MONTICELLO - Sophomore Lucas Marty couldn't wait to step into the batter's box with Monticello trailing by a run in the sixth inning Friday.
Marty delivered a three-run triple to right center field to help the Ponies rally for a 6-4 victory against Williams Bay in a WIAA Division 4 regional quarterfinal.
"It felt so amazing to finally get a hit," said Marty, who went 1-for-1 with three walks and two stolen bases. "I have been struggling hitting the ball. I didn't want this to be the last game for the seniors. I didn't want to lose it for them."
Monticello (6-20) advances to play at Burlington Catholic Central in a regional semifinal Tuesday. The Ponies gave Marty plenty of help in rallying from a 3-0 deficit.
Derek Gilbertson was hit by a pitch in the sixth and Jake Pusel laid down a perfect bunt for a single. Alex Henning, who had a key two-run, two-out single in the fourth, walked to load the bases.
The Ponies had the game-tying run thrown out at home trying to score on a wild pitch. With two outs, the stage was set for Marty's heroics.
"We had some unlikely heroes tonight with Alex, Jake and Lucas," Monticello coach Jason Pinnow said. "Those aren't three guys we look to for power. If they are going to give it to us, we will take it."
The Ponies were 1-for-7 hitting with runners in scoring position and left six runners on base in the first five innings before Marty's hit.
"We left some runners on base," Marty said. "With this team, we never give up. You can't go 0-for whatever we were without a hit. We got guys on base and did our jobs."
Marty credited Pusel's bunt single as being the key hit to start the rally.
"Jake put down a very good bunt," Marty said. "That got us fired up and going."
Pinnow elected to start junior Bryce Klitzke on the mound instead of ace Lukas Kolasch. Klitzke pitched two innings and gave up three runs (one earned) on four hits. Kolasch came in and pitched five innings to get the win. He struck out 12, walked seven and hit one batter.
"Bryce has been pitching a lot and throwing strikes," Pinnow said. "Unfortunately, they got dialed in on Bryce and I went to Lukas. I'm not saving Lukas. He could pitch tonight and Tuesday. Lukas has been kind of wild. Lukas can be lights out or not. It's been feast or famine recently."
It was feast for Kolasch early on as he struck out the first six batters he faced. In the fifth, he hit a batter and walked two, but was able to work out of a jam while only allowing one run. Kolasch walked the bases loaded in the sixth, but was able to strikeout Jon Feddar-Thomas to end the threat. Sophomore catcher Josh Kolasch was also instrumental for the Ponies, throwing out three runners trying to steal.
"He saw the senior desperation come out in the middle innings," Pinnow said. "Lukas in the end was able to throw strikes, close the door and we were able to give him a lead."
Marty delivered a three-run triple to right center field to help the Ponies rally for a 6-4 victory against Williams Bay in a WIAA Division 4 regional quarterfinal.
"It felt so amazing to finally get a hit," said Marty, who went 1-for-1 with three walks and two stolen bases. "I have been struggling hitting the ball. I didn't want this to be the last game for the seniors. I didn't want to lose it for them."
Monticello (6-20) advances to play at Burlington Catholic Central in a regional semifinal Tuesday. The Ponies gave Marty plenty of help in rallying from a 3-0 deficit.
Derek Gilbertson was hit by a pitch in the sixth and Jake Pusel laid down a perfect bunt for a single. Alex Henning, who had a key two-run, two-out single in the fourth, walked to load the bases.
The Ponies had the game-tying run thrown out at home trying to score on a wild pitch. With two outs, the stage was set for Marty's heroics.
"We had some unlikely heroes tonight with Alex, Jake and Lucas," Monticello coach Jason Pinnow said. "Those aren't three guys we look to for power. If they are going to give it to us, we will take it."
The Ponies were 1-for-7 hitting with runners in scoring position and left six runners on base in the first five innings before Marty's hit.
"We left some runners on base," Marty said. "With this team, we never give up. You can't go 0-for whatever we were without a hit. We got guys on base and did our jobs."
Marty credited Pusel's bunt single as being the key hit to start the rally.
"Jake put down a very good bunt," Marty said. "That got us fired up and going."
Pinnow elected to start junior Bryce Klitzke on the mound instead of ace Lukas Kolasch. Klitzke pitched two innings and gave up three runs (one earned) on four hits. Kolasch came in and pitched five innings to get the win. He struck out 12, walked seven and hit one batter.
"Bryce has been pitching a lot and throwing strikes," Pinnow said. "Unfortunately, they got dialed in on Bryce and I went to Lukas. I'm not saving Lukas. He could pitch tonight and Tuesday. Lukas has been kind of wild. Lukas can be lights out or not. It's been feast or famine recently."
It was feast for Kolasch early on as he struck out the first six batters he faced. In the fifth, he hit a batter and walked two, but was able to work out of a jam while only allowing one run. Kolasch walked the bases loaded in the sixth, but was able to strikeout Jon Feddar-Thomas to end the threat. Sophomore catcher Josh Kolasch was also instrumental for the Ponies, throwing out three runners trying to steal.
"He saw the senior desperation come out in the middle innings," Pinnow said. "Lukas in the end was able to throw strikes, close the door and we were able to give him a lead."
