BASEBALL

By Pete Temple, Express Sports Editor

Three of Monticello’s five baseball victories last week had common threads.

The Panthers (5-3, 12-6) rallied from behind in each case, turning what might have been a so-so week into a five-day stretch in which the team went 5-1.

“The kids had a solid week of baseball,” Monticello coach Josh Soper said. “We have had the philosophy that if we put the work in, the winning will take care of itself, and that is proving to be true.”

The first big rally came in a non-conference game Tuesday, June 12 at Midland. Monticello trailed 5-0 through three innings, but came back to win 7-6.

Down 3-1 after four innings, Monticello scored three runs in the top of the fifth. Each team scored once in the sixth, leaving Midland ahead 6-5 going into the seventh.

A pair of two-out singles, by Sam Boyd and Isaac Wolf, brought in the tying and winning runs, and relief pitcher Chance Manternach retired the Eagles in the order in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the win for starter Mason Newhard.

“Our kids didn’t quit, and had a tremendous come-from-behind win,” Soper said. “The team took a big step.”

Tanner Felton went 3-for-4 at the plate, while Tyler Felton, Tim Norton, Wolf and Boyd each had two hits.

The Panthers made two big comebacks in the first game of a home doubleheader with East Buchanan June 15. Monticello trailed 4-1 and 7-4, rallying back both times. A four-run rally in the bottom of the fifth put the Panthers ahead 8-7, and a nine-run sixth inning broke the game open, giving Monticello a 17-7 win.

“We have been playing more consistent baseball, and have greatly improved over the last few weeks,” Soper said. “If this game was played earlier in the season, we might not have come back like we did.”

Boyd went 3-for-4 at the plate. Wolf was 2-for-4 with two doubles and five runs batted in.

Monticello won the second game 8-4 with another rally. Trailing 4-3 in the fifth, they tied it and then scored four in the sixth to take charge. Michael Reuter and Manternach each had two of the team’s seven hits. Manternach also pitched two innings in relief of Norton to get the win.

The Panthers led throughout a non-conference home game with Calamus-Wheatland June 15, winning 5-2. Norton’s two-run single in the first inning put Monticello ahead to stay. Tyler Felton pitched three innings to get the win, and Wolf worked the last four to get a save. Norton was 2-for-3 with three RBIs in the game.

Earlier, Monticello split a doubleheader at Edgewood-Colesburg June 11, losing 3-1 and winning 4-0. The Panthers had four hits in the first game, including two by Reuter.

In the nightcap, Matt Holmes pitched a four-hitter for the win, striking out six. Monticello pulled away with two runs in the top of the seventh, on a sacrifice fly by Reuter and an RBI single by Tanner Felton. Boyd went 2-for-3.

“It was nice to see the team come back in game two after the setback in game one,” Soper said. “Holmes has done a great job, giving us quality starts. Our defense was errorless on the night.”

Several key players, the coach said, contributed to the successful week.

“Isaac Wolf is having a big senior year with the bat, glove and on the mound,” Soper said. “We couldn’t be happier with his performance. Tim Norton continues to provide clutch hits and drive in runs, and Michael Reuter continues to find his way on base. He has been a big key to our success so far.”

June 11

Ed-Co 3, Monticello 1

(first game)

MONTICELLO AB R H BI

Wolf ss 3 0 0 0

Felton, Ty. p 3 0 0 0

Reuter c 3 1 2 0

Paddock cr 0 0 0 0

Felton, Ta. rf 3 0 1 0

Manternach 3b 3 0 0 0

Norton dh 2 0 1 0

Monk 2b 2 0 0 0

Holmes cf 2 0 0 0

Boyd rf 2 0 0 0

Totals 23 1 4 0

Monticello 100 000 0 – 1 3 0

Ed-Co 000 030 x – 3 3 2

2B - Reuter, Ta. Felton.

Monticello IP H R ER BB SO

Felton, Ty. (L, 1-2) 6 3 3 3 4 6

Totals 6 3 3 3 4 6

Monticello 4, Ed-Co 0

(second game)

MONTICELLO AB R H BI

Wolf ss 2 1 1 0

Felton, Ty. 2b 3 0 0 0

Reuter c 2 1 0 1

Paddock cr 0 0 0 0

Felton, Ta. rf 4 0 1 1

Manternach 3b 2 0 0 0

Norton dh 4 0 1 0

Holmes p 0 0 0 0

Monk 2b 2 1 1 0

Newhard 1b 2 0 0 1

Boyd rf 3 1 2 1

Totals 24 4 6 4

Monticello 010 001 2 – 4 6 0

Ed-Co 000 000 0 – 0 4 1

3B – Boyd.

SB - Monk 2, Ty. Felton.

Monticello IP H R ER BB SO

Holmes (W, 3-1) 7 4 0 0 1 6

Totals 7 4 0 0 1 6

June 12

Monticello 7, Midland 6

MONTICELLO AB R H BI

Wolf ss 5 1 2 1

Felton, Ty. 2b 5 1 2 0

Reuter c 4 1 1 0

Paddock cr 0 0 0 0

Felton, Ta. rf 4 2 3 1

Manternach 3b 3 0 0 0

Norton 1b 3 1 2 2

Monk 2b 3 1 1 0

Holmes cf 2 0 0 0

Pike ph 1 0 0 0

Boyd lf 4 0 2 1

Totals 34 7 13 5

Monticello 000 131 2 – 7 13 2

Midland 203 001 0 – 6 12 3

2B - Boyd, Ta. Felton.

SB – Ty. Felton 2, Wolf, Ta. Felton, Monk,

Boyd.

Monticello IP H R ER BB SO

Newhard (W, 2-0) 6 12 6 4 2 9

Manternach (S, 1) 1 0 0 0 0 0

Totals 7 12 6 4 2 9

June 14

Monticello 17, E. Buchanan 7

(first game, six innings)

MONTICELLO AB R H BI

Wolf ss-p 4 3 2 5

Felton, Ty. 2b-ss 1 2 0 0

Reuter p-c 3 1 2 1

Paddock cr 0 0 0 0

Felton, Ta. c-rf 3 1 1 0

Manternach 3b 3 3 2 1

Norton dh 4 1 2 1

Holmes ph 1 0 1 2

Monk rf-2b 4 2 2 2

Newhard 1b 1 1 0 0

Boyd lf 4 3 3 2

Totals 28 17 15 14

East Buchanan 103 030 – 7 10 1

Monticello 102 14 9 – 17 15 2

HR – Wolf.

2B - Manternach, Holmes, Monk.

SB – Wolf 2, Manternach 2, Holmes, Boyd.

Monticello IP H R ER BB SO

Reuter (W, 2-1) 5 10 7 4 1 7

Wolf 1 0 0 0 1 0

Totals 6 10 7 4 2 7

Monticello 8, E. Buchanan 4

(second game)

MONTICELLO AB R H BI

Wolf ss 4 1 1 0

Felton, Ty. 2b 4 1 1 0

Reuter c 2 4 2 0

Paddock cr 0 0 0 0

Felton, Ta. dh 2 1 1 2

Manternach 3b-p 4 0 2 2

Norton p-rf 3 0 0 2

Monk rf-3b 3 0 0 0

Holmes cf 3 0 0 0

Boyd lf 1 1 0 0

Totals 26 8 7 5

East Buchanan 010 030 0 – 4 7 1

Monticello 201 014 x – 8 7 0

HR – Ta. Felton.

2B – Manternach, Ty. Felton.

SB – Paddock 3, Wolf 2, Manternach, Boyd.

Monticello IP H R ER BB SO

Norton 5 7 4 4 3 5

Manternach (W, 1-0) 2 0 0 0 0 3

Totals 7 7 4 4 3 8

June 15

Monticello 5, Cal-Wheat 2

MONTICELLO AB R H BI

Wolf ss-p 4 0 0 0

Felton, Ty. p-ss 2 1 0 0

Reuter c 3 2 1 0

Paddock cr 0 0 0 0

Felton, Ta. rf 2 2 2 0

Manternach 3b 3 0 2 1

Norton dh 3 0 2 3

Holmes cf 0 0 0 0

Monk 2b 3 0 0 0

Newhard 1b 3 0 1 0

Boyd lf 3 0 0 0

Totals 26 5 6 3

Cal-Wheat 010 000 1 – 2 4 4

Monticello 201 020 x – 5 8 4

2B - Norton.

Monticello IP H R ER BB SO

Felton, Ty. (W, 2-3) 3 2 1 1 3 3

Wolf (S, 1) 4 2 1 0 1 0

Totals 7 4 2 1 4 3

PHOTO: Chance Manternach of Monticello (14) is congratulated by teammate Mason Newhard after crossing the plate June 14 against East Buchanan. (Photo by Pete Temple)