0

LOB – Anamosa 9, Monticello 7.

3B – Cox.

SB – Aitchison.

Monticello                        IP     H     R     ER  BB  SO

Steiner (L, 0-2)                  2      3      4      2      3      0

Aitchison                            4      6      7      3      6      0

Totals                                6       9     11     5      9      0