MONTICELLO - The Ponies finally hit the center of the board.
Ballgames, let alone victories, have been scant for Monticello baseball this season. Thursday night, the Ponies put their first three-near misses out of their mind as they hit a bullseye at home in a 9-8, comeback victory over Albany.
"We've been so close, we could easily be 4-0," Monticello coach Jason Pinnow said. "We've been one play away in every game."
Pinnow finally heard a few bona fide, ringing singles in Monticello's three-run rally in the fourth inning after the Ponies pushed across four in the third to overcome an early 6-0 deficit and tie the score at 7-7 through four innings.
Cleanup hitter J.T. Meier lined an RBI-single to center in the fourth, before lefty Jacob Edge got on top of a fastball and spanked a rocket to right field to plate the other two runs in the rally.
Two runs on an error and a fielder's choice helped Monticello counter a run by Albany in the sixth inning. Jeremy Wahl had three hits in the leadoff spot for the Ponies, and the 4-5 hitters Meier and Edge combined to go 4-for-7 with four RBIs.
Ryan Fink relieved Bubba Holz to get the win for Monticello, and Jordan Dean took the loss in relief for Albany.
SIX RIVERS EAST
JUDA 7, ARGYLE 3>
Oh, did the Panthers pounce on their prey at home Thursday evening.
Juda scored five times in the first inning of a 7-3 league victory over Argyle, chasing Orioles starter Nick Martin from the game after the opening frame.
Shortstop Steven West first pulled the trigger, homering on the second pitch of the ballgame. Senior catcher Tyler Lincoln added a homer in the third and also cracked a double.
Juda starter Jake Ramos worked five innings to get the win and West took over for the final two and earned the save.
BARNEVELD 9-5,
PECATONICA 0-7>
After his club played well enough to win but somehow was blanked in the opener, Vikings coach Jim Strommen was just happy to split its doubleheader Thursday night.
Pecatonica (7-3, 5-2 Six Rivers East) handed Barneveld its first league loss and second overall defeat of the season, despite collecting just five hits in the nightcap.
Barneveld kicked the ball around in a four-run sixth, creating a stark contrast to the opener, during which Pec had 10 hits but starter Kyle Thompson riggled off the hook several times.
"They helped us out a bit in the sixth," Strommen said.
Vikings starter Andy Dieterich gave his club seven gritty innings, scattering seven hits and striking out six. His only walk was intentional and he struck out the final batter with the tying run on base.
"He really battled for us tonight," Strommen said.
Ballgames, let alone victories, have been scant for Monticello baseball this season. Thursday night, the Ponies put their first three-near misses out of their mind as they hit a bullseye at home in a 9-8, comeback victory over Albany.
"We've been so close, we could easily be 4-0," Monticello coach Jason Pinnow said. "We've been one play away in every game."
Pinnow finally heard a few bona fide, ringing singles in Monticello's three-run rally in the fourth inning after the Ponies pushed across four in the third to overcome an early 6-0 deficit and tie the score at 7-7 through four innings.
Cleanup hitter J.T. Meier lined an RBI-single to center in the fourth, before lefty Jacob Edge got on top of a fastball and spanked a rocket to right field to plate the other two runs in the rally.
Two runs on an error and a fielder's choice helped Monticello counter a run by Albany in the sixth inning. Jeremy Wahl had three hits in the leadoff spot for the Ponies, and the 4-5 hitters Meier and Edge combined to go 4-for-7 with four RBIs.
Ryan Fink relieved Bubba Holz to get the win for Monticello, and Jordan Dean took the loss in relief for Albany.
SIX RIVERS EAST
JUDA 7, ARGYLE 3>
Oh, did the Panthers pounce on their prey at home Thursday evening.
Juda scored five times in the first inning of a 7-3 league victory over Argyle, chasing Orioles starter Nick Martin from the game after the opening frame.
Shortstop Steven West first pulled the trigger, homering on the second pitch of the ballgame. Senior catcher Tyler Lincoln added a homer in the third and also cracked a double.
Juda starter Jake Ramos worked five innings to get the win and West took over for the final two and earned the save.
BARNEVELD 9-5,
PECATONICA 0-7>
After his club played well enough to win but somehow was blanked in the opener, Vikings coach Jim Strommen was just happy to split its doubleheader Thursday night.
Pecatonica (7-3, 5-2 Six Rivers East) handed Barneveld its first league loss and second overall defeat of the season, despite collecting just five hits in the nightcap.
Barneveld kicked the ball around in a four-run sixth, creating a stark contrast to the opener, during which Pec had 10 hits but starter Kyle Thompson riggled off the hook several times.
"They helped us out a bit in the sixth," Strommen said.
Vikings starter Andy Dieterich gave his club seven gritty innings, scattering seven hits and striking out six. His only walk was intentional and he struck out the final batter with the tying run on base.
"He really battled for us tonight," Strommen said.
