Panthers defeat Cascade, two others to repeat as RVC North champs
Monticello players jump on teammate Tyler Blattner (38) after the Panther pitcher closed out the win over Durant June 30, which clinched the outright division title. (Photo courtesy of Steve Rucker, Rucker Photography)
Monticello’s Kyle Sperfslage (12, center) is mobbed by teammates after his three-run homer put the Panthers ahead in the second game against Cascade June 25. Monticello swept the doubleheader to take over first place in the River Valley Conference, North Division. (Photo by Pete Temple)
The River Valley Conference, North Division champion Monticello Panthers, first row from left: Hunter Kramer, Gavin Cooper, Bo Kramer, Gage Jacobs, Tyler Luensman, Caleb Sauser and Rylan Cooper. Second row: Ryan Manternach, Andrew Mescher, Jon Mootz, Jacob Manternach, Kyle Sperfslage, Mason Kraus and Avery Martensen. Third row: head coach Josh Soper, Jeff Carlson, Tyler Blattner, Wesley Henderson, Kegan Arduser, Alex Nealson and assistant coach Dale Sperfslage. (Photo courtesy of Steve Rucker, Rucker Photography)
Much like their 2017 season, the Monticello Panthers came into a baseball doubleheader with Cascade knowing the River Valley Conference, North Division championship was probably on the line.
And much like last year, the Panthers swept the Cougars, who this time were undefeated and ranked first in the state in Class 2A. Ryan Manternach’s one-hit shutout in the first game, and Kyle Sperfslage’s momentum-changing three-run homer in the second were keys to the victories.
Monticello followed those wins with three more RVC triumphs – a lopsided sweep at Bellevue and a 9-4 home win over Durant June 30 – to wrap up the division title for the second year in a row.
“We are extremely proud of all of them,” Monticello coach Josh Soper said. “They have stayed positive, and have earned every bit of success they are having.”
None of it would have been possible without the sweep of Cascade, 3-0 and 13-12, June 25 at Dailey Field.
It helped that Ryan Manternach pitched a gem of a game in the opener, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out eight.
“Ryan was dealing,” Soper said. “After allowing a single to lead off the game, he didn’t allow another hit. It was just about as dominant a performance we could have considering the circumstances.”
“I was hitting my spots pretty well, and had good defense behind me,” Ryan Manternach said.
It also helped the Panthers that the defensive play was strong.
“Arduser made a great catch crashing into the fence in left,” Soper said. “Mescher made several tough plays at short.”
Finally, it helped that Monticello was able to get an early lead in the first inning, Cascade miscues enabled the Panthers to score two more runs in the third.
Monticello took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Kyle Sperfslage hit a one-out single that slipped past the Cascade leftfielder, allowing Sperfslage to reach second base. Jacob Manternach followed with an RBI single down the leftfield line.
Ryan Manternach struck out the side in the Cascade second inning, and the score was still 1-0 heading into the bottom of the third.
Gavin Cooper singled and went to second on an error, Mescher reached on an error to put runners on first and third, and Sperfslage walked to load the bases.
Jacob Manternach grounded to third base, scoring Cooper. Mescher then scored on a wild pitch, and the Panthers led 3-0.
“Offensively, Kyle and Jacob stepped up to give us an early lead, and Cooper had some big hits as well,” Soper said.
The Cougars were unable to threaten the rest of the way; in the fifth, rightfielder Alex Nealson threw out a batter at first base after charging in to field a would-be hit. In the seventh, Kegan Arduser made a catch just before running into the fence in left.
Monticello had just four hits, but they were enough. Cooper finished 2-for-2.
The second game was wild as could be. The lead changed hands five times in the first five innings, with Monticello holding leads of 2-0, 6-3, and 11-9 after a dramatic three-run homer by Kyle Sperfslage keyed a five-run fifth inning. Cascade led 3-2 and 9-6 – following a grand slam in a six-run fourth.
The 9-6 deficit held until the bottom of the fifth. The Panthers had runners on first and second with two out before Mescher walked to load the bases. A wild pitch brought home courtesy runner Gage Jacobs, making it 9-7.
Then, Sperfslage launched a long homer to left, putting Monticello ahead 10-9.
“The home run by Kyle Sperfslage was huge; what a senior moment for that kid,” Soper said.
Jacob Manternach then walked and stole second, and Ryan Manternach singled him home for a two-run Panther edge.
Monticello had used three pitchers to that point: starter Mescher, Tyler Blattner and Arduser.
Sperfslage took over the pitching duties in the sixth, and Cascade scored twice to tie the game 11-11. After the Panthers took a 12-11 lead on an RBI single by Cooper, the Cougars tied it again in the top of the seventh. Cascade threatened to take the lead, but Sperfslage struck out the last batter with runners on second and third.
In the bottom of the seventh, Jacob Manternach hit a one-out single, and went to second on a passed ball. Cascade intentionally walked both Ryan Manternach and Jon Mootz. Avery Martensen then hit an infield single to score Jacob Manternach – the throw came home but was too late – and the Panthers ran out of the dugout to celebrate their wild victory; and their hammerlock on the division race.
“This felt like a heavyweight fight; punches back and forth,” Soper said. “I am just glad that we had the last at bat of the game.
“Mescher has been so good out of the leadoff spot and was on base four out of five times. Jacob once again found himself coming through with clutch hits in a big game. Avery has had a monster season driving in runs.
“We had several contributions up and down the lineup; contributions from all 19 guys in a Panther uniform. We are extremely proud of each and every one of them.”
Ryan Manternach added: “We were up and down that whole game. It was pretty crazy. Cascade has a very, very good team. If we can beat a team like that, we know we can beat anyone.”
Those wins set up the doubleheader at Bellevue June 28. The Panthers knew, going in, that sweeping that twinbill would clinch at least at tie for the division crown, and they did what was necessary, beating the Comets 13-1 in six innings and 16-1 in four.
In the first game, Sperfslage threw a five-hitter with five strikeouts. Monticello pounded 14 hits; Mootz was 3-for-5 with a double and five RBIs, and Martensen also went 3-for-5.
“Kyle pitched extremely well again, and we played well in all areas of the game,” Soper said. “Jon Mootz had a big two-run, two-out double in the first, and we never looked back.”
The Panthers were even more dominant in the second game, scoring three in the first inning and nine in the second to settle the issue early.
“Kegan pitched his best game of the year; only 48 pitches in four innings, and he didn’t allow a walk,” the coach said. “We clinched a share of the conference (division) title and were able to get all of the kids into the game.”
Martensen went 2-for-4 with five RBIs, and Gavin Cooper was 2-for-3.
The Panthers then had a blip on the schedule, a home, non-conference game against Alburnett June 29, which Monticello lost 12-2 in five innings. The Panthers had just two hits.
“We didn’t do a whole lot right in this game,” Soper said. “Alburnett has a great team, and they really wanted this one more than we did. Our guys have had an emotional week, and I didn’t have our team ready to play, and it showed. Learn from it and move on.”
They didn’t have much time to reflect, as the outright division title was on the line in a June 30 home game against Durant, a makeup from two earlier postponements.
The Panthers again struck early in a 9-4 win, with two runs in the first inning on a two-run double by Mootz; and four in the second, with Sperfslage delivering a two-run single.
Sperfslage went 3-for-3, while Gavin Cooper and Mootz had two hits apiece. Sperfslage and Mootz each hit a triple. Ryan Manternach pitched 6 2/3 innings to up his season record to 6-0. Tyler Blattner came in to record the last out, and was rewarded by getting mobbed on the pitcher’s mound by his celebrating teammates.
The win wrapped up the division title for the second year in a row, finishing the conference schedule with a 17-1 record.
Following games a doubleheader at Anamosa July 2 and a game at Clayton Ridge July 3, the Panthers will close their regular season at home July 5, taking on North Linn for Senior Night.
District tournament
Pairings for district play have been posted. The Panthers receive a first-round bye in their six-team district, and will play either Camanche or North Cedar July 10, 5 p.m. in Dyersville. The district final – likely against Dyersville Beckman – will be July 14, 7 p.m. in Dyersville.
The sub-state game will be July 17 in Solon.
June 25
Monticello 3, Cascade 0
(first game)
MONTICELLO AB R H BI
Mescher ss 3 1 0 0
Sperfslage 3b 2 1 1 0
Manternach, J. c 3 0 1 2
Manternach, R. 3b 3 0 0 0
Mootz dh 3 0 0 0
Sauser 2b 0 0 0 0
Martensen 1b 1 0 0 0
Nealson rf 3 0 0 0
Arduser lf 2 0 0 0
Blattner ph 1 0 0 0
Cooper, G. cf 2 1 2 0
Jacobs cr 0 0 0 0
Totals 23 3 4 2
Cascade 000 000 0 – 0 1 2
Monticello 102 000 x – 3 4 1
Monticello IP H R ER BB SO
Mntrnch, R. (W, 5-0) 7 1 0 0 1 8
Totals 7 1 0 0 1 8
Monticello 13, Cascade 12
(second game)
MONTICELLO AB R H BI
Mescher p 1 3 0 0
Sperfslage ss 4 2 2 3
Manternach, J. c 4 3 2 1
Manternach, R. 3b 3 1 2 3
Mootz dh 4 0 1 2
Sauser 2b 0 0 0 0
Martensen 1b 4 1 1 1
Nealson rf 3 1 1 0
Arduser lf 3 1 1 0
Cooper, G. cf 4 1 1 1
Blattner p 0 0 0 0
Jacobs cr 0 0 0 0
Totals 30 13 11 11
Cascade 030 602 1 – 12 10 1
Monticello 240 051 1 – 13 11 0
HR – Sperfslage.
SB – J. Manternach 2, Mescher.
Monticello IP H R ER BB SO
Mescher 3 6 5 5 2 1
Blattner 1 2 4 4 2 0
Arduser 1 0 0 0 0 1
Sperfslage (W, 5-1) 2 2 3 3 3 3
Totals 7 10 12 12 7 5
June 28
Monticello 13, Bellevue 1
(first game, six innings)
MONTICELLO AB R H BI
Mescher ss 3 0 1 1
Sperfslage p 3 3 1 1
Manternach, J. c 2 2 1 2
Manternach, R. 3b 4 2 2 0
Mootz dh 5 0 3 5
Martensen 1b 5 2 3 2
Nealson rf 3 2 1 0
Arduser lf 2 1 0 0
Cooper, G. cf 2 1 2 2
Sauser 2b 0 0 0 0
Kraus cr 0 0 0 0
Luensman cr 0 0 0 0
Totals 29 13 14 13
Monticello 204 313 – 13 14 0
Bellevue 100 000 – 1 5 1
2B – Mootz, G. Cooper.
SB – Sperfslage 2, Mootz 2, Arduser 2,
Mescher, J. Manternach, Mootz.
Monticello IP H R ER BB SO
Sperfslage (W, 6-1) 6 5 1 1 1 5
Totals 6 5 1 1 1 5
Monticello 16, Bellevue 1
(second game, four innings)
MONTICELLO AB R H BI
Mescher ss 1 2 1 1
Kramer, H. ph 1 0 0 0
Sperfslage 2b 1 2 1 2
Jacobs ph 0 1 0 0
Manternach, J. c 0 2 0 1
Henderson c 1 0 0 0
Manternach, R. 3b 1 1 0 2
Carlson ph 1 1 1 1
Mootz dh 3 1 1 1
Blattner ph 0 1 0 0
Martensen 1b 4 0 2 5
Nealson rf 3 1 2 2
Kramer, B. ph 1 0 0 0
Arduser p 2 2 0 0
Cooper, G. cf 3 2 2 0
Sauser lf 0 0 0 0
Kraus lf 0 0 0 0
Luensman cr 0 0 0 0
Totals 22 16 10 14
Monticello 390 4 – 16 10 0
Bellevue 001 0 – 1 2 1
2B – Martensen, Nealson
SB – Mescher, J. Manternach, G. Cooper.
Monticello IP H R ER BB SO
Arduser (W, 3-1) 4 2 1 1 0 5
Totals 4 2 1 1 0 5
June 29
Alburnett 12, Monticello 2
(five innings)
MONTICELLO AB R H BI
Mescher p 2 0 0 0
Sperfslage ss 3 0 0 0
Manternach, J. c 2 1 1 0
Manternach, R. 3b 1 1 0 0
Mootz dh 2 0 0 0
Martensen 1b 1 0 1 2
Nealson rf 2 0 0 0
Arduser lf 2 0 0 0
Cooper, G. cf 2 0 0 0
Carlson p 0 0 0 0
Sauser 2b 0 0 0 0
Totals 17 2 2 2
Alburnett 600 15 – 12 10 0
Monticello 010 10 – 2 2 3
SB – J. Manternach.
Monticello IP H R ER BB SO
Mescher (L, 5-1) 3 4 6 2 4 3
Carlson 2 6 6 4 2 0
Totals 5 10 12 6 6 3
June 30
Monticello 9, Durant 4
MONTICELLO AB R H BI
Mescher ss 1 1 0 1
Sperfslage 3b 3 3 3 2
Manternach, J. c 2 0 0 0
Manternach, R. 3b 1 1 0 2
Mootz dh 4 0 2 2
Martensen 1b 4 0 0 0
Nealson rf 4 1 1 0
Arduser lf 2 2 1 0
Cooper, G. cf 3 1 2 0
Jacobs cr 0 0 0 0
Blattner p 0 0 0 0
Totals 24 9 9 7
Durant 002 020 0 – 4 11 1
Monticello 240 111 x – 9 9 1
3B – Sperfslage, Mootz.
SB – Mescher 2, Sperfslage 2, Arduser 2,
J. Manternach, R. Manternach, G. Cooper.
Monticello IP H R ER BB SO
Mntrnch, R.(W, 6-0) 6 2/3 11 4 2 2 8
Blattner 1/3 0 0 0 0 0
Totals 7 1 0 0 1 8
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