Sports

Panthers close week with three straight wins

Published by admin on Wed, 06/07/2023 - 3:36pm

   Monticello closed a five-game week of high school softball with three straight wins, boosting its early-season record to 5-2, including 3-1 in the River Valley Conference North Division.

   Other than one game against Anamosa, the Panthers have won or been competitive in every game.

   “If you do that night in and night out, you’re doing the right things,” Monticello coach Bret McDonald said.

Panthers pick up victories over three opponents

Published by admin on Wed, 06/07/2023 - 3:27pm

   Monticello collected three wins in four games during an eight-day stretch, inching over the .500 mark for the season at 4-3.

   It would have been five games, but the second game of a June 1 home doubleheader against Anamosa was suspended in the fourth inning, due to inclement weather, with the Panthers leading 5-2.

Panthers celebrate strong season, state meet competitors

Published by admin on Wed, 06/07/2023 - 3:20pm

   A girls track and field season that saw the Monticello Panthers qualify eight entries in six events to the state meet was celebrated during the team’s annual awards event May 29 in the Monticello High School Auditorium.

   One of those entries, the 4x800 relay, finished second in the state to earn All-State honors. That team included Leah Koehler, Ava Capron, Halle Recker and Marisa Kehoe.

COLUMN: Some near-misses for Monticello four-sport athletes

Published by admin on Wed, 06/07/2023 - 3:17pm

   My annual feature for Panther seniors that accomplished participating in four sports in all four years of their high school careers has presented me with a challenge.

   Officially, this group of seniors technically would be unable to make this happen due to Covid taking away the spring sports season in 2020. But I’ve decided to go ahead and include their Covid spring season just to see how this all works out.

JV opens with wins in three of four

Published by admin on Wed, 06/07/2023 - 3:15pm

   Monticello led off its junior varsity softball season by winning three of its first four games.

   Hailey Henderson’s walkoff single drove in Lilly Stoll with the winning run, as the Monticello junior varsity softball team opened its season with an 8-7 home victory over Bellevue May 24.

   The Panthers (3-1) trailed 7-4 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, but scored four times to win it. Stoll hit a two-run single, and Claire McElmeel had an RBI single to tie it before Henderson’s game-winning hit.

JV, freshman baseball

Published by admin on Wed, 06/07/2023 - 3:15pm

'Cats collect five straight wins

Published by admin on Wed, 06/07/2023 - 3:13pm

Softball

   A five-game winning streak boosted the Maquoketa Valley softball team in a recent six-day period.

   The streak began with a doubleheader sweep at Springville May 25, by scores of 4-1 and 9-1. In the first game, Taryn Burbridge hit a three-run home run in the top of the sixth inning to give the Wildcats a 3-1 lead. Macy Thompson pitched for the win, allowing seven hits and striking out six. Lily Huber batted 3-for-4, and Addie Vorwald was 2-for-4 with a double.

Eagles get two wins

Published by admin on Wed, 06/07/2023 - 3:12pm

Baseball

   Six games in a nine-day period resulted in two baseball wins for the Midland Eagles (4-0, 5-7).

   Midland played a May 25 home doubleheader against Alburnett, and lost both games, by scores of 8-6 in nine innings and 14-4. In the first game, Zain Sauer batted 3-for-5 with two doubles and two stolen bases for the Eagles. Kael Cress went 2-for-3, and stole three bases. Warren Etten pitched 4 1/3 innings in relief of Anthony Harrington, and took the loss.

PREVIEW: Veteran Monti is strong on 'D'

Published by admin on Wed, 05/31/2023 - 9:05am

   An experienced, defensively-strong Monticello Panther team hits the field for this summer’s high school baseball season.

   It’s a team that has had success in recent years – in 2022 the team went 11-5 in conference play and 15-7 overall – but is looking for more.

   “We want to compete for the (River Valley) Conference title and get over the hump and get to State,” fifth-year coach Kolby Harms said. “We have made several deep postseason runs the last couple of years and have fallen just short.

PREVIEW: Experienced lineup means high hopes for Panthers

Published by admin on Wed, 05/31/2023 - 9:03am

   Perhaps the most noticeable thing in the on-paper analysis of this year’s Monticello High School softball team is the number of returning players.

   Seven starters are back, including three All-River Valley Conference players, which would appear to give the Panthers an excellent chance of improving over last year’s 9-19 record, which included an RVC mark of 5-9.

   “We only have two new players, so experience is a positive,” ninth-year head coach Bret McDonald said.

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