COLUMN: Random thoughts

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By: 
Pete Temple
Express Sports Editor

Panther power

     It’s not too late, if you haven’t already, to check out the power display that’s being put on by the Monticello High School softball team this season.

     While the Panthers’ record might not be what they were hoping for – 8-12 as I’m writing this Friday – it has certainly been a fun team to watch.

     Actually, I was a little surprised to learn, in my research, that last year’s 20-18 team scored at a higher rate than this year’s version (through 20 games), 7.07 runs per game to 6.73.

     But this year’s Panther team leads last year’s in slugging percentage (.454 to .444), hits per game (10.37 to 9.16), doubles per game (1.84 to 1.53), and triples per game (0.26 to 0.21). And that was a team that included Sonya McCormick, who provided 11 of the team’s doubles and nine of its 18 home runs all by herself.

     The 2017 Panthers have scored nine runs or more in eight of their 19 games, including six in double digits.

 

Keep it under your cap

     Meanwhile, the 15-5 Panther baseball team might provide one of those fun opportunities to say “Shhhh….”

     As in, don’t tell anyone, but this team could sneak up and surprise people.

     The signs were continuing to point that way last week. Ryan Manternach fired a perfect game, the third year in a row a Panther pitcher has retired every batter he faced in a single game. Kegan Arduser followed with a four-hitter against Benton Community.

     As you read this, you probably know a lot more about this team than I did as I wrote it Friday, because the Panthers had a key doubleheader at Cascade on Monday, June 26.

     Regardless, it’s a team that’s good at sneaking out runs here and there (baseball people like to say “manufacturing runs”), and with several capable pitchers giving opponents different looks, it may be one of those under-the-radar opportunities programs like Monticello’s dream about.

     I’m excited to find out.

    

Jimmy Buckets of the

Minnesota Timberwolves

     Ordinarily, my favorite team in any sport making such a big score with a trade would  have me ecstatic.

     Certainly, it appears the Minnesota Timberwolves acquiring Jimmy Butler – aka “Jimmy Buckets” – from the Chicago Bulls gives the rising Wolves the veteran star they need to take the next step; maybe several steps.

     It is tempered a bit, however, because it cost my second favorite team – the Bulls – their franchise player. More significantly, it broke the heart of a resident of our home who is the biggest Bulls fan I know, and now doesn’t know what to do with his red Butler jersey.

 

Still got it

     I’ve still got it…sort of. At Central City Saturday I ran a 5K in 30:50. This was 5+ minutes slower than my sons ran in the same race, but I got a medal for taking third in the 55-and-over age group. There might have only been three or four of us in that division, but I’ll take it.

     Most of all, I was thrilled to be that close to the half-hour mark when I would have been happy with anything under 34:00.

 

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