Sports

Regionals: Panthers down Oelwein, fall to Anamosa

Published by admin on Wed, 07/14/2021 - 9:28am

     In the Class 3A regional softball quarterfinals, the Monticello Panthers enjoyed a strong pitching performance.

     In the semifinals, they faced one.

     Those results – a 5-1 win over Oelwein and a 10-0 loss to Anamosa – concluded the Panthers’ 2021 season.

     At Oelwein July 6, Monticello opened its postseason with a 5-1 win over Oelwein, as Mallory Steiner pitched a three-hit shutout. Steiner recorded 12 straight outs to start the game, before the Huskies got their first hit, in the fifth inning.

Non-conference foes top MHS

Published by admin on Wed, 07/14/2021 - 9:16am

     Two Monticello Panther non-conference baseball games last week had some high points – sticking with second-ranked North Linn (Class 1A) and a grand slam by Caleb Sauser against Clayton Ridge that nearly sparked a remarkable comeback.

     In the end, though, it resulted in a pair of losses for Monticello (13-5, 15-13). Included were a 4-1 loss at North Linn July 6, and a 7-6 defeat at the hands of Clayton Ridge July 8 at Monticello’s Dailey Field.

MV's Whittenbaugh nominated by Gazette

Published by admin on Wed, 07/14/2021 - 9:09am

Recker earns Gazette AOY nomination

Published by admin on Wed, 07/14/2021 - 9:07am

Panther 10-and-under team earns state championship

Published by admin on Wed, 07/14/2021 - 9:06am

     This season, the Monticello 10-and-under baseball team was moved up to Class AAA from AA after winning a USSSA state championship a year ago.

     It didn’t faze the Panthers, who earned a second consecutive state title in this year’s AAA state tournament, held July 9-11 in Cedar Rapids. 

     “It just seems these guys step up in the big moment,” said Wes Wilson, who co-coaches the team with Drew Hackney and Mike Hines. “Everybody played a part in this tournament. They just kept battling each game.”

Wildcats score early, hold off EB in sub-state

Published by admin on Wed, 07/14/2021 - 9:04am

Baseball

     Tony Offerman pitched a three-hitter, and the Maquoketa Valley Wildcats led early and survived a late threat to win a Class 1A first-round sub-state baseball game 4-1 over East Buchanan July 9 in Delhi.

     Offerman struck out 11 and walked none as the Wildcats (20-7) moved on to the quarterfinal round.

     “Tony was outstanding,” Maquoketa Valley coach Mike Cook said. “He’s been spinning his curveball for a strike a little better, and I knew that was going to make a difference.”

Eagles are ousted by Easton Valley

Published by admin on Wed, 07/14/2021 - 9:02am

Baseball

     The 2021 baseball season came to an end for the Midland Eagles in a first round sub-state game July 10. Easton Valley scored a 3-0 victory over the Eagles in a game played at Maquoketa Valley in Delhi.

     “This was a well-played game for us,” Midland coach Josh Soper said. “We just failed to get a timely hit, which has been a common theme for us over the last two weeks. It was a good effort by the kids though, against a solid team.”

Cubs, Wright trip Cascade

Published by admin on Wed, 07/14/2021 - 9:01am

     Kyle Wright hurled a five-hitter over seven innings, and was backed by an offense that collected a season-high 15 hits, as the Monticello Cubs scored a 6-1 semi-pro baseball victory July 8 at Cascade.

     “It was good to go to Cascade and get a big win,” Monticello player-manager Tanner Felton said.

     Wright allowed one earned run and struck out five, and the Cubs (7-9) turned three double plays as part of a key victory over a longtime Eastern Iowa Hawkeye League nemesis.

COLUMN: Was Ty Cobb misunderstood?

Published by admin on Wed, 07/14/2021 - 8:57am

     Tyrus Raymond Cobb, nickname, The Georgia Peach. Owner at one time of over 90 MLB records, Cobb spent 22 seasons with the Detroit Tigers, debuting in 1905. His first at bat was a double.

     Cobb was elected into the inaugural Baseball Hall of fame in 1936, receiving the most votes, 222 out of a possible 226, a record that stood until Tom Seaver surpassed that percentage in 1992.

COLUMN: Learning to live with bats

Published by admin on Wed, 07/14/2021 - 8:55am

     Have you ever had a close encounter with a bat? Many close encounters with bats occur when bats accidentally find their way into your living or working space, whether accidentally flying through an open door or window at night or by venturing down from an older building’s attic area. Fly-bys by feeding bats is a common occurrence near rivers or lakes where bats are actively feeding at dusk. Maybe you discovered bats in a cave you were exploring, or you might have come across a young bat who had wandered away from its maternal colony.

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