Panthers fall behind, then rally to topple Mid-Prairie

     When Mid-Prairie struck, Monticello had an answer.

     The Panther softball team rallied from a 3-1 deficit to score three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, then held on to defeat Mid-Prairie 4-3 in a River Valley Conference game May 31 in Monticello.

     It was the second of two games for the Panthers last week; they also lost 9-6 at Wilton May 29.

     In the Mid-Prairie game, Monticello (2-2, 2-3) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when Sydney Hansen singled and then scored on a double by Lauren Ries.

     The 1-0 score held up until the top of the sixth, when the Golden Hawks scored three times.

     The Panthers then took advantage of some Mid-Prairie mistakes in the bottom half. With one out, Hansen walked, Ries reached base on an error, and Aspen Gillmore loaded the bases with another walk.

     Tori McDonald then walked to force in a run and make it 2-1. Megan James singled to score Ries and tie the game, and DeLainy Fellinger singled home Gillmore for what turned out to be the winning run.

     Panther pitcher Caitlyn Cruise then struck out the side in the top of the seventh, after a leadoff walk, to secure the victory.

     Hansen finished 2-for-2 at the plate.

     In the Wilton game, Monticello took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, with Taylor McDonald, Cruise and Hansen driving in those runs.

     The Panthers scored three more times in the top of the fourth, with Mallory Steiner, Fellinger and Jaelynn Kraus knocking in runs. The Beavers came back with five runs in the bottom of the fourth, however, to take a 7-6 lead, and added two more in the fifth.

     Hansen and Gillmore had two hits apiece for Monticello.

May 29

Wilton 9, Monticello 6

MONTICELLO                            AB     R     H     BI

Kraus ss                                        4      1      1      1

McDonald, Ta. cf                           4      1      1      1

Cruise p                                        3      0      0      1

Hansen, S. 1b                               4      1      2      1

Gillmore 2b                                    4      1      2      0

McDonald, To. C                            3      0      1      0

Steiner 3b                                      3      1      1      1

Hansen, P. cr                                 0      0      0      0

Cox lf                                             3      0      1      0

Fellinger rf                                     3      1      1      1

Totals                                           31     6     10     6

Monticello                   300  300  0    –    6   10      3

Wilton                         011  520  x     –    9   12      0

LOB – Wilton 10, Monticello 5.

2B – Kraus 2.

SB – Ta. McDonald.

Monticello                     IP    H      R    ER  BB   SO

Cruise (L, 1-2)                 5   10      9      5      2      3

Kraus                               2    2      0      0      1      1

Totals                              7   12      9      5      3      4

May 31

Monticello 4, Mid-Prairie 3

MONTICELLO                            AB    R      H     BI

Kraus ss                                        3      0      1      0

McDonald, Ta. cf                           4      0      0      0

Cruise p                                         3      0      0      0

Hansen, S. lf                                  2      2      2      0

Ries 1b                                          2      1      1      1

Gillmore 2b                                    2      1      0      0

McDonald, To. c                             2      0      0      1

James 3b                                       2      0      1      1

Fellinger rf                                      3      0      1      1

Cox cr                                             0      0      0      0

Totals                                            23     4      6      4

Mid-Prairie                  000  003  0    –    3      8      0

Monticello                   000  103  x    –     4      6      1

LOB – Mid-Prairie 9, Monticello 7.

2B – Ries.

SB – S. Hansen.

Monticello                       IP     H     R    ER   BB SO

Cruise (W, 2-2)                 7      8      3      1      5   13

Totals                               7      8      3      1      5   13