ARGYLE - Monticello got the best of Argyle, thanks to clutch plate appearances in a doubleheader sweep that resembled baseball's Dead Ball Era.
"We were playing basic ball. With good teams, that's what you've got to do," Argyle coach Dan Treuthardt said. "Get a runner on, move her up and then somebody has to come through with a hit."
The Ponies scored two runs in each of their last bat's in the twin bill to knock off the young Orioles 3-2 and 2-1, respectively.
"To lose two games in the seventh inning when you've got them both won, that ain't much fun," Treuthardt said. "With a young team, this is where they get tested. We didn't pass the test today and it hurts. We outplayed them both games."
In the opener, Argyle led 2-1 entering the top of the seventh inning, but that didn't keep the Ponies from using every last at-bat opportunity. Becky Nelson led off the inning with a bang-bang play at first on an infield single. The next two batters sacrifice bunted, but fielder's choice throws allowed all runners to be safe. Throwing errors by Orioles pitcher and catcher, freshman Jessica Treuthardt and senior Jodi Fischer allowed the tying and go-ahead runs to score.
"These girls don't quit," Monticello coach Duane Garrison said. "They made an error or two and we capitalized.
"Karlie (Klossner) pitched two great games and our defense had just one error. We play good defense, so we'll be in a lot of games. All we need is one inning - and that's what we had."
In the second game, Jessica Treuthardt all but dominated the Ponies. A hit by pitch, walk and two errors through five innings were the only ways Monticello could put somebody on base. Monticello's first hit didn't come until the sixth inning, with her team leading 1-0. She got through that frame unscathed.
"I thought (Jessica) Treuthardt got stronger in the second game than in the first game," Garrison said.
Klossner kept Monticello in both games, fooling hitters with off-speed pitches and located the corners.
"I know that my team will play defense behind me," Klossner said, "eventually our bats will come alive."
The defense was stellar in both games, as the Ponies had just one error that came in the top of the seventh. Klossner allowed her offense with the chance to win the game, and boy was it dramatic.
Tanya Smith singled through the right side of the infield to lead it off and Desiree Marty walked. Jessica Treuthardt then got back-to-back fielder's choice groundouts in which the Orioles through out the lead runner headed to third.
With two outs, Clare Gietzel reached on an error, as first baseman Danielle Treuthardt failed to hang on to the third out on a throw from shortstop. That brought up freshman Marissa Berg to the play, arguably the Ponies best hitter.
"She struggled (earlier), but I'll tell you what- there isn't a girl I'd rather want at the plate right there than her. That girl hits it hard," Garrison said.
Berg, who was 1 for 6 on the day at that point, battled to a full count before ripping a walk-off 2-RBI base knock to center field.
"I just had to relax. I'm glad I got the hit because I had been struggling," Berg said. "I was worried because I wasn't very hot, but then again I knew I could still do it.
"It was pretty crazy. I loved (winning) with my team. It got really loud. I like that feeling."
The doubleheader sweep separated the two teams in the Six Rivers East race. Monticello (11-2, 6-2) stayed alive in a bid for a conference title, while Argyle (7-6, 5-5) gets bumped out completely.
"Hoping Barneveld (10-5, 6-3) could upset Juda (13-2, 10-0), we could still have a chance to tie for conference," Garrison said. "We lost to Juda 5-1 earlier, and I know these girls want another chance."
Nelson had two hits on the day, as did Gietzel, who also doubled in the opener. Klossner scattered 15 hits and didn't walk a batter in the twin bill.
For Argyle, Danielle Treuthardt was 4 for 7 with a pair of triples, Jodi Fischer was 3 for 6, and Alysha Monahan and Kayla Ostby also had two hits. Jessica Treuthardt allowed 11 hits overall and just three in the second game. She also struck out 10 and walked three.
"It's pretty tough. I'm sure she's not feeling too good," Dan Treuthardt said of his daughter, Jessica. "A young pitcher gets flustered easy, too. She still looked good out there, though, and she pitched good."
"We were playing basic ball. With good teams, that's what you've got to do," Argyle coach Dan Treuthardt said. "Get a runner on, move her up and then somebody has to come through with a hit."
The Ponies scored two runs in each of their last bat's in the twin bill to knock off the young Orioles 3-2 and 2-1, respectively.
"To lose two games in the seventh inning when you've got them both won, that ain't much fun," Treuthardt said. "With a young team, this is where they get tested. We didn't pass the test today and it hurts. We outplayed them both games."
In the opener, Argyle led 2-1 entering the top of the seventh inning, but that didn't keep the Ponies from using every last at-bat opportunity. Becky Nelson led off the inning with a bang-bang play at first on an infield single. The next two batters sacrifice bunted, but fielder's choice throws allowed all runners to be safe. Throwing errors by Orioles pitcher and catcher, freshman Jessica Treuthardt and senior Jodi Fischer allowed the tying and go-ahead runs to score.
"These girls don't quit," Monticello coach Duane Garrison said. "They made an error or two and we capitalized.
"Karlie (Klossner) pitched two great games and our defense had just one error. We play good defense, so we'll be in a lot of games. All we need is one inning - and that's what we had."
In the second game, Jessica Treuthardt all but dominated the Ponies. A hit by pitch, walk and two errors through five innings were the only ways Monticello could put somebody on base. Monticello's first hit didn't come until the sixth inning, with her team leading 1-0. She got through that frame unscathed.
"I thought (Jessica) Treuthardt got stronger in the second game than in the first game," Garrison said.
Klossner kept Monticello in both games, fooling hitters with off-speed pitches and located the corners.
"I know that my team will play defense behind me," Klossner said, "eventually our bats will come alive."
The defense was stellar in both games, as the Ponies had just one error that came in the top of the seventh. Klossner allowed her offense with the chance to win the game, and boy was it dramatic.
Tanya Smith singled through the right side of the infield to lead it off and Desiree Marty walked. Jessica Treuthardt then got back-to-back fielder's choice groundouts in which the Orioles through out the lead runner headed to third.
With two outs, Clare Gietzel reached on an error, as first baseman Danielle Treuthardt failed to hang on to the third out on a throw from shortstop. That brought up freshman Marissa Berg to the play, arguably the Ponies best hitter.
"She struggled (earlier), but I'll tell you what- there isn't a girl I'd rather want at the plate right there than her. That girl hits it hard," Garrison said.
Berg, who was 1 for 6 on the day at that point, battled to a full count before ripping a walk-off 2-RBI base knock to center field.
"I just had to relax. I'm glad I got the hit because I had been struggling," Berg said. "I was worried because I wasn't very hot, but then again I knew I could still do it.
"It was pretty crazy. I loved (winning) with my team. It got really loud. I like that feeling."
The doubleheader sweep separated the two teams in the Six Rivers East race. Monticello (11-2, 6-2) stayed alive in a bid for a conference title, while Argyle (7-6, 5-5) gets bumped out completely.
"Hoping Barneveld (10-5, 6-3) could upset Juda (13-2, 10-0), we could still have a chance to tie for conference," Garrison said. "We lost to Juda 5-1 earlier, and I know these girls want another chance."
Nelson had two hits on the day, as did Gietzel, who also doubled in the opener. Klossner scattered 15 hits and didn't walk a batter in the twin bill.
For Argyle, Danielle Treuthardt was 4 for 7 with a pair of triples, Jodi Fischer was 3 for 6, and Alysha Monahan and Kayla Ostby also had two hits. Jessica Treuthardt allowed 11 hits overall and just three in the second game. She also struck out 10 and walked three.
"It's pretty tough. I'm sure she's not feeling too good," Dan Treuthardt said of his daughter, Jessica. "A young pitcher gets flustered easy, too. She still looked good out there, though, and she pitched good."
