GRATIOT - Opportunity knocked over and over again Tuesday evening. When it finally got to the Ponies' door, they gladly answered it and stepped through into a regional final.
Monticello broke a 2-2 tie with three runs in the top of the 10th inning to pull out a 5-2 victory over Six Rivers East rival Black Hawk in a WIAA Division 4 softball regional semifinal.
The bottom of the Ponies' order came through, as No. 7 hitter Olivia Doyle led off the top of the 10th with a single. After Lexi Flesher walked and both runners advanced, Taylor Pfeuti came through with a two-run single to right field.
"Her face said it all when she pulled up to first," Garrison said.
Pfeuti was standing in for left fielder Brienna Voegeli and her manager, Duane Garrison, contemplated using a designated hitter for the freshman, who's primarily been used as a courtesy runner.
"I'm awfully glad that I didn't," Garrison said with a laugh.
The final damage came after Black Hawk pitcher Janel Rupnow cruised from the fourth through the ninth innings without allowing a baserunner. Her offense, on the other hand, had runners in scoring position in the eighth, ninth and 10th, but couldn't come through.
"That's been the story of the end of our season," Black Hawk coach Roger Jackson said of his club that finished 11-8 after an 8-2 start.
The Warriors loaded the bases against Monticello starter Mary Hershberger in the bottom of the 10th, only to watch Sadi Hilliard throw out a runner at home after fielding a tough short hop. Then Hershberger struck out the last two she faced.
Monticello broke a 2-2 tie with three runs in the top of the 10th inning to pull out a 5-2 victory over Six Rivers East rival Black Hawk in a WIAA Division 4 softball regional semifinal.
The bottom of the Ponies' order came through, as No. 7 hitter Olivia Doyle led off the top of the 10th with a single. After Lexi Flesher walked and both runners advanced, Taylor Pfeuti came through with a two-run single to right field.
"Her face said it all when she pulled up to first," Garrison said.
Pfeuti was standing in for left fielder Brienna Voegeli and her manager, Duane Garrison, contemplated using a designated hitter for the freshman, who's primarily been used as a courtesy runner.
"I'm awfully glad that I didn't," Garrison said with a laugh.
The final damage came after Black Hawk pitcher Janel Rupnow cruised from the fourth through the ninth innings without allowing a baserunner. Her offense, on the other hand, had runners in scoring position in the eighth, ninth and 10th, but couldn't come through.
"That's been the story of the end of our season," Black Hawk coach Roger Jackson said of his club that finished 11-8 after an 8-2 start.
The Warriors loaded the bases against Monticello starter Mary Hershberger in the bottom of the 10th, only to watch Sadi Hilliard throw out a runner at home after fielding a tough short hop. Then Hershberger struck out the last two she faced.
