Panthers outscore foes 38-12 in four-win week
Gage Jacobs of Monticello (4) beats a throw to third base during the Panthers’ home win over Camanche June 4. (Photos by Pete Temple)
Monticello leftfielder Kegan Arduser moves in to make a diving catch of a short pop fly against Camanche.
It was the kind of week that lets a team know that it’s got some good things going on.
The Monticello High School baseball team took care of four opponents last week, including three in the River Valley Conference, outscoring them by a total of 38-12.
The four victories left the Panthers 6-1 in the RVC, 7-3 overall.
“Andrew (Mescher), Ryan (Manternach) and Kyle (Sperfslage) continue to pitch well for us,” Monticello coach Josh Soper said. “We started to hit well up and down the lineup. Avery (Martensen) and Alex (Nealson) had several big hits, and Jon Mootz is off to a hot start this season.”
To start the week, Andrew Mescher fired a four-hitter with five strikeouts as the Panthers defeated Camanche 5-1 June 4 at Dailey Field. Monticello scored all five of its runs in the bottom of the second inning; a two-run triple by Gavin Cooper was a key hit. Mescher batted 2-for-3 with a double. Jacob Manternach and Alex Nealson also doubled for the Panthers.
On June 5, Monticello traveled to West Branch for another River Valley game, and dominated the late innings in a 17-5, five-inning win. The teams were tied 2-2 through three innings, but Monticello scored 15 over the next three to take control. Kyle Sperfslage hit a two-run homer. Avery Martensen drove in six runs, and was one of five Panthers to collect three hits; Jacob Manternach, Jon Mootz, Mescher and Sperfslage were the others. Mescher and Jacob Manternach had two doubles apiece, and Jacob Manternach stole two bases.
Sperfslage also pitched for the win, allowing three earned runs over five innings.
“Things all kind of came together, and we really had a big night offensively,” Soper said.
The winning continued in a June 7 home game against Tipton, an 8-1 victory. Monticello scored three runs in both the second and third innings to gain a 6-1 lead, and was in charge the rest of the way.
Ryan Manternach pitched a four-hitter for his third win of the season, allowing one earned run and striking out seven.
The Panthers collected 13 hits, led by Martensen, who was 4-for-4 with three RBIs and three stolen bases. Getting two hits apiece were Jacob Manternach (including a triple), Mescher, Mootz and Nealson.
Finally, Monticello played host to Easton Valley June 8. In the closest game of the week, the Panthers won 8-5. Easton Valley scored four runs in the top of the sixth inning to pull to within 6-5, but Monticello picked up a pair of insurance runs in the bottom half.
Ryan Manteranch and Mootz each had two of Monticello’s eight hits. Ryan Manternach had a double and two RBIs.
Tyler Blattner, pitching in relief of starter Kegan Arduser, worked 2 1/3 innings and recorded the win.
“We remain focused on improvement as a team,” Soper said. “We need some other guys to step up on the mound now that we are into the meat of our schedule, and defensively we need to continue to improve.
“Hopefully we can make some more progress this week.”
June 4
Monticello 5, Camanche 1
MONTICELLO AB R H BI
Mescher p 3 0 2 1
Sperfslage ss 3 0 1 0
Manternach, J. c 3 0 1 0
Manternach, R. 3b 3 0 0 0
Mootz dh 3 1 1 0
Martensen 1b 3 1 1 0
Nealson rf 3 1 1 1
Sauser 2b 3 1 0 0
Cooper cf 3 1 1 2
Arduser lf 0 0 0 0
Totals 27 5 8 4
Camanche 000 010 0 – 1 4 1
Monticello 050 000 x – 5 8 1
3B – Cooper.
2B – Mescher, J. Manternach, Nealson.
SB – Mescher, Sauser.
Monticello IP H R ER BB SO
Mescher (W, 2-0) 7 4 1 1 1 5
Totals 7 4 1 1 1 5
June 5
Monticello 17, West Branch 5
MONTICELLO AB R H BI
Mescher ss 3 4 3 2
Sperfslage p 4 3 3 2
Manternach, J. c 4 3 3 3
Manternach, R. 3b 3 1 0 0
Mootz dh 4 1 3 4
Nealson rf 3 2 1 0
Martensen 1b 4 1 3 6
Arduser lf 3 0 0 0
Blattner ph 1 1 1 0
Cooper cf 2 1 0 0
Sauser 2b 0 0 0 0
Totals 31 17 17 17
Monticello 204 47 – 17 17 1
West Branch 200 03 – 5 7 2
HR – Sperfslage.
2B – Mescher 2, J. Manternach 2, Mootz,
Martensen.
SB – J. Manternach 2, Nealson.
Monticello IP H R ER BB SO
Sperfslage (W, 1-1) 5 7 5 3 0 4
Totals 5 7 5 3 0 4
June 7
Monticello 8, Tipton 1
MONTICELLO AB R H BI
Mescher ss 4 0 2 0
Sperfslage 3b 4 0 1 1
Manternach, J. c 4 1 2 0
Manternach, R. 3b 4 0 0 0
Mootz dh 4 2 2 1
Nealson rf 4 2 2 0
Martensen 1b 4 2 4 3
Sauser 2b 1 0 0 0
Henderson c 1 0 0 0
Blattner p 0 0 0 0
Cooper cf 1 1 0 0
Arduser lf 0 0 0 0
Luensman cr 0 0 0 0
Totals 31 8 13 5
Tipton 100 000 0 – 1 5 2
Monticello 033 200 x – 8 13 2
3B – J. Manternach.
2B – Nealson.
SB – Martensen 3, Mescher, Mootz,
J. Manternach, Nealson, Sauser, Cooper.
Monticello IP H R ER BB SO
Mantrnch, R. (W, 3-0) 6 4 1 1 2 7
Blattner 1 1 0 0 0 0
Totals 7 5 1 1 2 7
June 8
Monticello 8, Easton Valley 5
MONTICELLO AB R H BI
Mescher ss 3 0 0 1
Sperfslage 2b 2 1 1 1
Manternach, J. lf 3 2 1 0
Manternach, R. 3b 4 1 2 2
Mootz dh 4 2 2 1
Henderson c 0 0 0 0
Sauser 2b 0 0 0 0
Blattner p 0 0 0 0
Nealson rf 2 1 1 1
Martensen 1b 3 1 0 1
Arduser p 4 0 0 1
Cooper cf 2 0 1 0
Totals 27 8 8 8
Easton Valley 100 004 0 – 5 7 2
Monticello 002 222 x – 8 5 0
2B – R. Manternach.
SB – Sperfslage, J. Manternach, Arduser,
R. Manternach, Cooper.
Monticello IP H R ER BB SO
Arduser 3 3 1 1 4 2
Blattner (W, 1-0) 2 1/3 3 4 0 1 1
Mescher 1 2/3 1 0 0 0 3
Totals 7 7 5 1 5 6
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