MONTICELLO - The race for the Six Rivers East Conference championship is wide open after Juda-Albany rallied to beat fifth-ranked Monticello 4-3 Monday.
Monticello (10-2, 5-1 Six Rivers East) led 3-0 entering the sixth inning. Juda-Albany's Alexis Goecks tripled and senior Morganne Goecks beat out an infield single. Juda-Albany freshman Sara Jordan then delivered a two-run triple to left center to cut the Ponies' lead to 3-2. That set the stages for the rally in the seventh.
The Ponies committed three errors in the seventh. Juda-Albany junior Alexis Kennedy had a game-tying RBI single and sophomore Jessica Crull came through with the game-winning RBI single.
"I knew mentally we were down," Monticello coach Duane Garrison said. "You have to give Juda-Albany credit. They came ready to play and hit the ball."
The conference is a lot more jumbled now with Monticello and Argyle tied at the top (5-1). Monticello will play at Barneveld today, which is a team they have beat by one run in three straight games the last two years. Juda-Albany will face Argyle.
"We and Argyle still control our own destiny," Garrison said. "I think Juda-Albany will be pumped up after knocking us off."
Bruns led off the bottom of the seventh with a double. Senior Clare Geitzel then reached on a bunt single. Geitzel went to steal, but faked a steal, but stopped in the middle of the basepath, faked both ways and was called out.
"That was a really big play," Garrison said. "In the seventh we could have had runners on second and third with no outs, but we had just one girl on third with one out."
Monticello's Marissa Berg also lined out. Monticello junior Alyssah Kubly and Bruns each finished 2-for-3.
"We just couldn't get a big hit when we needed to," Garrison said.
Every player in the Panthers' lineup had one hit except Tabatha Davis. Davis tossed a complete game to earn the win giving up three runs on nine hits. She struck out six and walked three.
Bruns pitched a complete game and gave up four runs on eight hits. She struck out one and didn't issue a walk.
In the second game, Monticello defeated Pecatonica 3-0. Monticello junior Courtney Leuzinger outdueled Pecatonica senior Julia Meyer in a pitcher's duel.
Leuzinger threw a three-hit shutout. She struck out five and didn't issue a walk.
The Vikings committed two errors in the second and Jessie Garrison and Kubly each delivered RBI singles to stake the Ponies to a 2-0 lead.
"Julia Meyer was just pitching the ball over the plate and they (Pec) were making plays in the field," Garrison said. "It's probably the best game Pec has played this year."
Geitzel went 2-for-4 and Monticello freshman Megan Lehr went 1-for-1 with one RBI.
Brodhead 9, Palmyra-Eagle 3
PALMYRA - Brodhead's Erin Kloepping went 3-for-4 to lead the Cardinals to a 9-3 non-conference win over Palmyra-Eagle.
Brodhead (7-7, 6-4 Rock Valley South) broke the game open with a six-run third. Brodhead's Taylor Gerlach went 2-for-4 to help lead the Cardinals' 10-hit attack.
Monticello (10-2, 5-1 Six Rivers East) led 3-0 entering the sixth inning. Juda-Albany's Alexis Goecks tripled and senior Morganne Goecks beat out an infield single. Juda-Albany freshman Sara Jordan then delivered a two-run triple to left center to cut the Ponies' lead to 3-2. That set the stages for the rally in the seventh.
The Ponies committed three errors in the seventh. Juda-Albany junior Alexis Kennedy had a game-tying RBI single and sophomore Jessica Crull came through with the game-winning RBI single.
"I knew mentally we were down," Monticello coach Duane Garrison said. "You have to give Juda-Albany credit. They came ready to play and hit the ball."
The conference is a lot more jumbled now with Monticello and Argyle tied at the top (5-1). Monticello will play at Barneveld today, which is a team they have beat by one run in three straight games the last two years. Juda-Albany will face Argyle.
"We and Argyle still control our own destiny," Garrison said. "I think Juda-Albany will be pumped up after knocking us off."
Bruns led off the bottom of the seventh with a double. Senior Clare Geitzel then reached on a bunt single. Geitzel went to steal, but faked a steal, but stopped in the middle of the basepath, faked both ways and was called out.
"That was a really big play," Garrison said. "In the seventh we could have had runners on second and third with no outs, but we had just one girl on third with one out."
Monticello's Marissa Berg also lined out. Monticello junior Alyssah Kubly and Bruns each finished 2-for-3.
"We just couldn't get a big hit when we needed to," Garrison said.
Every player in the Panthers' lineup had one hit except Tabatha Davis. Davis tossed a complete game to earn the win giving up three runs on nine hits. She struck out six and walked three.
Bruns pitched a complete game and gave up four runs on eight hits. She struck out one and didn't issue a walk.
In the second game, Monticello defeated Pecatonica 3-0. Monticello junior Courtney Leuzinger outdueled Pecatonica senior Julia Meyer in a pitcher's duel.
Leuzinger threw a three-hit shutout. She struck out five and didn't issue a walk.
The Vikings committed two errors in the second and Jessie Garrison and Kubly each delivered RBI singles to stake the Ponies to a 2-0 lead.
"Julia Meyer was just pitching the ball over the plate and they (Pec) were making plays in the field," Garrison said. "It's probably the best game Pec has played this year."
Geitzel went 2-for-4 and Monticello freshman Megan Lehr went 1-for-1 with one RBI.
Brodhead 9, Palmyra-Eagle 3
PALMYRA - Brodhead's Erin Kloepping went 3-for-4 to lead the Cardinals to a 9-3 non-conference win over Palmyra-Eagle.
Brodhead (7-7, 6-4 Rock Valley South) broke the game open with a six-run third. Brodhead's Taylor Gerlach went 2-for-4 to help lead the Cardinals' 10-hit attack.
