Panthers begin season by traveling to Bellevue, hosting Camanche

     A pair of River Valley Conference opponents got the 2017 Monticello High School softball season with a trio of games last week.

     The Panthers (0-3) opened the season by traveling to Bellevue for a single game, and lost 5-2.

     “Jaelynn Kraus pitched a good game. We just did not supply her with enough offense,” Monticello coach Bret McDonald said. “It is early, so I know the offense will continue to get better.”

     Monticello’s runs came on an RBI groundout by Rylee Warthen in the first inning, scoring Shay Stephen; and on a solo home run by Caitlyn Cruise in the fourth.

     Taylor McDonald, Sydney Hansen, Aspen Gillmore and Cruise all went 1-for-3. Kraus pitched all six innings, giving up five runs on nine hits, and striking out five.

     “Sydney Hansen has been battling an early hip injury and has not had a lot of reps, so it was good to see her hit the ball hard a couple of times,” McDonald said. “Tori McDonald just started catching in January, and did a nice job behind the plate. Shay Stephen was an excellent leader on the field.”

     Monticello then opened the home portion of its schedule with a doubleheader against Camanche Thursday, May 25. The visiting Indians swept the twinbill, by scores of 12-4 and 8-2.

     Bright spots for the Panthers included two hits apiece from Taylor McDonald, Warthen and Hansen – part of a 10-hit attack. Jacqueline Petersen had two RBIs. Taylor McDonald and Cruise hit doubles.

     In the second game, Monticello collected nine hits, including 2-for-4 efforts from Jacqueline Petersen, Kraus, and Warthen. One of Warthen’s hits was a double.

     Kraus pitched the first game of the doubleheader, and Cruise pitched the nightcap.

May 22

Bellevue 5, Monticello 2

MONTICELLO                            AB    R      H    BI

Stephen 3b                                   3      1      0      0

Ta. McDonald ss                           4      0      1      0

Kraus p                                         2      0      0      0

Warthen 1b                                   3      0      0      1

Petersen 2b                                  2      0      0      0

Cruise rf                                        3      1      1      1

To. McDonald c                             3      0      0      0

Hansen cf                                      3      0      1      0

Gillmore lf                                      3      0      1      0

Totals                                           26     2      4      2

Monticello                   100  100  0    –   2      4      3

Bellevue                      201  002  x   –    5      9      1

LOB – Bellevue 8, Monticello 7.

HR – Cruise.

SB – Stephen, Kraus, Petersen.

Monticello                  IP      H     R    ER   BB   SO

Kraus (L, 0-1)               6      9      5      3      4      5

Totals                           6      9      5      3      4      5

May 25

Camanche 12, Monticello 4

(first game)

MONTICELLO                            AB    R      H    BI

Stephen 3b                                   4      1      1      0

Ta. McDonald ss                           4      0      2      0

Kraus p                                         3      1      1      0

Warthen dp                                   4      1      2      1

Petersen 2b                                  4      0      1      2

Cruise rf                                        3      1      1      0

Hansen cf                                     3      0      2      1

To. McDonald c                             3      0      0      0

Ries 1b                                         3      0      0      0

Gillmore lf                                     0      0      0      0

Totals                                          31     4     10     4

Camanche                  004  133  1   –  12   12    0

Monticello                   013  000  0   –    4   10     0

LOB – Monticello 10, Camanche 9.

2B – Ta. McDonald, Cruise.

SB – Warthen, Petersen, Hansen.

Monticello                  IP     H    R    ER   BB   SO

Kraus (L, 0-2)               7    12   12     7      9      7

Totals                           7    12   12     7      9      7

Camanche 8, Monticello 2

(second game)

MONTICELLO                            AB     R     H     BI

Stephen c                                      4      0      1      0

Ta. McDonald cf                            4      0      1      0

Kraus dp                                        4      2      2      0

Warthen 3b                                    4      0      2      1

Petersen 2b                                   4      0      2      1

Cruise p                                         3      0      1      0

Hansen cf                                      3      0      0      0

To. McDonald ss                            3      0      0      0

Gillmore rf                                      3      0      0      0

Ries 1b                                           0      0      0      0

Totals                                           32      2      9      2

Camanche                 111  101  3    –    8     12     4

Monticello                   000  101  0   –    2      9      1

LOB – Monticello 8, Camanche 4.

2B – Warthen.

SB – Warthen.

Monticello                  IP     H    R    ER   BB   SO

Cruise (L, 0-1)             7     12    8      3      3      3

Totals                          7     12    8      3      3      3