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Sports Report |
| Third is the word; Panthers finish TRC
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| by Pete Temple Express Sports Editor Regional -- With two games left in the Tri-Rivers Conference schedule, the Monticello High School softball team still had an opportunity to finish in a three-way tie for the conference title. To do so, the Panthers would need to sweep a home doubleheader against Edgewood-Colesburg. And while Ashley Monk pitched a five-inning no-hitter in Monticello’s 10-0 romp in the second game of that twinbill, it wasn’t quite enough. Ed-Co pulled out the first game, scoring two runs in the top of the 10th inning and winning 2-0. So the Panthers (14-4, 22-15) wrapped up their TRC slate one game behind co-champions Alburnett and Springville, each of whom was 15-3. “It was good to go into your final conference games and have a shot,” Monticello coach Stacie Breitbach said. “It was disappointing (not to tie for first) but it’s part of the game. “The did come back and take it to them (in the second game), so that was good.” Monticello had opportunities to win that first game. They had runners on second and third in the first inning, and bases loaded in the third, each with two out, and didn’t get the needed clutch hit. Ed-Co also left bases loaded in the fourth, and had a runner on third with two out in the sixth, but couldn’t score. In the top of the 10th, the Vikings broke through. A hit batsman and three straight singles produced two runs. Sara Kromminga led off the bottom of the 10th with a single, and went to second on a grounder to first base, but wound up being stranded at third. Ed-Co’s Nikki Lueken fired a four-hitter over 10 innings. An 11-hit attack, and Monk’s no-hitter, provided some consolation for the Panthers in the second game. Monticello scored four times in the first inning, keyed by Cassie Cruise’s two-run double. In the sixth, the Panthers crossed the plate six times, as Megan McLaughlin had a two-run double and the Panthers took advantage of three Viking errors. Monk nearly had a perfect game; the only blemish was a walk in the second inning. She struck out two. Sweeping the Cougars Earlier in the week, the Panthers swept a doubleheader against rival Cascade, winning 8-3 and 7-6 Monday, June 23 at the Cougars’ field. Amber Ralston went 2-for-3 with two RBIs in the first game, while Kendi Nagel pitched for the win. Kinzie Ludwig and Cruise also drove in two runs apiece. A seven-run third inning was the deciding factor for Monticello. In the second game, the Panthers trailed 6-5 heading into the top of the seventh inning, but scored two runs to pull out the win. Christina Husmann had a one-out single, Morgan Aitchison reached base on an error, and Jennie Aitchison singled to score Husmann. Ralston later hit a double to knock in Jennie Aitchison with the eventual winning run. “She showed great leadership. She’s had some key hits for us this season,” Breitbach said of Ralston. Nagel, who worked the last four innings in relief of Monk, got the win. Morgan Aitchison, Jennie Aitchison, Husmann and Ralston had two hits apiece. Jennie Aitchison and Ralson had two RBIs apiece. Linn-Mar/Alburnett tourney The previous weekend, the Panthers played in the Linn-Mar/Alburnett tournament, and wound up splitting four games. Monticello opened with a 3-1 loss to Cedar Rapids Xavier. The Panthers had three hits, including a double by Morgan Aitchison. The Panthers then edged Ballard of Huxley 6-5, collecting 11 hits. Husmann was 3-for-4, while Jennie Aitchison and Amber Ralston had two hits each. Jennie Aitchison and Tawni Tuetken each had a double. On Saturday, June 21, the Panthers beat Northeast of Goose Lake 5-1, as Monk pitched a four-hitter. Jennie Aitchison was 2-for-2 and stole three bases; Husmann had four stolen bases. Then, Turkey Valley pitcher Meagan Novotny tossed a no-hitter at the Panthers in a 1-0 loss. Nagel threw a one-hitter with six strikeouts, but took the loss. PINCH HITS • The Panthers shouldn’t feel too dismayed over their two losses at the Linn-Mar/Alburnett tournament June 20-21. Cedar Rapids Xavier was ranked ninth in Class 3A when it tipped the Panthers 3-1. And the 1-0 loss to Turkey Valley, ranked fifth in 2A, was Meagan Novotny’s 25th career no-hitter. • Morgan Aitchison and Amber Ralston each had at least one hit in all four of the Panthers’ conference games last week. Aitchison went 5-for-14, while Ralston was 7-for-12. • Ashley Monk’s no-hitter against Ed-Co was the second of her career. |
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