MONTICELLO - Thursday's softball game between the Monticello Ponies and Barneveld Golden Eagles was an early season duel between last year's Six Rivers East conference co-champions. In their latest matchup, both teams provided a glimpse of how the conference juggernauts might once again be in contention for the title come season's end.
The deciding factor came down to the last play of the game, where Monticello senior Clare Geitzel threw out Barneveld's Kayla Carden at home plate in clutch fashion to give the Ponies a narrow 1-0 victory over the ranked Eagles.
"I was hoping to score more, (but) one run is huge when we play each other because both teams have good pitchers," Monticello coach Duane Garrison said. "Barneveld is a very good team. We played good defense tonight along with solid pitching, which is a big portion of the game. Tonight's game was a huge confidence builder."
Monticello utilized its offensive game plan early when Geitzel got on base with a bunt single in the first inning. Jordan Garrison followed up with a sacrifice bunt to advance Geitzel to second to put the Ponies in scoring position. Courtney Leuzinger came through with a single to center field which gave the Ponies runners on first and third. After pinch runner Meagan Lehr was thrown out trying to steal second in the next series of at-bats, Geitzel was able to run in for the lone and deciding score of the game.
Geitzel finished the game with a solid all-around performance, picking up the win on the mound by pitching all seven innings, giving up four hits, two walks, and striking out three. At the plate, Geitzel went 2-for-3, while Leuzinger finished 1-for-1, and Samantha DeVoe was 1-for-2.
With the win Monticello moves to 6-0 on the season, including a 2-0 record in the Six Rivers Eastern Conference.
Argyle 4, Juda/Albany 1
ARGYLE - Tabatha Davis had a solid night on the mound for the Juda/Albany softball team, but despite her best efforts, the host Orioles held on to a 4-1 conference victory.
Juda/Albany committed two errors in the first inning, which allowed Argyle to seize the opportunity to advance and score two runs to get an early lead.
"We made a couple of mistakes in the first, (but) you have to credit Argyle; they were able to cash in on our errors," Juda/Albany head coach Bill Davis said.
Tabatha Davis gave up five hits and struck out eight in the loss. Senior Morganne Goecks went 2-for-4, while teammate Jessica Crull was 2-for-3 with a leadoff double in the sixth inning, which had Argyle coach Heidi Ganshert a bit nervous.
"We were able to get out of a couple spots there," she said. "Crull had that leadoff hit, which put us on the spot right away in the sixth. (But) I'm proud of our team with how they handled the different situations. The game could have been different if things went the other way, but our defense did a great job in limiting the damage."
Jessica Treuthardt picked up the win for the Orioles on the mound, allowing six hits and striking out three batters. Aysha Monahan was 2-for-3 at the plate for Argyle.
Pecatonica 14,
Black Hawk 11
SOUTH WAYNE - The Pecatonica softball team started off strong in their game against Black Hawk on Thursday. But despite the Vikings running out to an early 11-3 lead by the end of the fifth inning, the host Warriors erupted for a six runs in the sixth to make the game an epic finish.
After not scoring in the first two innings of play, Black Hawk softball coach Jim Baumgartner was in search of an answer as his team trailed 7-0. Pecatonica managed a couple of runs in the ensuing innings, but the Warriors stormed back and tied things up in the seventh. However Pecatonica was able to finish what they started, as they took the lead and held on to the 14-11 victory in eight innings of work.
Despite his team's loss, Baumgartner sees this game as a stepping stone for his team.
"We are a young team," he said. "Although we didn't get the win, I'm happy to see the girls get some confidence with the way they battled back."
Brooke Moore and Abby Baumgartner each went 3-for-4 and 3-for-5 respectively for the Warriors.
Brodhead 14,
East Troy 9
EAST TROY - The Brodhead girls softball team did most of their damage in the early innings of their game against East Troy. The Cardinals erupted for 11 runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to propel them to a 14-9 cross conference victory over the host Trojans.
Payton Wright picked up the win on the mound for Brodhead, going six innings, giving up nine runs, no walks, while striking out two. Junior Brooke Boegli pitched one inning of relief work, striking out two batters in her brief outing.
"We are facing a doubleheader on Saturday, so we wanted to give her (Boegli) a break and some rest time," Brodhead coach Jeannie Doescher said.
In the game the Cardinals amassed an astounding 22 hits, led by sophomore Amber Pickel (3-for-3), juniors Payton Wright (3-for-4), and Erin Kloepping (3-for-5). With the win, Doescher sees her team making the necessary strides to put together a successful season.
"They all want to work to get better," she said. "They are all willing to put in the time to come up with the 'W.'"
Brodhead moves to 3-2 on the season, with a 2-0 record in the Rock Valley South conference.
The deciding factor came down to the last play of the game, where Monticello senior Clare Geitzel threw out Barneveld's Kayla Carden at home plate in clutch fashion to give the Ponies a narrow 1-0 victory over the ranked Eagles.
"I was hoping to score more, (but) one run is huge when we play each other because both teams have good pitchers," Monticello coach Duane Garrison said. "Barneveld is a very good team. We played good defense tonight along with solid pitching, which is a big portion of the game. Tonight's game was a huge confidence builder."
Monticello utilized its offensive game plan early when Geitzel got on base with a bunt single in the first inning. Jordan Garrison followed up with a sacrifice bunt to advance Geitzel to second to put the Ponies in scoring position. Courtney Leuzinger came through with a single to center field which gave the Ponies runners on first and third. After pinch runner Meagan Lehr was thrown out trying to steal second in the next series of at-bats, Geitzel was able to run in for the lone and deciding score of the game.
Geitzel finished the game with a solid all-around performance, picking up the win on the mound by pitching all seven innings, giving up four hits, two walks, and striking out three. At the plate, Geitzel went 2-for-3, while Leuzinger finished 1-for-1, and Samantha DeVoe was 1-for-2.
With the win Monticello moves to 6-0 on the season, including a 2-0 record in the Six Rivers Eastern Conference.
Argyle 4, Juda/Albany 1
ARGYLE - Tabatha Davis had a solid night on the mound for the Juda/Albany softball team, but despite her best efforts, the host Orioles held on to a 4-1 conference victory.
Juda/Albany committed two errors in the first inning, which allowed Argyle to seize the opportunity to advance and score two runs to get an early lead.
"We made a couple of mistakes in the first, (but) you have to credit Argyle; they were able to cash in on our errors," Juda/Albany head coach Bill Davis said.
Tabatha Davis gave up five hits and struck out eight in the loss. Senior Morganne Goecks went 2-for-4, while teammate Jessica Crull was 2-for-3 with a leadoff double in the sixth inning, which had Argyle coach Heidi Ganshert a bit nervous.
"We were able to get out of a couple spots there," she said. "Crull had that leadoff hit, which put us on the spot right away in the sixth. (But) I'm proud of our team with how they handled the different situations. The game could have been different if things went the other way, but our defense did a great job in limiting the damage."
Jessica Treuthardt picked up the win for the Orioles on the mound, allowing six hits and striking out three batters. Aysha Monahan was 2-for-3 at the plate for Argyle.
Pecatonica 14,
Black Hawk 11
SOUTH WAYNE - The Pecatonica softball team started off strong in their game against Black Hawk on Thursday. But despite the Vikings running out to an early 11-3 lead by the end of the fifth inning, the host Warriors erupted for a six runs in the sixth to make the game an epic finish.
After not scoring in the first two innings of play, Black Hawk softball coach Jim Baumgartner was in search of an answer as his team trailed 7-0. Pecatonica managed a couple of runs in the ensuing innings, but the Warriors stormed back and tied things up in the seventh. However Pecatonica was able to finish what they started, as they took the lead and held on to the 14-11 victory in eight innings of work.
Despite his team's loss, Baumgartner sees this game as a stepping stone for his team.
"We are a young team," he said. "Although we didn't get the win, I'm happy to see the girls get some confidence with the way they battled back."
Brooke Moore and Abby Baumgartner each went 3-for-4 and 3-for-5 respectively for the Warriors.
Brodhead 14,
East Troy 9
EAST TROY - The Brodhead girls softball team did most of their damage in the early innings of their game against East Troy. The Cardinals erupted for 11 runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to propel them to a 14-9 cross conference victory over the host Trojans.
Payton Wright picked up the win on the mound for Brodhead, going six innings, giving up nine runs, no walks, while striking out two. Junior Brooke Boegli pitched one inning of relief work, striking out two batters in her brief outing.
"We are facing a doubleheader on Saturday, so we wanted to give her (Boegli) a break and some rest time," Brodhead coach Jeannie Doescher said.
In the game the Cardinals amassed an astounding 22 hits, led by sophomore Amber Pickel (3-for-3), juniors Payton Wright (3-for-4), and Erin Kloepping (3-for-5). With the win, Doescher sees her team making the necessary strides to put together a successful season.
"They all want to work to get better," she said. "They are all willing to put in the time to come up with the 'W.'"
Brodhead moves to 3-2 on the season, with a 2-0 record in the Rock Valley South conference.
