Panthers have strong end to regular season, but no wins

     In the final two games of the high school baseball regular season last week, the Monticello Panthers displayed some strong characteristics. Unfortunately for them, victories were elusive.

     “Our pitching and defense have been spectacular,” Monticello coach Kolby Harms said. “It’s just that we can’t get anything going at the plate.”

     The final scores and statistics bore that out; Monticello lost 4-1 at Mid-Prairie in Wellman July 6 after getting just one base hit, and then were shut out by Cascade July 8 by a score of 5-0, collecting two hits.

     Mid-Prairie has one of the stronger River Valley Conference teams in this shortened season, compiling a 12-3 record. Monticello did score a run to open the game in the top of the first inning, but were held scoreless the rest of the way. The Golden Hawks tied it in the bottom half, scored two in the third and one in the fifth.

     “They are pretty solid all-around,” Harms said.

     Monticello’s only hit was a single by Connor Lambert. Grahm Schneiter was the Panther starting pitcher, working 4 ⅓ innings and striking out four. Jeff Carlson pitched the final 1 ⅓.

     The Cascade game was similar; strong pitching efforts, but an inability to score runs, as four Cougar pitchers were able to keep Monticello off the scoreboard. Cascade scored a pair of runs in the third inning and three in the fourth, but only had three hits.

     “We had a couple of walks, and Cascade really took advantage of it,” Harms said.

     Monticello used three pitchers; starter Blaine Brighton went 3 ⅓ innings and wound up taking the loss. Preston Ries and Dylan Roher combined for 3 ⅔ innings of shutout relief. Offensively, Tyler Luensman and Tate Petersen had the Panther hits.

     District play was scheduled to begin for Monticello Tuesday, July 14, with a rematch against Cascade in the Class 2A, District 7 semifinals, only this time in Dyersville.

     “If we can get some stuff going offensively, I think it’s going to be a good game,” Harms said.

     The winner plays in the district final Saturday, July 18, 7 p.m., likely against Dyersville Beckman.

July 6

Mid-Prairie 4, Monticello 1

     AB R H BI

Sauser ss 3 1 0 0

Petersen 2b 2 0 0 0

Ries rf 2 0 0 0

Recker 3b 3 0 0 0

Carlson 1b 2 0 0 0

Cleeton dh 2 0 0 0

Gillmore c 0 0 0 0

Schneiter p 2 0 0 0

Roher rf 1 0 0 0

Jesenovec cr 0 0 0 0

Luensman cf 3 0 0 0

Lambert lf 3 0 1 0

TOTALS 23 1 1 0

Monti 100 000 0  -- 1   1   1                                 

Mid-Prairie 102 010 x  -- 4    6 0

LOB -- Monticello 6, Mid-Prairie 6.

SB -- Jesenovec.

Pitcher IP  H   R   ER  BB   SO

Schntr. (L,0-2)  4.1  6    4     4     1      4

Carlson            1.2  0    0     0     0      0

TOTALS            6    6    4     4     1     4   

July 8

Cascade 5, Monticello 0

     AB R H BI

Sauser ss 3 0 0 0

Recker of 2 0 0 0

Ries 3b 3 0 0 0

Carlson 1b 3 0 0 0

Schneiter dh 3 0 0 0

Brighton p 0 0 0 0

Roher p 0 0 0 0

Lambert rf 2 0 0 0

Gillmore c 2 0 0 0

Cleeton ph 1 0 0 0

Luensman cf 2 0 1 1

Petersen 2b 2 0 1 1

TOTALS 23 0 2 0

Cascade 002 300 0  -- 5    3   1                          

Monticello 000 000 0  --0    2 0

LOB -- Cascade 8, Monticello 6.

SB -- Ries.

Pitcher                                 IP  H   R   ER  BB   SO

Brghtn. (L,1-1) 3.1  1    5     5     4      1

Ries 2   1    0     0     0      0

Roher  1.2  1    0     0     2      1

TOTALS  7    3    5     5     6      2