The Monticello Polecats, the local town ball team that plays in the Sauk Valley East League, is coming off of two straight state tournament appearances and is working on making it three. They are 7-4 so far this summer but are 6-1 in league play and sit in first place by two games over Clearwater and Becker.
Monticello is 4-0 over their last four league games. They most recently beat Becker 9-2 on Sunday, June 16.
Jason Axelberg and Cole Bovee both had two doubles against the Bandits. Dallas Miller also had two hits to go with two RBIs. Bovee (two), Brock Woitalla, Caden King and Dustin Wilcox also drove in runs.
Tanner Eckhart (W) struck out 17 in eight shutout innings and allowed just one hit. Woitalla pitched the ninth inning, allowing two runs (one earned) with a strikeout.
The game before was a non-league game against the St. Michael Saints on Thursday, June 13.
The Polecats took the first lead off the game after a two-run bottom of the first. St. Michael tied the game after three innings, took the lead and never gave it back in the fourth.
St. Michael chased Monticello starting pitcher Steven Van Fleet from the game in the fourth and Maple Grove native Alex Naasz gave relief pitcher Michael Revenig a rude welcome. Naasz stepped to the plate with the bases loaded after the pitching change and promptly sent a big fly over the outfield wall for a grand slam as the Saints blew the game wide open.
Monticello scored a run in the fifth but the Saints answered with two in the sixth and added two more insurance runs in the eighth to beat Monticello 11-3.
Van Fleet (L) allowed six runs (four earned) in three innings. He struggled with control against the Saints, issuing three walks and hitting three batters compared to five hits allowed. Revenig finished the game, allowing five runs (three earned) in six innings.
Axelberg and Conor Wollenzien had a team-high three hits. Woitalla went 2-for-5. Axelberg, Wollenzien and Wilcox drove in a run each during the 11-3 loss.
Monticello played a league game the day before against the Clearwater River Cats. The Polecats sent the River Cats packing with a 7-1 loss in seven innings after the game was called early due to storms in the area.
Miller (W) started on the mound and struck out eight in six innings of work. Woitalla struck out two in one shutout inning out of the bullpen. Michael Olson recorded three hits, two of them doubles and drove in a run. Bovee went 2-for-2 with a sacrifice fly and three RBI. Sam Dokkebakken, Wollenzien and Wilcox also drove in runs. Axelberg and Braydon Hanson joined Bovee with two hits.
It’s been a great start to the summer for a team that has high expectations for itself. On Wednesday, Monticello hosted the Ramsey Renegades for a non-league game at Monticello High School. On Sunday, they have a road game against Watkins. On Monday, June 24, Monticello hosts the Princeton Panthers at 7:30 p.m. Their next league game will be on Saturday, June 29 against Clearwater at Sportsman’s Park.
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