BURLINGTON - The Monticello baseball team didn't care that it was facing the No. 1 seed and the two-time defending WIAA Division 4 state champion Burlington Catholic Central Hilltoppers Tuesday in regional semifinal.
Monticello wouldn't let a three-run deficit in the fifth inning stop it from playing to the very end.
The No. 4-seeded Ponies rallied to tie the game in the fifth inning only to lose 7-6 on a throwing error in the bottom of the seventh inning.
"When you go to Catholic Central, you know they will have home field advantage and you have to play your best," Monticello coach Jason Pinnow said. "We played our best. We just didn't end up in the win column."
Trailing 6-3 to begin the fifth inning, juniors Bryce Klitzke and Aaron Hefty reached with back-to-back singles. Sophomore Josh Kolasch delivered a two-run double to pull the Ponies to within 6-5. Senior Austin Steffen tied the game at 6-6 with a run-scoring single to drive in Josh Kolasch.
Monticello was hoping to get the game into extra innings, but Catholic Central started out the seventh inning with Grant Alderman's double. Teegan Miles walked to put runners at first and second with no outs. Zach Mehring laid down a sacrifice bunt that was fielded by Monticello pitcher Lukas Kolasch, but he overthrew to first base, allowing Alderman to score the winning run and give Catholic Central (12-14) the victory.
"I really thought our guys left it all out on the field," Pinnow said. "Lukas pitched his heart out the last two games."
Lukas Kolasch and Josh Kolasch each went 3-for-4 and sophomore Lucas Marty went 2-for-3 as the Ponies collected 13 hits.
"I don't think we had that many hits in a game all year," Pinnow said.
Catholic Central will host Black Hawk Thursday in the regional championship. Catholic Central is also the host for the sectionals Tuesday June 5.
Monticello wouldn't let a three-run deficit in the fifth inning stop it from playing to the very end.
The No. 4-seeded Ponies rallied to tie the game in the fifth inning only to lose 7-6 on a throwing error in the bottom of the seventh inning.
"When you go to Catholic Central, you know they will have home field advantage and you have to play your best," Monticello coach Jason Pinnow said. "We played our best. We just didn't end up in the win column."
Trailing 6-3 to begin the fifth inning, juniors Bryce Klitzke and Aaron Hefty reached with back-to-back singles. Sophomore Josh Kolasch delivered a two-run double to pull the Ponies to within 6-5. Senior Austin Steffen tied the game at 6-6 with a run-scoring single to drive in Josh Kolasch.
Monticello was hoping to get the game into extra innings, but Catholic Central started out the seventh inning with Grant Alderman's double. Teegan Miles walked to put runners at first and second with no outs. Zach Mehring laid down a sacrifice bunt that was fielded by Monticello pitcher Lukas Kolasch, but he overthrew to first base, allowing Alderman to score the winning run and give Catholic Central (12-14) the victory.
"I really thought our guys left it all out on the field," Pinnow said. "Lukas pitched his heart out the last two games."
Lukas Kolasch and Josh Kolasch each went 3-for-4 and sophomore Lucas Marty went 2-for-3 as the Ponies collected 13 hits.
"I don't think we had that many hits in a game all year," Pinnow said.
Catholic Central will host Black Hawk Thursday in the regional championship. Catholic Central is also the host for the sectionals Tuesday June 5.
