GRATIOT - Monticello sophomore Becky Nelson didn't have time to even think about the Ponies' struggles with runners in scoring position in the sixth inning.
The Ponies were 0-for-9 hitting with runners in scoring position entering the sixth, but Nelson changed all that with a two-run single that gave Monticello a 5-1 lead.
"I was a little nervous. I didn't know where they were," Nelson said of the runners. "I just wanted to hit it and get it in play."
The Ponies (3-0, 1-0 Six Rivers East) weren't done as freshman Jordyn Kubly came through with a clutch two-out, two-run single that closed the door on the Ponies' 7-1 win over Black Hawk Monday.
Monticello went 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left 11 runners on base, but they took advantage of some wildness by Black Hawk starting pitcher Kayla Melland. Melland walked nine and hit six batters.
"We showed no enthusiasm," Black Hawk coach Roger Jackson said. "We have to play with more enthusiasm and effort than that if you are going to win. Those walks just kill you."
With the Ponies leading 3-1 in the sixth, Melland walked Monticello sophomore Tanya Smith and hit junior Taylor Pfeuti. Melland worked out of bases loaded jams in the second and third, but she couldn't get off the hook in the sixth. Nelson came through, driving in two and Kubly sealed the game.
"I wish we would have got some more timely hits," Monticello coach Duane Garrison said. "Jordyn Kubly again came up with a big hit."
The Ponies had runners on base in six of the seven innings. Pfeuti, who was on base four of the five times she batted (two walks, two hit by pitches), set the tone early on with a walk. Monticello senior Mersadi Hilliard laid down a sacrifice bunt and Pfeuti raced from first to third. She scored when Nelson reached on an error.
The Ponies added to their lead in the second when Melland walked the bases loaded and hit Pfeuti with two outs, giving Monticello a 2-0 lead.
Nelson, who was 2-for-3, led off with a single in the third and scored on Kelsey Jacobsen's groundout to make it 3-0.
Monticello sophomore Karlie Klossner pitched a complete game and gave up only three hits and one run. She struck out eight and walked one.
Garrison said the goal for Klossner is to limit the walks to three a game. She has walked seven in three games.
"I can't say enough about her," Garrison said of Klossner. "She is carrying us right now. For a young team, we are playing good."
Throughout most of the game, it looked like the Warriors may have been able to stay within striking distance and rally to win like they did in a WIAA Division 4 regional game last year.
Black Hawk's only run against Klossner was unearned and came in the fifth. Jorden Rupnow walked and junior Melissa Wellnitz singled with two outs. Melland reached on an error, which allowed a run to score. With the loss, Black hawk drops to 0-3 overall and 0-1 in the Six Rivers East.
"We should have hit the ball better," Jackson said. "If you only score one run, you are not going to win many games."
The Ponies were 0-for-9 hitting with runners in scoring position entering the sixth, but Nelson changed all that with a two-run single that gave Monticello a 5-1 lead.
"I was a little nervous. I didn't know where they were," Nelson said of the runners. "I just wanted to hit it and get it in play."
The Ponies (3-0, 1-0 Six Rivers East) weren't done as freshman Jordyn Kubly came through with a clutch two-out, two-run single that closed the door on the Ponies' 7-1 win over Black Hawk Monday.
Monticello went 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left 11 runners on base, but they took advantage of some wildness by Black Hawk starting pitcher Kayla Melland. Melland walked nine and hit six batters.
"We showed no enthusiasm," Black Hawk coach Roger Jackson said. "We have to play with more enthusiasm and effort than that if you are going to win. Those walks just kill you."
With the Ponies leading 3-1 in the sixth, Melland walked Monticello sophomore Tanya Smith and hit junior Taylor Pfeuti. Melland worked out of bases loaded jams in the second and third, but she couldn't get off the hook in the sixth. Nelson came through, driving in two and Kubly sealed the game.
"I wish we would have got some more timely hits," Monticello coach Duane Garrison said. "Jordyn Kubly again came up with a big hit."
The Ponies had runners on base in six of the seven innings. Pfeuti, who was on base four of the five times she batted (two walks, two hit by pitches), set the tone early on with a walk. Monticello senior Mersadi Hilliard laid down a sacrifice bunt and Pfeuti raced from first to third. She scored when Nelson reached on an error.
The Ponies added to their lead in the second when Melland walked the bases loaded and hit Pfeuti with two outs, giving Monticello a 2-0 lead.
Nelson, who was 2-for-3, led off with a single in the third and scored on Kelsey Jacobsen's groundout to make it 3-0.
Monticello sophomore Karlie Klossner pitched a complete game and gave up only three hits and one run. She struck out eight and walked one.
Garrison said the goal for Klossner is to limit the walks to three a game. She has walked seven in three games.
"I can't say enough about her," Garrison said of Klossner. "She is carrying us right now. For a young team, we are playing good."
Throughout most of the game, it looked like the Warriors may have been able to stay within striking distance and rally to win like they did in a WIAA Division 4 regional game last year.
Black Hawk's only run against Klossner was unearned and came in the fifth. Jorden Rupnow walked and junior Melissa Wellnitz singled with two outs. Melland reached on an error, which allowed a run to score. With the loss, Black hawk drops to 0-3 overall and 0-1 in the Six Rivers East.
"We should have hit the ball better," Jackson said. "If you only score one run, you are not going to win many games."
