Cubs are second in Worthington

By Pete Temple

Express Sports Editor

     The Worthington Semi-Pro Baseball Tournament likely did as much for the confidence of the Monticello Cubs as it did for the team’s 2021 record.

     Once 1-7, the Cubs have won five of their last six games to improve to 6-8. In the process, Monticello advanced to the championship game in Worthington before losing 6-2 to Dyersville Sunday evening.

     “It was an all-around great effort by everyone on the team, and I can’t wait to get something going again in tournaments to come,” Monticello player/manager Tanner Felton said.

     Last week’s portion of Monticello’s surge had four games, three of which were part of the tournament. The Cubs won a June 22 quarterfinal game 3-1 over Worthington, traveled to win an Eastern Iowa Hawkeye League game 11-6 over the Dubuque Budweisers June 23, returned to Worthington to win a tournament semifinal game 4-1 over Epworth, and then lost to Dyersville in the title game.

     The quarterfinal win over Worthington was an unusual one, as the Cubs had just two hits, but took advantage of a couple of key errors by the Cardinals to win by two. Kyle Wright pitched a complete game five-hitter, with eight strikeouts and just one walk. A.J. Reuter had an RBI double.

     The league win over Dubuque required a rally. The Cubs trailed 6-4 heading into the seventh inning, but scored seven runs in the top of the seventh to steal away the win. Cade Armstrong batted 2-for-3 with two runs batted in. Jacob Manternach had a double and two RBIs. Andrew Mesher hit a triple. Cam Armstrong, pitching in relief of Cade Armstrong, worked three scoreless innings to get the win.

     Back in Worthington Friday, Cubs pitcher A.J. Reuter worked seven innings to pick up his third win of the season. He allowed one run on seven hits and struck out eight while walking just one. He also went 2-for-3 with a double. Romel Martinez helped the Cubs with a 2-for-4 effort. Tanner Felton and A.J. Reuter hit doubles.

     In Sunday’s championship game, which was a scheduled nine-inning contest, Monticello pitchers Adam Lloyd and Wright worked out of several jams to keep the Cubs in it. Dyersville left 15 runners on base, leaving the bases loaded three times.

     But the Cubs were able to collect just four hits, scoring single runs in the second and third innings, the latter on a solo home run to right-centerfield by Tanner Felton. Monticello trailed 4-2 through five innings, but gave up two runs in the sixth and were unable to close the gap.

     Lloyd pitched the first five innings and took the loss, and Wright pitched the last four. Jay Ahlrichs had an RBI single.

     A.J. Reuter wound up being voted the tournament’s outstanding pitcher.

     “A.J. threw one of the best tournaments he has had in a while,” Tanner Felton said. “Kyle Wright also threw a very good complete game against Worthington. We had guys stepping up at the plate as well, especially at the bottom of the lineup.

     “I’m really happy with the way that we played over the last five games.”

June 22

Worthington Tournament

(quarterfinals)

Monticello 3, Worthington 1

MONTICELLO                            AB    R     H     BI

Mescher cf                                    3      0      0      0

Miller ss                                        2      1      0      0

Reuter, A. 1b                                3      1      1      1

Felton, Ta. rf                                 3      1      0      0

Reuter, M. c                                  2      0      0      0

Holmes lf                                       2      0      0      0

Wright p                                        3      0      0      0

Felton, Ty. 2b                                2      0      1      1

Manternach dh                             3      0      0      0

Ahlrichs 3b                                   0      0      0      0

Totals                                         23      3      2     2

Monticello                   000  201  0   –  3      2      2

Worthington                001  000  0   –  1     5      2

2B – A. Reuter.

SB – Miller.

Monticello                     IP     H     R    ER   BB   SO

Wright (W, 1-1)               7      5      1      1      1      8

Totals                             7      5      1      1      1      8

June 23

Monticello 11, Dbq. Buds 6

MONTICELLO                            AB    R      H    BI

Mescher 2b                                   4      2      1      1

Armstrong, Cm. ss                        5      0      0      0

Holmes lf                                       4      2      1      0

Felton, Ta. 1b                                2      2      1      0

Manternach rf                                3      2      1      2

Felton, Ty. C                                  3      1      1      1

Kraus dh                                        3      1      1      1

Ahlrichs 3b                                     4      0      0      0

Armstrong, Cd. P                           3      1      2      2

Totals                                           31    11      8      7

Monticello                       002  020  7  –  11    8      0

Dbq. Budweisers            312  000  0   –  6   14     4

3B – Mescher.

2B – Manternach.

SB – Miller.

Monticello                       IP    H    R    ER   BB   SO

Armstrong, Cd.                 4    11     6      6      0      3

Armstrng,Cm.(W,1-0)       3     3      0      0      0      0

Totals                               7    14     6      6      0      3

June 25

Worthington Tournament

(semifinals)

Monticello 4, Epworth 1

MONTICELLO                            AB    R      H    BI

Mescher cf                                    3      1      1      0

Holmes lf                                       3      0      1      0

Reuter, A. p                                   3      1      2      1

Felton, Ta. 1b                                4      1      1      0

Reuter, M. c                                   4      0      1      2

Felton, Ty. 2b                                 3      0      0      0

Martinez ss                                    4      0      2      1

Manternach rf                                3      0      0      0

Kraus dh                                        2      1      1      0

Totals                                           29     4      9      4

Monticello                     020  200  0   –  4      9      1

Epworth                        001  000  0   –  1      7      0

2B – A. Reuter, Ta. Felton.

Monticello                    IP     H     R    ER   BB   SO

Reuter, A. (W, 3-0)        7      7      1      1      1      8

Totals                            7      5      1      1      1      8

June 27

Worthington Tournament

(championship)

Dyersville 6, Monticello 2

MONTICELLO                            AB    R     H     BI

Mescher cf                                    3      0      0      0

Miller ss                                         4      0      0      0

Reuter, A. 1b                                 3      0      1      0

Felton, Ta. rf                                  3      1      1      1

Reuter, M. c                                   4      0      0      0

Holmes lf                                        4      0      0      0

Felton, Ty. 2b                                 2      1      0      0

Kraus dh                                        4      0      1      0

Lloyd p                                           0      0      0      0

Wright p                                         0      0      0      0

Ahlrichs 3b                                     4      0      1      1

Totals                                           31      2      4      2

Dyersville              111  102  000   –       6      9      0

Monticello             011  000  000   –       2      4      3

HR – Ta. Felton.

Monticello                        IP     H     R    ER   BB   SO

Lloyd (L, 0-1)                     5      5      4      3      3      5

Wright                                4      4      2      2      6      4

Totals                                9      9      6      5      9      9