MONTICELLO - The Ponies received a big boost from two freshmen outfielders to win the Monticello tournament for the first time after knocking off Juda in the championship game Saturday, 8-4.
"I have had better teams the past three years," Monticello coach Duane Garrison said. "We just played well today. With it being our first two games this year, I didn't know what to expect. I didn't know how we would respond. We responded very well. It's a confidence builder for us."
The Monticello tournament was moved up a week so that Elkhorn could play in the tournament. Elkhorn had their own tournament scheduled for April 17.
"I catered to Elkhorn because they have been coming every year," Garrison said.
In the first game, Monticello beat Argyle, 8-6, in the Ponies' season opener.
The Ponies started two freshman outfielders in Taylor Gaffner, who was 2-for-3 with two runs batted in, and Jordyn Kubly.
"They both came up big time for us," Garrison said.
Kubly knocked in three runs with a double in the seventh inning to give the Ponies an 8-6 lead.
"She was the MVP," Garrison said. "Both Gaffner and Kubly collected hits and made big plays. It made me feel good to know that our outfield could handle the job."
Desiree Marty went 2-for-4 at the plate for the Ponies. Monticello's Karlie Klossner pitched a complete game. She gave up six runs on six hits. She struck out three and walked three.
Juda beat Elkhorn, 14-4, in its first game of the tournament. Panthers sophomore Amber Ramos threw a complete game.
In the championship game against Monticello, Juda junior Aly Pierce pitched a complete game as the Ponies beat the Panthers, 8-4.
With Monticello clinging to a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning, the Ponies scored three runs. Marty and Kuebli each had an RBI singles in the frame.
Monticello senior Mersadi Hilliard went 2-for-3 and Kubly was 2-for-4.
Klossner pitched her second straight complete game, giving up four runs on six hits. She struck out two and walked two.
"We didn't think they would throw Ramos. It probably would have been a different game" if Ramos would have started, Garrison said. "She is the elite pitcher in our league. That is not to take anything away from Pierce."
In other area action, Pecatonica lost to Seneca, 11-5 and to River Ridge, 14-6, at the River Ridge tournament.
Brodhead lost to Potosi, 14-6. The Chieftains scored two in the first and six in the second to put the Cardinals down early. Brodhead stormed back, scoring five runs in the bottom of the sixth to make it 10-5, but a four-run seventh by Potosi ut the game out of reach.
"I have had better teams the past three years," Monticello coach Duane Garrison said. "We just played well today. With it being our first two games this year, I didn't know what to expect. I didn't know how we would respond. We responded very well. It's a confidence builder for us."
The Monticello tournament was moved up a week so that Elkhorn could play in the tournament. Elkhorn had their own tournament scheduled for April 17.
"I catered to Elkhorn because they have been coming every year," Garrison said.
In the first game, Monticello beat Argyle, 8-6, in the Ponies' season opener.
The Ponies started two freshman outfielders in Taylor Gaffner, who was 2-for-3 with two runs batted in, and Jordyn Kubly.
"They both came up big time for us," Garrison said.
Kubly knocked in three runs with a double in the seventh inning to give the Ponies an 8-6 lead.
"She was the MVP," Garrison said. "Both Gaffner and Kubly collected hits and made big plays. It made me feel good to know that our outfield could handle the job."
Desiree Marty went 2-for-4 at the plate for the Ponies. Monticello's Karlie Klossner pitched a complete game. She gave up six runs on six hits. She struck out three and walked three.
Juda beat Elkhorn, 14-4, in its first game of the tournament. Panthers sophomore Amber Ramos threw a complete game.
In the championship game against Monticello, Juda junior Aly Pierce pitched a complete game as the Ponies beat the Panthers, 8-4.
With Monticello clinging to a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning, the Ponies scored three runs. Marty and Kuebli each had an RBI singles in the frame.
Monticello senior Mersadi Hilliard went 2-for-3 and Kubly was 2-for-4.
Klossner pitched her second straight complete game, giving up four runs on six hits. She struck out two and walked two.
"We didn't think they would throw Ramos. It probably would have been a different game" if Ramos would have started, Garrison said. "She is the elite pitcher in our league. That is not to take anything away from Pierce."
In other area action, Pecatonica lost to Seneca, 11-5 and to River Ridge, 14-6, at the River Ridge tournament.
Brodhead lost to Potosi, 14-6. The Chieftains scored two in the first and six in the second to put the Cardinals down early. Brodhead stormed back, scoring five runs in the bottom of the sixth to make it 10-5, but a four-run seventh by Potosi ut the game out of reach.
