MONTICELLO - Senior Michael Elzen's late game heroics weren't enough as the Ponies' seventh-inning rally fell short in an 8-7 non-conference loss to Highland Thursday.
With the Ponies trailing 8-2 in the bottom of the seventh, Elzen hit a three-run home run to spark a five-run seventh by the Ponies. Monticello senior Tyler Meier, who was 2-for-3, just missed hitting a game-tying home run.
"He was two feet from hitting a game-tying home run and it went off the fence," Monticello coach Jason Pinnow said.
Monticello junior Tyler Ritschard, who was 2-for-4 with a double, popped out with runners on second and third. With the loss, Monticello drops to 3-5 overall (2-2 Six Rivers East).
Elzen pitched six innings and gave up five runs on seven hits. He struck out nine and walked three.
"We had opportunities to tie or win the game," Pinnow said. "It just didn't happen."
Mineral Point 9, Darlington 6
DARLINGTON - A six-run fourth inning by the Mineral Point Pointers proved to be the difference in a win over the Darlington Redbirds in a SWAL conference game Thursday.
Senior Matt Keister gave the Redbirds a 1-0 lead with a home run in the first inning. The Pointers struck for two runs in the third and exploded for six runs in the fourth to take an 8-1 lead. Senior Jason Boll hit a solo shot in the fourth to make it 8-2. The Redbirds got another run in the fifth, but the Pointers answered with a run in the sixth before Darlington came up with three runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Aside from the two home runs, the Redbirds didn't generate much offense against Mineral Point pitcher Bobby Noland.
"He did a nice job," Darlington head coach Andy Sawall said. "He gave us trouble."
Noland gave up three earned runs, eight hits, walked just one and struck out eight. Brady Tibbitts led the Pointers, going 2-for-3 with a double.
Darlington (8-2, 4-2 SWAL) will travel to Shullsburg to face Shullsburg-Benton today.
Watertown Luther Prep 13, New Glarus 0
NEW GLARUS - For the second straight game, the Glarner Knights were held to just two hits as they fell in five innings, to Watertown Luther Prep in non-conference play Thursday.
Senior Ryan Bright and sophomore Eric Felt were the only batters to reach base for the Knights.
The Glarner Knights committed five errors, leading to eight unearned runs for the Phoenix.
New Glarus (3-8, 2-5 Capitol South) will play their next game at Belleville Tuesday.
Barneveld 14, Black Hawk 1
BARNEVELD - The Eagles wasted no time in routing the Warriors, scoring 11 runs in the first inning in Six Rivers East Conference action Thursday.
Sophomore Mike Walker went 2-for-2 with a double while freshman Mike Powers went 2-for-2 to lead the Warriors.
Black Hawk (1-5, 1-3 Six Rivers East) will travel to Belmont for a doubleheader Saturday.
With the Ponies trailing 8-2 in the bottom of the seventh, Elzen hit a three-run home run to spark a five-run seventh by the Ponies. Monticello senior Tyler Meier, who was 2-for-3, just missed hitting a game-tying home run.
"He was two feet from hitting a game-tying home run and it went off the fence," Monticello coach Jason Pinnow said.
Monticello junior Tyler Ritschard, who was 2-for-4 with a double, popped out with runners on second and third. With the loss, Monticello drops to 3-5 overall (2-2 Six Rivers East).
Elzen pitched six innings and gave up five runs on seven hits. He struck out nine and walked three.
"We had opportunities to tie or win the game," Pinnow said. "It just didn't happen."
Mineral Point 9, Darlington 6
DARLINGTON - A six-run fourth inning by the Mineral Point Pointers proved to be the difference in a win over the Darlington Redbirds in a SWAL conference game Thursday.
Senior Matt Keister gave the Redbirds a 1-0 lead with a home run in the first inning. The Pointers struck for two runs in the third and exploded for six runs in the fourth to take an 8-1 lead. Senior Jason Boll hit a solo shot in the fourth to make it 8-2. The Redbirds got another run in the fifth, but the Pointers answered with a run in the sixth before Darlington came up with three runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Aside from the two home runs, the Redbirds didn't generate much offense against Mineral Point pitcher Bobby Noland.
"He did a nice job," Darlington head coach Andy Sawall said. "He gave us trouble."
Noland gave up three earned runs, eight hits, walked just one and struck out eight. Brady Tibbitts led the Pointers, going 2-for-3 with a double.
Darlington (8-2, 4-2 SWAL) will travel to Shullsburg to face Shullsburg-Benton today.
Watertown Luther Prep 13, New Glarus 0
NEW GLARUS - For the second straight game, the Glarner Knights were held to just two hits as they fell in five innings, to Watertown Luther Prep in non-conference play Thursday.
Senior Ryan Bright and sophomore Eric Felt were the only batters to reach base for the Knights.
The Glarner Knights committed five errors, leading to eight unearned runs for the Phoenix.
New Glarus (3-8, 2-5 Capitol South) will play their next game at Belleville Tuesday.
Barneveld 14, Black Hawk 1
BARNEVELD - The Eagles wasted no time in routing the Warriors, scoring 11 runs in the first inning in Six Rivers East Conference action Thursday.
Sophomore Mike Walker went 2-for-2 with a double while freshman Mike Powers went 2-for-2 to lead the Warriors.
Black Hawk (1-5, 1-3 Six Rivers East) will travel to Belmont for a doubleheader Saturday.
