Panthers top Cascade twice, split twinbill with Bellevue


Sydney Hansen of Monticello (10) calls time after sliding into second base during the doubleheader against Bellevue June 29 in Monticello. (Photos by Pete Temple)

Jaelynn Kraus of Monticello (16) slides in with a double during the June 27 doubleheader at Cascade.

Monticello shortstop attempts a throw from her knees after making a diving stop at Cascade.
SOFTBALL
By: 
Pete Temple
Express Sports Editor

     It was a sweep of sweeps.

     One day after the Monticello High School baseball team went up to Cascade and swept a doubleheader, the Panther softball team did the same thing.

     Monticello scored a pair of high-powered victories, beating Cascade 11-6 and 9-3 on Tuesday, June 27.

     How much power? Fifteen hits, including nine doubles, in the first game. Three home runs among 13 hits in the second game.

     “Those were two of our bigger wins this year,” Monticello coach Bret McDonald said. “You don’t need much to get pumped up for those games.”

     With those wins, and a split of a home doubleheader against Bellevue two nights later, the Panthers closed in on the .500 mark, both in River Valley Conference play (8-9) and overall (11-13).

     After spotting Cascade a 1-0 lead in the first game, Monticello scored three times in the top of the third inning to take the lead, and led the rest of the way. The Panthers were up 6-5 through five innings, then scored four in the top of the sixth – a two-run double by Rylee Warthen was the key hit – to go up 10-5.

     Lauren Ries had an outstanding game at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Getting two hits each were Shay Stephen, Taylor McDonald, Jaelynn Kraus, Sydney Hansen and Aspen Gillmore. Kraus, Hansen and Gillmore had two doubles apiece.

     Pitcher Caitlyn Cruise held Cascade to seven hits and got the win.

     The second game was close until Monticello scored four runs in the top of the ninth to take a 9-3 lead, with a Warthen double knocking in two of those runs. Warthen, Cruise and Stephen had solo homers; the Stephen and Warthen blasts both happened in the third inning.

     Kraus pitched for the win, allowing two earned runs on 10 hits.

     “I thought we pitched both games pretty well,” McDonald said. “And we really saw the ball real well, and were a little more patient at the plate.”

     Thursday’s games against Bellevue were complete opposites. Bellevue won the first one 13-3, scoring in five of the seven innings, including four runs in the top of the first. The Panthers were held to six hits. Kraus was 2-for-4.

     The nightcap was Monticello’s turn to take control early. The Panthers scored seven times in the bottom of the first inning, led 8-1 through three innings, and went on to win 1-42 in five.

     Kraus fired a three-hitter with three strikeouts and no walks. Gillmore batted 2-for-3 with four RBIs, including a three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth that ended the game due to the 10-run rule. Warthen was 3-for-4. Jacqueline Petersen, Cruise and Hansen had two RBIs apiece.

     Monticello will open postseason play with a Class 3A, Region 5 quarterfinal game at Anamosa Wednesday, July 5 at 7 p.m. The winner will play either Mount Vernon or Vinton-Shellsburg in a semifinal game Friday, July 7, 7 p.m. at Mount Vernon. The final is July 10 at the site of the highest remaining seed.    

 

June 27

Monticello 11, Cascade 6

(first game)

MONTICELLO                            AB     R     H     BI

Stephen c                                      5      2      2      2

McDonald, Ta. ss                           5      2      2      1

Kraus dp                                        5      1      2      3

Warthen 3b                                    4      0      1      2

Cruise p                                         4      0      0      1

Petersen 2b                                   4      0      0      0

Hansen cf                                      4      1      2      0

Gillmore lf                                      4      2      2      0

Ries 1b                                          4      3      4      2

McDonald, To. rf                            0      0      0      0

Totals                                           39    11    15    11

Monticello                   003  304  1    –  11    15     0

Cascade                     100  400  1  –     6      7      3

LOB – Monticello 7, Cascade 7.

2B – Kraus 2, Hansen 2, Gillmore 2, Ries,

McDonald, Warthen.

SB – Ta. McDonald, Ries.

Monticello                  IP     H     R    ER   BB   SO

Cruise (W, 4-7)            7      7      6      6      4      2

Totals                          7      7      6      6      4      2

 

Monticello 9, Cascade 3

(second game)

MONTICELLO                            AB     R     H     BI

Stephen 3b                                    4      1      1      1

McDonald, Ta. ss                           4      1      1      1

Kraus p                                          4      2      2      0

Warthen rf                                      4      3      4      4

Cruise dp                                       4      1      2      3

Petersen 2b                                   4      0      1      0

Hansen cf                                      4      0      1      0

Gillmore lf                                      4      0      0      0

Ries 1b                                          3      1      1      0

McDonald, To. c                            0      0      0      0

Totals                                          35      9    13      9

Monticello                   003  002  4    –   9    13      2

Cascade                     101  010  0  –     3    10      1

LOB – Cascade 7, Monticello 5.

HR – Stephen, Warthen, Cruise.

2B – Warthen, Cruise.

SB – Ta. McDonald, Kraus.

Monticello                  IP   H      R    ER   BB   SO

Kraus (W, 5-5)             7   10      3      2      0      3

Totals                          7   10      3      2      0      3

 

June 29

Bellevue 13, Monticello 3

(first game)

MONTICELLO                            AB     R     H     BI

Stephen c                                      4      0      1      0

McDonald, Ta. ss                           4      2      1      0

Kraus dp                                        4      1      2      1

Warthen 3b                                    3      0      0      0

Cruise p                                         4      0      0      1

Petersen 2b                                   3      0      0      1

Hansen cf                                      3      0      0      0

Gillmore lf                                      2      0      1      0

Ries 1b                                          3      0      1      0

McDonald, To. Rf                          0      0      0      0

Totals                                          30     3      6      3

Bellevue                      401  104  3  –  13    14     2

Monticello                    200  000  1  –   3      6      4

LOB – Monticello 8, Bellevue 7.

2B – Kraus.

SB – Cruise, Hansen.

Monticello                  IP    H    R     ER   BB   SO

Cruise (L, 4-8)              7   14   13      8      2      3

Totals                           6   14   13      8      2      3

 

Monticello 14, Bellevue 2

(five innings)

MONTICELLO                            AB     R     H     BI

Stephen c                                      2      1      0      1

McDonald, Ta. ss                           3      1      1      0

Kraus p                                          3      2      2      0

Warthen 3b                                    4      3      3      1

Cruise dp                                       3      2      1      2

Petersen 2b                                   3      2      1      2

Hansen cf                                      3      1      2      2

Gillmore lf                                      3      2      2      4

James cr                                        0      0      0      0

Ries 1b                                          3      0      0      0

To. McDonald c                              0      0      0      0

Totals                                           27    14    12    12

Bellevue                     100  10          –    2      3      1

Monticello                   710  06          –  14    12      0

LOB – Monticello 7, Bellevue 2.

HR – Gillmore.

2B – Warthen, Hansen, Gillmore.

SB – Ta. McDonald 2, Gillmore.

Monticello                  IP     H     R    ER   BB   SO

Kraus (W, 6-5)             5      3      2      2      0      3

Totals                          5      3      2      2      0      3

 

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