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