Panthers take down No. 2 Regina; streak extends to nine games

     There was no question about the most significant of the Monticello baseball team’s five wins last week – wins that extended the Panthers’ winning streak to nine.

     That would be the June 14, 5-3 win at second-ranked Iowa City Regina. It was an opportunity for the Panthers not only to show what they could do against a highly-ranked team, but also how they would react when they lost a lead.

     “It was a great environment to compete in, Monticello coach Josh Soper said. “As a coach, I feel like a lot of growth occurred for our team. It was a back-and-forth game, and we were fortunate to get timely hits with runners in scoring position. Our kids once again showed their toughness to compete for all 21 outs.”

     The wins – three of them were in River Valley Conference play – gave Monticello a 9-1 RVC record, just one game behind top-ranked, unbeaten Cascade in the North Division standings. Cascade will visit Monticello for a key doubleheader June 25. The Panthers are 12-3 overall.

     Against Regina, Monticello jumped out to a 2-0 lead when Jacob Manternach hit a two-run homer in the top of the first inning.

     “We have a lot of outstanding ballplayers on our team, but Jacob Manternach is something special,” Soper said. “There is never a moment too big for that kid.”

     The Panthers needed some more moments, however, when Regina rallied to take a 3-2 lead through five innings.

     In the top of the sixth, Avery Martensen hit an RBI double to tie it 3-3. The Panthers then went ahead in the seventh, on an RBI double by Kyle Sperfslage and an RBI single by Jacob Manternach.

     Ryan Manternach pitched a three-hitter to get the win for Monticello, upping his season record to 4-0. Both Jacob Manternach and Martensen had two hits.

     Monticello’s other four wins last week were lopsided. The Panthers traveled to Northeast of Goose Lake June 11 for a doubleheader, and won 9-0 and 12-0, the latter in six innings.

     Andrew Mescher pitched five innings to get the win in the first game, with Tyler Blattner working the final two. The game was close – 2-0 – until the Panther erupted for four runs in the sixth inning and three more in the seventh. Ryan Manternach went 3-for-4 at the plate. Gavin Cooper went 2-for-2 with a double and three RBIs, while Mescher was 2-for-4 and knocked in two runs. Martensen had four RBIs.

     Sperfslage pitched a two-hit shutout with eight strikeouts in the second game. A nine-run first inning settled the issue quickly. Jon Mootz and Sperflage both went 2-for-4 at the plate.

     “We had hits up and down the lineup,” Soper said.

     The Panthers then traveled to Wyoming to face Midland in a non-conference game June 12. Monticello held a 3-1 lead through five innings, but some key hits combined with Midland errors led to a six-run sixth, breaking the game open.

     “We scored eight of our nine runs with two outs,” Soper said. “Kegan (Arduser) pitched well in relief to get his first win of the season, and we again played good defense as a team.”

     Monticello had 15 hits, as three Panthers went 3-for-4: Jacob Manternach, Ryan Manternach (plus three RBIs) and Mootz. Starter Jacob Manternach worked three innings, and Arduser pitched the last four.

     Following the big win at Regina, the Panthers then traveled to play Calamus-Wheatland, another non-conference foe, June 15. Sperflage pitched six innings to get the win as the Panther prevailed 9-1, scoring three runs in three different innings. Blattner pitched the seventh.

     Jacob Manternach went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, while Sperfslage and Mootz each had two RBIs.

     “Our energy level was down, which is to be expected after (the Regina game),” Soper said. “But we competed well. Kyle was in complete control on the mound, and we gave up zero freebies.

     “I’m extremely proud of how we competed (last) week.”

Top-10 ranking

     Last week’s wins helped boost Monticello into a No. 10 ranking in Class 2A, in Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association rankings that were released June 18.

 

June 11

Monticello 9, Northeast 0

(first game)

MONTICELLO                            AB     R     H    BI

Mescher p                                     4      0      2      2

Luensman cr                                 0      0      0      0

Sperfslage ss                                5      0      0      0

Manternach, J. c                           3      1      0      0

Manternach, R. 3b                         4      3      3      0

Mootz dh                                       3      1      0      0

Nealson rf                                      2      2      1      0

Martensen 1b                                2      1      1      4

Sauser 2b                                      3      1      1      0

Blattner p                                       1      0      0      0

Cooper, G. cf                                 2      0      2      3

Arduser lf                                       0      0      0      0

Totals                                           29     9     10     9

Monticello                   001  104  3    –   9     10     0

Northeast                    000  000  0    –   0      5      1

2B – Mescher, Cooper.

SB – R. Manternach 2, J. Manternach,

Mootz, Nealson.

Monticello                      IP     H     R    ER   BB   SO

Mescher (W, 3-0)             5      3      0      0      5      5

Blattner                            2      2      0      0      1      4

Totals                              7      6      0      0      6      9

 

Monticello 12, Northeast 0

(second game, six innings)

MONTICELLO                            AB     R     H     BI

Mescher ss                                    3      2      1      0

Sperfslage p                                  4      2      2      2

Manternach, J. c                            3      1      1      1

Manternach, R. 3b                         3      2      1      0

Mootz dh                                        4      2      2      2

Nealson rf                                      4      1      1      2

Martensen 1b                                 3      1      1      1

Arduser lf                                        4      1      1      2

Cooper, G. cf                                  2      0      0      0

Sauser 2b                                       0      0      0      0

Totals                                            30    12    10    10

Monticello                   900  003       –    12    10      0

Northeast                     000  000      –      0      2      2

2B – Sperfslage, J. Manternach, Arduser.

SB – Mescher, Sperfslage, R. Manternach,

Nealson, Martensen, Cooper.

Monticello                      IP      H     R    ER   BB  SO

Sperfslage (W, 2-1)          6      2      0      0      1      8

Totals                               6      2      0      0      1      8

 

June 12

Monticello 9, Midland 1

MONTICELLO                            AB     R     H     BI

Mescher ss                                    4      1      1      1

Sperfslage 2b                                4      1      1      1

Manternach, J. c                            4      3      3      1

Manternach, R. 3b                         4      1      3      3

Mootz dh                                        4      1      3      1

Henderson c                                   0      0      0      0

Nealson rf                                       4      0      0      0

Martensen 1b                                  4      0      1      0

Arduser lf                                        4      1      2      0

Sauser cr                                        0      0      0      0

Cooper, G. cf                                  4      1      1      0

Totals                                            36     9     15     7

Monticello                   100  116  0     –    9    15      0

Midland                       100  000  0     –    1      6      5

2B – J. Manternach, Mootz.

SB – J. Manternach 2, R. Manternach,

Arduser.

Monticello                       IP     H     R    ER   BB   SO

Manternach, J.                  3      3      1      1      4      2

Arduser (W, 1-1)                4      3      0      0      0      3

Totals                                7      6      1      1      4      5

 

June 14

Monticello 5, I.C. Regina 3

MONTICELLO                            AB     R     H     BI

Mescher ss                                    2      2      1      0

Sperfslage 2b                                3      1      1      1

Manternach, J. lf                            3      1      2      3

Manternach, R. 3b                         3      1      0      0

Sauser cr                                       0      0      0      0

Nealson rf                                      0      0      0      0

Mootz dh                                        3      0      0      0

Martensen 1b                                 4      0      2      1

Blattner 3b                                      2      0      0      0

Jacobs pr                                        0      0      0      0

Arduser p                                        4      0      0      0

Cooper, G. cf                                  3      0      0      0

Totals                                            27     5      6      5

Monticello                   200  001  2  –      5      6      1

Iowa City Regina        000  210  0  –      3      3      0

HR – J. Manternach.

2B – Sperfslage, Martensen.

SB – Sperfslage, J. Manternach.

Monticello                      IP     H     R    ER   BB   SO

Mantrnch, R.(W, 4-0)       7      3      3      2      5      3

Totals                              7      3      3      2      5      3

 

June 15

Monticello 9, Cal-Wheat 1

MONTICELLO                            AB    R     H     BI

Mescher ss                                   4      2      1      0

Sperfslage p                                 2      1      1      2

Luensman cr                                 0      0      0      0

Manternach, J. lf                           4      2      2      1

Cooper, R. cr                                 0      0      0      0

Manternach, R. 3b                        2      1      1      1

Mootz dh                                       3      0      1      2

Sauser 2b                                      0      0      0      0

Blattner p                                       0      0      0      0

Martensen 1b                                4      0      0      0

Nealson rf                                      3      1      1      1

Arduser lf                                       2      0      0      0

Henderson ph                                0      1      0      0

Cooper, G. cf                                 3      1      1      0

Totals                                           27     9      8      7

Monticello                   003  003  3     –  9      8      0

Cal-Wheat                  000  001  0     –  1      7      2

HR – J. Manternach.

2B – Nealson.

SB – Nealson 2, Mescher, J. Manternach,

Mootz, Martensen, G. Cooper.

Monticello                     IP      H     R    ER   BB  SO

Sperfslage (W, 3-1)         6      5      1      1      0      4

Blattner                           1      2      0      0      0      1

Totals                             7      7      1      1      0      5