Panthers use non-conference games to get ready
Jacob Manternach (16) is greeted at home plate by celebrating teammates after his home run at Anamosa July 2. (Photo by Pete Temple)
Alex Nealson makes a catch in right field for Monticello against North Linn.
Monticello tuned up for postseason play with a trio of non-conference baseball games last week, winning two of them.
For the Panthers, the postseason was scheduled to begin with a Class 2A, District 8 semifinal game against Camanche Tuesday, July 10 in Dyersville; after this newspaper went to press. The winner will play either Dyersville Beckman or Northeast of Goose Lake in the district final Saturday, July 21, 7 p.m., also in Dyersville.
“Our next goals are in the postseason, and we are looking forward to competing on Tuesday,” Monticello coach Josh Soper noted.
Last week’s three games included two that had satisfying results for the Panthers, and one that included a celebration of the team’s seven seniors.
Monticello opened with a come-from-behind 11-6, eight-inning win at Anamosa July 2. After taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a two-run double by Jon Mootz, the Panthers fell behind 4-2, and trailed for the next five innings. Anamosa held leads of 5-2, 6-3, and 6-4, until the top of the seventh.
In that inning, Jacob Manternach and Avery Martensen singled, and Alex Nealson doubled to score them both and tie the game 6-6.
The Blue Raiders didn’t score in the bottom half, so the game went to the eighth.
Monticello exploded for five runs in that inning, which included a two-run single by Ryan Manternach, an RBI single for Nealson, and a bases-loaded walk to Gavin Cooper. Another run scored on an error.
Tyler Blattner, pitching in relief of starter Kegan Arduser, worked 5 1/3 innings to get the win, allowing just one hit and striking out eight.
“We were extremely proud of the kids (for) competing until the end,” Soper said. “Blattner pitched extremely well in his longest outing of the season.”
On July 3, the Panthers racked up 16 hits in a 14-0, five-inning win at Clayton Ridge.
“It was probably our best all-around game in quite some time,” Soper said. “Andrew (Mescher) pitched extremely well, and our defense was solid.”
Mescher fired a two-hitter with seven strikeouts and one walk. Getting two hits apiece were Jacob Manteranch, Mescher, Martensen and Nealson. Ryan Manternach had a triple and two RBIs, and Nealson had two doubles and two RBIs. Also driving in two runs apiece were Jacob Manternach, Martensen and Arduser.
Monticello honored its seven seniors – Jacob Manternach, Ryan Manternach, Kyle Sperfslage, Wesley Henderson, Arduser, Mescher and Nealson – for Senior Night July 5 before the home game against North Linn.
“We’re proud of all that this group has accomplished on and off the field,” Soper said. “A 45-12 record with two conference titles is impressive.”
Also impressive was North Linn, which toppled the Panthers 10-1. The Lynx took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, and led 4-1 through five, but opened the game up with three runs in the sixth inning and three more in the seventh.
Monticello had five hits; Mootz went 2-for-2. Ryan Manternach hit a triple. Kyle Sperfslage was the starting pitcher, and took the loss.
The Panthers, 23-5 overall, were 17-1 in the River Valley Conference, winning the North Division title.
July 2
Monticello 11, Anamosa 6
(eight innings)
MONTICELLO AB R H BI
Mescher ss 5 2 2 0
Sperfslage 2b 5 1 1 0
Manternach, J. lf 4 3 2 1
Manternach, R. 3b 5 1 1 2
Mootz dh 3 1 1 2
Martensen 1b 4 3 2 1
Nealson rf 5 0 2 3
Arduser lf 1 0 0 0
Blattner p 3 0 2 1
Cooper, G. cf 2 0 0 1
Henderson c 0 0 0 0
Jacobs cr 0 0 0 0
Sauser lf 0 0 0 0
Totals 37 11 13 11
Monticello 200 110 25 – 11 13 2
Anamosa 401 100 00 – 6 4 1
HR – J. Manternach.
2B – Mescher, Sperfslage, R. Manternach,
Mootz, Nealson.
SB – Mescher, J. Manternach, Martensen,
R. Manternach, Jacobs.
Monticello IP H R ER BB SO
Arduser 2 2/3 3 4 4 4 2
Blattner (W, 2-0) 5 1/3 1 2 1 2 8
Totals 8 4 6 5 6 10
July 3
Monticello 14, Clay. Rg./Ctrl. 0
(five innings)
MONTICELLO AB R H BI
Mescher p 2 2 2 0
Henderson ph 0 1 0 0
Sperfslage ss 3 1 1 0
Luensman ph 0 1 0 0
Manternach, J. c 2 2 2 2
Cooper, R. ph 1 0 0 0
Manternach, R. 3b 2 1 1 2
Kramer, H. ph 1 0 1 0
Mootz dh 2 1 0 0
Kraus ph 1 1 1 1
Martensen 1b 2 2 2 2
Blattner ph 1 0 0 0
Nealson rf 3 1 2 2
Carlson ph 1 0 1 1
Arduser lf 3 0 1 2
Jacobs ph 1 0 1 0
Cooper, G. cf 3 1 1 0
Kramer, B. ph 1 0 0 0
Sauser 2b 0 0 0 0
Totals 29 14 16 12
Monticello 410 63 – 14 16 1
Clayton Rg./Ctrl. 000 00 – 0 2 2
3B – R. Manternach.
2B – Nealson 2.
SB – Sperfslage 2, J. Manternach 2, Mootz.
Monticello IP H R ER BB SO
Mescher (W, 6-1) 5 2 0 0 1 7
Totals 5 2 0 0 1 7
July 5
North Linn 10, Monticello 1
MONTICELLO AB R H BI
Mescher ss 4 0 0 0
Sperfslage p 3 0 0 0
Manternach, J. lf 3 0 0 0
Manternach, R. 3b 3 1 1 0
Mootz dh 2 0 2 1
Martensen 1b 3 0 0 0
Nealson rf 3 0 1 0
Arduser lf 2 0 1 0
Henderson ph 1 0 0 0
Blattner p 3 0 2 1
Cooper, G. cf 3 0 0 0
Sauser 2b 0 0 0 0
Totals 27 1 5 1
North Linn 300 103 3 – 10 12 0
Monticello 000 100 0 – 1 5 2
3B – R. Manternach.
SB – Nealson.
Monticello IP H R ER BB SO
Sperfslage (L, 6-2) 4 9 4 4 3 1
Arduser 2 3 6 3 3 3
Manternach, R. 1 0 0 0 0 1
Totals 7 12 10 7 6 5
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