Manternach's perfect game, 4-1 week move Panthers into first place
A perfect game thrown by junior Ryan Manternach was the biggest event in a strong pitching week for the Monticello High School baseball team.
The Panthers (11-2, 15-5) recorded three shutouts while going 4-1 in five games, including two conference wins. Monticello allowed a total of five runs in those five games.
With Cascade suffering narrow losses against Iowa City Regina and at Wilton last week, the Panthers moved into first place in the River Valley Conference North Division by one-half game over the Cougars.
It set up a showdown at Cascade, which was scheduled for Monday, June 26, after this paper went to press.
Manternach pitched his perfect game Monday, June 19 against West Liberty, a 10-0 win for the Panthers in six innings. He retired all 18 batters he faced, striking out six of them. His teammates helped by scoring six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to close the game out due to the 10-run rule.
“Ryan is an extremely hard worker, and this was well-deserved,” Monticello coach Josh Soper said. “I was really happy for the guys.”
In the West Liberty game, Monticello took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Tyler Hospodarsky and Gavin Cooper hit RBI singles, and Andrew Mescher scored on an error.
An RBI double by Avery Martensen in the fifth inning made it 4-0 for Monticello.
Then, the Panthers struck six times in the sixth. Included were a two-run double by Jacob Manternach, and RBI double by Mescher, and two errors that resulted in three runs.
Cooper led the hitting attack, going 3-for-4. Getting two hits each were Jacob Manteranch, Martensen and Hospodarsky.
“We bunted better and manufactured some runs early in this game before breaking it open in the sixth,” Soper said.
The next night, Monticello played host to Benton Community in a non-conference doubleheader, and split the two games, winning 4-0 and losing 3-1.
After Ryan Manternach’s gem Monday night, Tuesday was Kegan Arduser’s turn for a strong pitching performance, a four-hitter with two strikeouts.
The Panthers scored in the second and third innings, and added two in the fifth. Monticello had nine hits; Cooper was 3-for-3 with a double, and Kyle Sperfslage went 3-for-4. Jacob Manternach drove in two runs.
“This was another well-played game,” the coach said. “Kegan pitched well and we had no errors on defense. We hit well and were able to have quality at bats throughout the lineup. Gavin had another solid all-around game.”
Benton Community came back to win the nightcap, scoring three runs in the top of the sixth inning to erase a Panther lead and go on to win 3-1. Back-to-back doubles by Ryan Manternach and Martensen in the fourth inning provided the only Monticello run. Sperfslage pitched six innings, allowing seven hits and striking out six, but took the loss. Hospodarsky pitched a scoreless seventh.
“We played another solid all-around game,” Soper said. “Kyle pitched well and gave us a chance to win. We simply couldn’t string anything together offensively against one of their best pitchers.”
Mescher batted 2-for-3 for Monticello.
Monticello moved back into conference play June 22, traveling to Durant to score a 4-2 comeback win. The Panthers trailed 2-1 through five innings, but scored in the top of the sixth on an RBI double by Jon Mootz to tie it.
Then, in the top of the seventh, Monticello scored twice. Hospodarsky reached base on a dropped third strike, Sperfslage singled, and Jacob Manternach grounded into a fielder’s choice.
Jacob Manternach moved to second and Hospodarsky scored on a delayed double steal, and Ryan Manternach followed with an RBI double.
Mescher, pitching in relief of Ryan Manternach, then retired the Wildcats in the bottom of the seventh to pick up a win.
“This was a very good high school baseball game,” Soper said. “We played well in all areas of the game and beat a very good team on the road. Ryan gave us a good quality start and a chance to win. Andrew pitched well in relief.
Ryan Manternach finished 2-for-3 with two doubles. Mescher and Sperfslage both went 2-for-4.
The Panthers then struck early and went on to score a 10-0 win at Springville June 23, in five innings. Monticello took 10 walks in the game, and scored all 10 runs over the first three innings. Jacob Manternach and Hospodarsky shared pitching duties.
June 19
Monticello 10, West Liberty 0
(six innings)
MONTICELLO AB R H BI
Cooper cf 4 0 3 1
Sperfslage 3b 3 1 1 0
Manternach, J. c 3 1 2 2
Manternach, R. p 3 1 1 0
Mescher ss 3 3 1 1
Martensen 1b 4 1 2 1
Arduser dh 3 2 0 0
Kremer rf 4 0 0 0
Hospodarsky 2b 2 1 2 1
Nealson lf 0 0 0 0
Recker cr 0 0 0 0
Totals 29 10 12 6
West Liberty 000 000 – 0 0 4
Monticello 000 316 – 10 12 0
2B – J. Manternach, Martensen.
SB – Hospodarsky.
Monticello IP H R ER BB SO
Mntrnch., R.(W, 2-1) 6 0 0 0 0 6
Totals 6 0 0 0 0 6
June 20
Monticello 4, Benton Comm. 0
(first game)
MONTICELLO AB R H BI
Cooper cf 3 2 3 0
Sperfslage 3b 4 0 3 0
Manternach, J. c 2 0 1 2
Manternach, R. dh 2 0 0 1
Mescher ss 3 1 1 0
Martensen 1b 3 0 0 0
Arduser p 2 0 1 1
Kremer rf 3 0 0 0
Hospodarsky 2b 2 1 0 0
Nealson lf 0 0 0 0
Recker cr 0 0 0 0
Totals 24 4 9 4
Benton Comm. 000 000 0 – 0 4 2
Monticello 011 020 x – 4 9 0
2B – Cooper.
Monticello IP H R ER BB SO
Arduser (W, 4-1) 7 4 0 0 3 2
Totals 7 4 0 0 3 2
Benton Comm. 3, Monticello 1
(second game)
MONTICELLO AB R H BI
Cooper cf 4 0 0 0
Sperfslage p 3 0 1 0
Manternach, J. c 3 0 0 0
Manternach, R. 3b 1 1 1 0
Mescher ss 3 0 2 0
Martensen 1b 3 0 1 1
Mootz dh 3 0 1 0
Kremer rf 3 0 1 0
Hospodarsky 2b 3 0 1 0
Nealson lf 0 0 0 0
Totals 26 1 8 1
Benton Comm. 000 003 0 – 3 8 1
Monticello 000 100 0 – 1 8 1
2B – R. Manternach, Martensen.
SB – Sperfslage.
Monticello IP H R ER BB SO
Sperfslage (L, 2-1) 6 7 3 2 2 6
Hospodarsky 1 1 0 0 0 1
Totals 7 8 3 2 2 7
June 22
Monticello 4, Durant 2
MONTICELLO AB R H BI
Cooper cf 3 0 0 0
Sperfslage 3b 4 0 2 0
Manternach, J. c 4 1 0 0
Manternach, R. p 3 1 2 1
Janssen pr 0 0 0 0
Mescher ss 4 1 2 1
Martensen 1b 3 0 0 0
Mootz dh 3 0 1 1
Kremer rf 3 0 1 0
Hospodarsky 2b 3 1 1 0
Nealson lf 0 0 0 0
Recker cr 0 0 0 0
Totals 30 4 9 3
Monticello 000 101 2 – 4 9 0
Durant 000 110 0 – 2 8 1
2B – R. Manternach 2, Sperfslage, Mootz,
Mescher.
SB – J. Manternach.
Monticello IP H R ER BB SO
Manternach, R. 5 7 2 2 0 6
Mescher (W, 5-2) 2 1 0 0 2 0
Totals 7 8 2 2 2 6
Monticello 10, Springville 0
(five innings)
MONTICELLO AB R H BI
Cooper cf 1 2 0 0
Sperfslage 2b 1 3 1 0
Manternach, J. p 1 3 0 0
Manternach, R. 3b 1 1 1 3
Wall ph 1 0 0 0
Mescher ss 1 1 1 2
Tjaden ph 1 0 1 0
Martensen 1b 2 0 0 1
Kiburz ph 1 0 0 0
Nealson lf 1 0 0 0
Mootz dh 3 0 1 2
Henderson c 3 0 0 0
Hospodarsky p 0 0 0 0
Kremer rf 3 0 0 0
Totals 20 10 5 6
Monticello 532 00 – 10 5 0
Springville 000 00 – 1 8 1
2B – Mootz.
SB – Cooper, Mootz.
Monticello IP H R ER BB SO
Mntrnch, J. (W, 1-0) 3 2 0 0 2 4
Hospodarsky 2 2 0 0 0 1
Totals 5 4 0 0 2 5