BLANCHARDVILLE - Ross Gilbertson and Tannar Johnson provided the suspense as the Pecatonica baseball team came back to beat Monticello 5-4 in a thriller Monday.
Monticello (1-4, 0-2 Six Rivers East) rode a strong pitching performance by junior Corey McGowan and carried a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning.
Jacob Scoville singled in the seventh off McGowan to set up the scoring opportunity. Gilbertson, in a pinch-hitting role, crushed a game-tying RBI double to center. Two batters later, Johnson, who was 2-for-4, delivered a game-winning RBI single.
"I had been out in front of every pitch in the game," Johnson said. "I just slapped at it. I saw someone lunge for it. I saw a white streak into the outfield and that is when I started to smile."
Johnson pitched a complete game and gave up just three earned runs on nine hits. He struck out seven and walked one.
"He kept us in the game with his pitching," Pecatonica coach Jim Strommen said.
The Ponies intentionally walked J.J. Hogan and sophomore Tanner Kleppe singled to set up the game-winning run. Francois, who was pinch running for Gilbertson, hurdled Monticello catcher Tyler Meier and he was tagged out before he could score. That set the stages for Johnson who came through with a walkoff single to right that scored Hogan.
There were several players who came through in the clutch for Pecatonica (5-3, 1-0) including Gilbertson whose pinch-hit RBI double tied the game.
"For the last two years, my job on this team has been to hit when called on," Gilbertson said. "I got in and I performed and that's why I'm here."
Monticello junior Tyler Ritschard gave the Ponies a 4-3 lead with an RBI single off Johnson in the fourth.
It was a pitching battle through the middle innings. McGowan, who pitched 6 1/3 innings, only allowed one hitter to reach base in the fourth through the sixth. McGowan gave up five runs on eight hits. He struck out five and walked four.
"It's tough to swallow," Monticello coach Jason Pinnow said. "Hats off to Pec for hitting when they needed to. Sometimes you have to do that (tip your cap) and move on."
Ritschard and sophomore Lukas Kolasch each were 2-for-4 to lead the Ponies. Senior Michael Elzen, Kolasch and Brett Hefty each collected doubles.
"McGowan pitched very well," Strommen said. "They played good defense behind him. It was a good one to come back to win."
Pecatonica, which was Six Rivers East Conference co-champions with Barneveld last year, has a tough stretch without senior Devin Jeglum, who is out indefinitely with a torn groin.
"We lost a lot of talent from last year," Johnson said. "Like coach says, 'The young guys get a chance to perform.' That's what we are left with."
Monticello (1-4, 0-2 Six Rivers East) rode a strong pitching performance by junior Corey McGowan and carried a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning.
Jacob Scoville singled in the seventh off McGowan to set up the scoring opportunity. Gilbertson, in a pinch-hitting role, crushed a game-tying RBI double to center. Two batters later, Johnson, who was 2-for-4, delivered a game-winning RBI single.
"I had been out in front of every pitch in the game," Johnson said. "I just slapped at it. I saw someone lunge for it. I saw a white streak into the outfield and that is when I started to smile."
Johnson pitched a complete game and gave up just three earned runs on nine hits. He struck out seven and walked one.
"He kept us in the game with his pitching," Pecatonica coach Jim Strommen said.
The Ponies intentionally walked J.J. Hogan and sophomore Tanner Kleppe singled to set up the game-winning run. Francois, who was pinch running for Gilbertson, hurdled Monticello catcher Tyler Meier and he was tagged out before he could score. That set the stages for Johnson who came through with a walkoff single to right that scored Hogan.
There were several players who came through in the clutch for Pecatonica (5-3, 1-0) including Gilbertson whose pinch-hit RBI double tied the game.
"For the last two years, my job on this team has been to hit when called on," Gilbertson said. "I got in and I performed and that's why I'm here."
Monticello junior Tyler Ritschard gave the Ponies a 4-3 lead with an RBI single off Johnson in the fourth.
It was a pitching battle through the middle innings. McGowan, who pitched 6 1/3 innings, only allowed one hitter to reach base in the fourth through the sixth. McGowan gave up five runs on eight hits. He struck out five and walked four.
"It's tough to swallow," Monticello coach Jason Pinnow said. "Hats off to Pec for hitting when they needed to. Sometimes you have to do that (tip your cap) and move on."
Ritschard and sophomore Lukas Kolasch each were 2-for-4 to lead the Ponies. Senior Michael Elzen, Kolasch and Brett Hefty each collected doubles.
"McGowan pitched very well," Strommen said. "They played good defense behind him. It was a good one to come back to win."
Pecatonica, which was Six Rivers East Conference co-champions with Barneveld last year, has a tough stretch without senior Devin Jeglum, who is out indefinitely with a torn groin.
"We lost a lot of talent from last year," Johnson said. "Like coach says, 'The young guys get a chance to perform.' That's what we are left with."
