Power display results in 1-3 week for Panthers


Monticello first baseman Lauren Ries (3) beats a Northeast runner to first base during the June 12 doubleheader in Monticello. (Photos by Pete Temple)

Panther third baseman Shay Stephen fires the ball home against Northeast.

Monticello’s Taylor McDonald (in white) steals second base as Maquoketa Valley shortstop Rejji Smith awaits the throw during the June 13 doubleheader in Monticello.
SOFTBALL
By: 
Pete Temple
Express Sports Editor

     Monticello demonstrated its power and some clutch hitting in a series of high-scoring softball games last week.

     The long ball provided plenty of highlights during the week. Jaelynn Kraus’ walkoff grand slam on June 13 gave the Panthers a 16-12 win over Maquoketa Valley and a split of that non-conference doubleheader.

     Rylee Warthen struck twice in one game, with a pair of home runs and six total RBIs in a losing effort against Northeast of Goose Lake June 12.

     The big picture wasn’t as rosy for the Panthers, however, as they lost three of four games. A fifth game, at home against Iowa City Regina June 15, was postponed due to inclement weather.

     The Panthers (5-6 River Valley Conference, 8-9 overall) lost a pair of tough games at home against Northeast June 12, by scores of 14-2 in five innings, and 16-13.

     In the first game, an 11-run second inning for the Rebels proved to be the difference. Monticello finished with six hits, from six different players. Sydney Hansen was 1-for-2 with two runs batted in. Kraus pitched and took the loss.

     “It seems like we can’t stay away from that one big inning,” Monticello coach Bret McDonald said. “In the first game they were all over us.”

     The second game had a wild finish, with a total of 15 runs being scored between the two teams in the seventh inning alone.

     Monticello took an early 5-0 lead, with Warthen’s two-run double capping a three-run rally in the second inning. A two-run homer by Warthen in the fourth gave the Panthers a 7-1 lead.

     “This year, Rylee is a much more disciplined hitter,” the coach said. “She’s doing a much better job of looking for that one pitch she can hit hard.”

     Northeast came back, however, with a run in the fifth and five in the sixth to tie the game 7-7.

     Then, in the top of the seventh, the Rebels scored nine times to take a 16-7 lead. Monticello battled back with six runs of its own, including another two-run blast from Warthen, but fell short by three runs.

     “In the second game I thought we played much better,” McDonald said. “But again, that big inning just kills us.”

     Taylor McDonald was 4-for-4 with three stolen bases in that game, and Warthen finished 3-for-5. Hansen went 3-for-4.

     On Tuesday, the Panthers played host to Maquoketa Valley in a non-conference doubleheader, and split a pair of close games. Both were shortened to five innings due to excessive heat.

     In the first game, the Wildcats took a 6-2 lead into the bottom of the fifth. Monticello rallied for three runs in the bottom of the fifth, including a two-run homer by Jacqueline Petersen, but came up one run short.

     “I thought it was the first game all year where we didn’t play well defensively,” coach McDonald said. “We shouldn’t have been in that situation.”

     The second game against MV was similar to the second game against Northeast the previous night, only this time the Panthers came out on top.

     Monticello led 7-6 after four innings, only to see the Wildcats score six runs in the top of the fifth to take a 12-7 lead.

     The Panthers battled back. Shay Stephen and Petersen hit RBI singles, Kraus and Caitlyn Cruise both stole home, and Aspen Gillmore took a bases-loaded walk as the Panthers tied the score 12-12.

     Then, with two out and the bases loaded, Kraus delivered a grand slam to win it.

     “Jaelynn does a good job of watching the pitching and knowing what she needs to swing at,” the coach said. “She’s become a good two-strike hitter.

     “She and Rylee have just matured in learning the strike zone, and finding the pitch they can handle.”

     Kraus finished 4-for-5 with six runs batted in. Warthen was 3-for-3 with two RBIs. Taylor McDonald, Stephen and Petersen had two hits apiece. Cruise had two stolen bases.

     Kraus was the winning pitcher, allowing six earned runs and striking out three.

 

June 12

Northeast 14, Monticello 2

(first game, five innings)

MONTICELLO                            AB    R     H     BI

Stephen 3b                                   3      0      0      0

Ta. McDonald ss                           3      1      1      0

Kraus p                                         3      0      1      0

Warthen rf                                     3      1      1      0

Cruise dp                                      3      0      1      0

Petersen 2b                                  2      0      0      0

Hansen cf                                     2      0      1      2

Gillmore lf                                     2      0      0      0

Ries 1b                                         2      0      1      0

To. McDonald c                            0      0      0      0

Totals                                         23     2      6      2

Northeast                   0(11)4  03   –   14    15     2

Monticello                   000  20       –    2      6      3

LOB – Monticello 6, Northeast 5.

SB – Cruise.

Monticello                  IP      H     R    ER   BB   SO

Kraus (L, 5-4)               5     15    14     4      3      4

Totals                           5    15     14      4      3      4

 

Northeast 16, Monticello 13

(second game)

MONTICELLO                            AB    R     H     BI

Stephen 3b                                   5      0      0      0

Ta. McDonald ss                           5      4      4      0

Kraus dp                                       5      2      1      1

Warthen rf                                     5      3      3      6

Cruise p                                        5      0      0      0

Petersen 2b                                  5      1      1      0

Hansen lf                                      4      1      3      1

Gillmore lf                                     4      0      0      0

Ries 1b                                         4      2      1      0

To. McDonald c                            0      0      0      0

Totals                                         42    13    13     8

Northeast                    001  015  9   –   16  13    6

Monticello                   230  200  6   –   13  13    4

LOB – Northeast 8, Monticello 8.

HR – Warthen 2.

2B – Warthen.

SB – Ta. McDonald 3, Kraus 2, Hansen.

Monticello                  IP   H     R     ER   BB   SO

Cruise (L, 2-3)             7   13    16      6      6      3

Totals                          7   13    16      6      6      3

 

June 13

Maq. Valley 6, Monticello 5

(first game, five-inning

game due to heat)

MONTICELLO                            AB     R     H     BI

Stephen c                                      3      0      1      1

Ta. McDonald cf                            3      2      1      0

Kraus dp                                        3      0      1      0

Warthen 3b                                    3      1      2      2

Cruise p                                         3      0      1      0

Petersen 2b                                   3      1      2      2

Hansen lf                                       3      0      0      0

Gillmore rf                                      2      1      2      0

Ries 1b                                          2      0      1      0

To. McDonald ss                            0      0      0      0

Totals                                           25     5     11      5

Maq. Valley               031  20            –   6     8     0

Monticello                 110  03             –   5   11     4

LOB – Maquoketa Valley 8, Monticello 4.

HR – Petersen.

SB – Ta. McDonald 2, Kraus.

Monticello                  IP      H     R    ER   BB   SO

Cruise (L, 2-4)              5      8      6      2      3      4

Totals                           5      8      6      2      3      4

 

Monticello 16, Maq. Valley 12

(second game, five-inning

game due to heat)

MONTICELLO                            AB    R     H     BI

Stephen 3b                                   5      3      2      1

Ta. McDonald ss                           4      4      2      1

Kraus p                                         5      3      4      6

Warthen dp                                   3      2      3      2

Cruise rf                                        1      1      1      0

Petersen 2b                                  4      1      2      1

Hansen cf                                     3      1      0      1

Gillmore rf                                     3      1      0      1

Ries 1b                                         3      0      1      0

To. McDonald c                            0      0      0      0

Totals                                          31   16    15    13

Two out when winning run scored.

Maq. Valley               213  06         –   12   11    3

Monticello                 313  0           –   16   15    2

LOB – Monticello 8, Maquoketa Valley 5.

HR – Kraus.

2B – Ta. McDonald, Kraus, Warthen.

SB – Cruise 2, Kraus, Warthen, Petersen,

Hansen.

Monticello                  IP     H    R     ER   BB   SO

Kraus (W, 6-4)             5      8    12      6      4      3

Totals                          5      8   12      6      4      3

 

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