ARGYLE - With Pecatonica's Lucas McKeon dealing and struggling with their own defensive miscues, the Argyle baseball battled back to a 9-3 win Monday, May 6.
After jumping out 2-0 in the first inning, the Orioles watched as Pecatonica scored two in the third and one in the fourth to take the lead. Meanwhile, Argyle struggled with what amounted to five errors in the game. They also had to deal with McKeon.
"He was on," Argyle coach Chuck Bredeson said of Pecatonica's starter. "He throws well. He had a few walks, but he throws hard and mixes in his curveball and can throw it for a strike. You get a couple of those walks and they add up, and you couple of those errors and they add up."
The sum of walks and errors against McKeon, coupled with Argyle notching three of their five hits in the fourth inning, was McKeon exiting after four innings after Argyle scored five in the fourth to retake the lead for good.
Bredeson was glad to get the win, especially after committing five errors in the game.
"We had 'em, and they didn't kill us," Bredeson said of the errors. "Our pitchers battled out of some stuff too. Alec (Treuthardt) ... got key strikeouts at key times."
Treuthardt got the win for Argyle, pitching four innings. He allowed just two earned runs while striking out four and walking six. Sophomore Colton Ploessel relieved Treuthardt in the fifth inning and finished the game without allowing a run while striking out two and walking one.
Off the mound, Treuthardt led the Orioles with a 2-for-3 day at the plate, including two RBI. Ploessel and freshman Derek Flannery each notched an RBI double.
Pecatonica was led by Jake Scoville and Geoff Daley, who each had RBI singles. McKeon chipped in with a double.
Argyle will host Barneveld Tuesday, May 7, while the Vikings will host Monticello.
Barneveld 3, Black Hawk 2
SOUTH WAYNE - Merik Meythaler turned in a stellar start for Black Hawk but the Warriors lost a nail-biter to fourth-ranked Barneveld 3-2.
"We were a bad hop and a clutch hit away from upsetting the No. 4 team in the state in Division 4," Black Hawk coach Jeff Solberg said. "That is nothing to hang our heads about."
Black Hawk got a leadoff single from Meythaler in the first inning. Black Hawk senior Kyle Walters moved him into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Senior Mike Powers then delivered a two-out RBI single to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead on the defending conference champion Eagles.
Barneveld's Cole Breuer came through with a clutch RBI single to score Dustin Hodgson to tie the game at 1. Barneveld's Carson Carmody then delivered a two-out RBI triple to right center to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead.
In the sixth, Powers reached on a fielder's choice and Logan Stietz singled. Black Hawk sophomore Tayler Rupnow had an RBI single to cut the Eagles' lead to 3-2.
Meythaler pitched a complete game and gave up just three runs on five hits. He struck out eight and walked one. Barneveld's Tyler Hellenbrand got the win for the Eagles on the mound. He went five innings and gave up one earned run on two hits. He struck out eight and walked four. Meythaler has struck out 21 and walked just three in his last two starts.
"Merik is starting to find his groove," Solberg said. "He has shown he can dominate when he hits his spots and keeps the ball down."
Albany 6, Monticello 0
MONTICELLO - The offensive struggles continued for Monticello on Monday, May 7, but Monticello coach Scott White was still able to draw positives from the loss.
First off, White got a full seven innings from starter Lucas Marty, who allowed just two earned runs while striking out four and walking two.
"Lucas has been pretty solid in his last couple outings," White said. "We had quite a few errors tonight ... and that hurt us."
The Comets scored six runs on just three hits and two walks. Clinton Sullivan and Mitchell Kauk each notched a hit and an RBI for Albany.
Albany's Ethan Pfeuti got credit for the win, pitching seven innings of two-hit baseball while striking out four and walking two. Pfeuti also benefited a strong defense behind him.
"Albany played great defense," White said. "We were putting the ball in play hard. There weren't a lot of easy plays."
Those hard-hit balls, coupled with his team's resiliency after going down 2-0 after the first inning, leads White to believe that things could soon turn around for the Ponies.
"Getting down early ... it doesn't seem to affect the guys," White said. "They're battling, and sometimes it takes a break to get the ball rolling. Things are coming around. We're getting more and more confident. It's encouraging."
Dez Hanenburger and Jake Pusel notched the hits for the Ponies.
Monticello will travel to take on Six Rivers East foe Pecatonica at 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 7, while Albany will play host to Black Hawk.
With Marty going a full seven innings Monday, White said he'll be mixing things up on the mound against the Vikings.
"I've got a couple guys I can throw in there tomorrow," he said. "I know Pec's been pretty solid this year. Hopefully we can throw something a little different at them."
After jumping out 2-0 in the first inning, the Orioles watched as Pecatonica scored two in the third and one in the fourth to take the lead. Meanwhile, Argyle struggled with what amounted to five errors in the game. They also had to deal with McKeon.
"He was on," Argyle coach Chuck Bredeson said of Pecatonica's starter. "He throws well. He had a few walks, but he throws hard and mixes in his curveball and can throw it for a strike. You get a couple of those walks and they add up, and you couple of those errors and they add up."
The sum of walks and errors against McKeon, coupled with Argyle notching three of their five hits in the fourth inning, was McKeon exiting after four innings after Argyle scored five in the fourth to retake the lead for good.
Bredeson was glad to get the win, especially after committing five errors in the game.
"We had 'em, and they didn't kill us," Bredeson said of the errors. "Our pitchers battled out of some stuff too. Alec (Treuthardt) ... got key strikeouts at key times."
Treuthardt got the win for Argyle, pitching four innings. He allowed just two earned runs while striking out four and walking six. Sophomore Colton Ploessel relieved Treuthardt in the fifth inning and finished the game without allowing a run while striking out two and walking one.
Off the mound, Treuthardt led the Orioles with a 2-for-3 day at the plate, including two RBI. Ploessel and freshman Derek Flannery each notched an RBI double.
Pecatonica was led by Jake Scoville and Geoff Daley, who each had RBI singles. McKeon chipped in with a double.
Argyle will host Barneveld Tuesday, May 7, while the Vikings will host Monticello.
Barneveld 3, Black Hawk 2
SOUTH WAYNE - Merik Meythaler turned in a stellar start for Black Hawk but the Warriors lost a nail-biter to fourth-ranked Barneveld 3-2.
"We were a bad hop and a clutch hit away from upsetting the No. 4 team in the state in Division 4," Black Hawk coach Jeff Solberg said. "That is nothing to hang our heads about."
Black Hawk got a leadoff single from Meythaler in the first inning. Black Hawk senior Kyle Walters moved him into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Senior Mike Powers then delivered a two-out RBI single to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead on the defending conference champion Eagles.
Barneveld's Cole Breuer came through with a clutch RBI single to score Dustin Hodgson to tie the game at 1. Barneveld's Carson Carmody then delivered a two-out RBI triple to right center to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead.
In the sixth, Powers reached on a fielder's choice and Logan Stietz singled. Black Hawk sophomore Tayler Rupnow had an RBI single to cut the Eagles' lead to 3-2.
Meythaler pitched a complete game and gave up just three runs on five hits. He struck out eight and walked one. Barneveld's Tyler Hellenbrand got the win for the Eagles on the mound. He went five innings and gave up one earned run on two hits. He struck out eight and walked four. Meythaler has struck out 21 and walked just three in his last two starts.
"Merik is starting to find his groove," Solberg said. "He has shown he can dominate when he hits his spots and keeps the ball down."
Albany 6, Monticello 0
MONTICELLO - The offensive struggles continued for Monticello on Monday, May 7, but Monticello coach Scott White was still able to draw positives from the loss.
First off, White got a full seven innings from starter Lucas Marty, who allowed just two earned runs while striking out four and walking two.
"Lucas has been pretty solid in his last couple outings," White said. "We had quite a few errors tonight ... and that hurt us."
The Comets scored six runs on just three hits and two walks. Clinton Sullivan and Mitchell Kauk each notched a hit and an RBI for Albany.
Albany's Ethan Pfeuti got credit for the win, pitching seven innings of two-hit baseball while striking out four and walking two. Pfeuti also benefited a strong defense behind him.
"Albany played great defense," White said. "We were putting the ball in play hard. There weren't a lot of easy plays."
Those hard-hit balls, coupled with his team's resiliency after going down 2-0 after the first inning, leads White to believe that things could soon turn around for the Ponies.
"Getting down early ... it doesn't seem to affect the guys," White said. "They're battling, and sometimes it takes a break to get the ball rolling. Things are coming around. We're getting more and more confident. It's encouraging."
Dez Hanenburger and Jake Pusel notched the hits for the Ponies.
Monticello will travel to take on Six Rivers East foe Pecatonica at 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 7, while Albany will play host to Black Hawk.
With Marty going a full seven innings Monday, White said he'll be mixing things up on the mound against the Vikings.
"I've got a couple guys I can throw in there tomorrow," he said. "I know Pec's been pretty solid this year. Hopefully we can throw something a little different at them."
