ALBANY - Mitchell Kauk and Clinton Sullivan played some home run derby as Albany rolled to an 11-1 win over Monticello in six innings in a WIAA Division 4 regional semifinal Wednesday.
Kauk, an Albany senior, went 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI to lead the Comets to a regional championship matchup Friday at Argyle. Sullivan blasted a two-run home run in a five-run sixth to put the finishing touches on the Ponies.
"Every home run feels good," Kauk said. "Clinton and I have a home run battle going. After I hit a home run he told me he wanted to show me up, and two batters later he hit one. Every game I hit one, he hits one."
It's the first time the Comets (8-14) have made it past the second round of the regional in Kauk's high school career.
"No one on the team has ever made it to a regional championship," Kauk said. "It kind of feels good doing what other people haven't done."
The Comets came back from a 1-1 tie in the second inning. Albany freshman Brock Gilkes doubled and Joey McNaught was hit by a pitch by Monticello starting pitcher Logan Crooks. Albany sophomore Cole Trapp then lined a two-run single to left to give the Comets a 3-1 lead. Trapp later scored on an error to extend the lead to 4-1.
Monticello (4-21) committed three errors that led to three unearned runs.
"It came down to a lot of the things we have struggled with this year," Monticello coach Scott White said. "We watched the second strike down the middle, and we swung at balls in the dirt. Being aggressive at the plate in the zone has been an issue all year. When we have been struggling to score runs and we give up three unearned runs, it's tough."
The Ponies had a golden scoring opportunity loading the bases with one out in the second. Albany starting pitcher Ethan Pfeuti pitched out of the bases loaded jam by striking out Jake Pusel, as well as the Ponies' No. 3 hitter.
Pfeuti pitched four innings to get the win. He gave up one run on five hits. Pfeuti struck out six and walked five. Albany junior Mitchell Trow pitched two shutout innings and gave up two hits.
"He (Pfeuti) got into a couple of jams and worked his way out of it," Albany coach Brandon Bakken said. "Our theory is we want to have as many pitchers to go on Friday as we can. You don't want to take a pitcher out if he is doing good. We have some other arms and we want to be able to use him Pfeuti (Friday) if we need him."
White was confident the game could have been different with a few hits with runners in scoring position.
"If we put the ball in play we probably score at least one run," White said. "A guy not sliding into second base probably cost us a run. It's just those little things that come back to haunt you."
The Comets pounded out 12 hits off three Monticello pitchers. Crooks pitched five innings and gave up five earned runs on eight hits. He struck out one and walked one.
"We were stuck on 4-1 for the longest time," Bakken said. "They responded with Mitchell Kauk hitting that home run. That is why he (Kauk) is our No. 3 hitter. He swings the bat hard. When he makes contact, he hits a lot of line drives. One through nine we put the ball in play."
The Comets exploded for five runs in the sixth off Pusel. McNaught reached on an error and Sullivan hit a two-run home run to left to give the Comets an 8-1 lead. Pusel walked Trapp and Devin Deegan singled up the middle. Kauk ended the game with a two-run single off Monticello relief pitcher Logan Marty. Albany sophomore Tyler Dahl finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored.
Albany now gears up to play for a regional title at Argyle Friday. The Comets and Orioles split two games this year. Argyle is expected to use ace Alec Treuthardt against the Comets, who are expected to pitch Kauk.
"He (Treuthardt) has shown he can win games, and I have shown I can win games," Kauk said. "It's a pretty even matchup."
Monticello looks to build for next year.
"When I came here last year, the baseball climate wasn't very good," White said. "The team took baseball more seriously this year. I don't know if kids these days watch baseball anymore. I told them to watch baseball. Hopefully, we can come back ready next year, take things seriously and change the climate."
Kauk, an Albany senior, went 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI to lead the Comets to a regional championship matchup Friday at Argyle. Sullivan blasted a two-run home run in a five-run sixth to put the finishing touches on the Ponies.
"Every home run feels good," Kauk said. "Clinton and I have a home run battle going. After I hit a home run he told me he wanted to show me up, and two batters later he hit one. Every game I hit one, he hits one."
It's the first time the Comets (8-14) have made it past the second round of the regional in Kauk's high school career.
"No one on the team has ever made it to a regional championship," Kauk said. "It kind of feels good doing what other people haven't done."
The Comets came back from a 1-1 tie in the second inning. Albany freshman Brock Gilkes doubled and Joey McNaught was hit by a pitch by Monticello starting pitcher Logan Crooks. Albany sophomore Cole Trapp then lined a two-run single to left to give the Comets a 3-1 lead. Trapp later scored on an error to extend the lead to 4-1.
Monticello (4-21) committed three errors that led to three unearned runs.
"It came down to a lot of the things we have struggled with this year," Monticello coach Scott White said. "We watched the second strike down the middle, and we swung at balls in the dirt. Being aggressive at the plate in the zone has been an issue all year. When we have been struggling to score runs and we give up three unearned runs, it's tough."
The Ponies had a golden scoring opportunity loading the bases with one out in the second. Albany starting pitcher Ethan Pfeuti pitched out of the bases loaded jam by striking out Jake Pusel, as well as the Ponies' No. 3 hitter.
Pfeuti pitched four innings to get the win. He gave up one run on five hits. Pfeuti struck out six and walked five. Albany junior Mitchell Trow pitched two shutout innings and gave up two hits.
"He (Pfeuti) got into a couple of jams and worked his way out of it," Albany coach Brandon Bakken said. "Our theory is we want to have as many pitchers to go on Friday as we can. You don't want to take a pitcher out if he is doing good. We have some other arms and we want to be able to use him Pfeuti (Friday) if we need him."
White was confident the game could have been different with a few hits with runners in scoring position.
"If we put the ball in play we probably score at least one run," White said. "A guy not sliding into second base probably cost us a run. It's just those little things that come back to haunt you."
The Comets pounded out 12 hits off three Monticello pitchers. Crooks pitched five innings and gave up five earned runs on eight hits. He struck out one and walked one.
"We were stuck on 4-1 for the longest time," Bakken said. "They responded with Mitchell Kauk hitting that home run. That is why he (Kauk) is our No. 3 hitter. He swings the bat hard. When he makes contact, he hits a lot of line drives. One through nine we put the ball in play."
The Comets exploded for five runs in the sixth off Pusel. McNaught reached on an error and Sullivan hit a two-run home run to left to give the Comets an 8-1 lead. Pusel walked Trapp and Devin Deegan singled up the middle. Kauk ended the game with a two-run single off Monticello relief pitcher Logan Marty. Albany sophomore Tyler Dahl finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored.
Albany now gears up to play for a regional title at Argyle Friday. The Comets and Orioles split two games this year. Argyle is expected to use ace Alec Treuthardt against the Comets, who are expected to pitch Kauk.
"He (Treuthardt) has shown he can win games, and I have shown I can win games," Kauk said. "It's a pretty even matchup."
Monticello looks to build for next year.
"When I came here last year, the baseball climate wasn't very good," White said. "The team took baseball more seriously this year. I don't know if kids these days watch baseball anymore. I told them to watch baseball. Hopefully, we can come back ready next year, take things seriously and change the climate."
