Cubs divide tourney games

     They were both tournament games, but that was about the only thing the Monticello Cubs’ two semi-pro baseball games of last week had in common.

     The first was a 3-1 loss to Balltown in the quarterfinals of the Dyersville Tournament July 31, in which the teams combined for nine hits.

     Then came the first round of the Holy Cross Tournament, and a 13-10 win for the Cubs over Worthington Aug. 4. In that game, the teams totaled 26 hits, including 16 for the Cubs.

     Monticello led for much of the Worthington game, but headed into the seventh inning trailing 8-6. The Cubs erupted for seven runs in the top of the seventh, then held off a Worthington rally to close out a win and advance to the quarterfinal round.

     “We could have very easily folded in this one once we got down,” Monticello player-manager Garett Hanken said. “We needed to get back on track with a win like this.”

     That seventh inning included RBI singles by Kegan Arduser and Zach Monk, a two-run double by Ryan Manternach, and was capped by a two-run homer from Jacob Thompson.

     Arduser finished 3-for-3 in the game. Getting two hits apiece were Zach Monk, Ryan Manternach, Kyle Huxford, Avery Martensen and Hanken.

     Kyle Sperfslage, pitching in relief of starter Thompson, picked up a win, and Ryan Manternach worked the bottom of the seventh inning to secure a save.

     “Jacob kept us in it on the mound, and Kyle and Ryan got us through,” Hanken said.

     Both teams’ bats were much more quiet in the Cubs’ loss to Balltown in Dyersville. Monticello had just five hits; Zach Monk went 3-for-4 to lead the way.

     Monticello scored in the fifth inning to tie the game 1-1 on an RBI single by Thompson, scoring Monk. But Balltown rallied for two runs in the top of the sixth, which proved to be decisive.

     The Cubs had five errors in the game, and left 11 runners on base. Pitcher A.J. Reuter took the loss despite allowing one earned run on four hits and striking out 11.

     “A.J. was dominant, but we extended too many innings with miscues defensively,” Hanken said. “We had plenty of chances to get some runs, but couldn’t get them across. I thought we had good focus and never gave up.”

     The Cubs (3-11, 8-16) were scheduled to play a quarterfinal game in the Holy Cross tournament Aug. 6, and will open the Peosta Tournament Saturday, Aug. 11 against Holy Cross at 2:30 p.m.

July 31

Dyersville Tournament

(quarterfinal)

Balltown 3, Monticello 1

MONTICELLO                            AB     R     H     BI

Monk, Z. lf                                     4      1      3      0

Felton, Ta. cf                                 3      0      0      0

Thompson ss                                2      0      0      1

Reuter, A. p                                   3      0      0      0

Huxford 1b                                    4      0      1      0

Hall c                                             3      0      0      0

Stutt, B. 3b                                    1      0      0      0

Felton, Ty. 2b                                3      0      0      0

Stutt, L. rf                                      2      0      1      0

Totals                                          25     1      5      1

Balltown                     000  102  0   –    3      4      2

Monticello                   000  010  0   –    1      5      5

LOB – Monticello 11, Balltown 6.

Monticello                     IP     H     R    ER   BB  SO

Reuter, A. (L, 3-4)           7      4      3      1      0    11

Totals                             7      4      3      1      0   11

Aug. 4

Holy Cross Tournament

(first round)

Monticello 13, Worthington 10

MONTICELLO                            AB     R     H     BI

Monk, Z. lf                                     4      1      2      2

Manternach, R. 3b                        5      1      2      2

Thompson, J. p                             5      1      1      2

Huxford rf                                      5      1      2      0

Sperfslage ss                                4      3      1      0

Martensen 1b                                3      2      2      0

Capesius lf                                    4      1      1      2

Arduser cf                                      3      2      3      2

Hanken c                                       2      1      2      1

Totals                                           35    13    16    11

Monticello                  001  410  7   –    13    16     3

Worthington               301  202  2   –    10    10      2

HR – Thompson.

2B – R. Manternach.

SB – Z. Monk.

Monticello                    IP      H     R    ER   BB   SO

Thompson                      4      6      6      3      1      3

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

Manternach, R.               1      1      2      1      1      1

Totals                             7     10    10      5      3      5