The Monticello Legion Post 260 baseball team has played in a lot of close games this summer and that trend continued over the last two games. On Thursday, July 11, Monticello tied played STMA Golds 6-6 and then lost a marathon 16-15 games to Hutchinson on Monday earlier this week.
At 2-8-1, the team hasn’t seen as many wins as they would have liked so far, but four of those losses have been by one run. They didn’t add to the win total but the bats have started to get hot over the last week.
“We’ve had our full roster available and healthy one game this season. We have played much better than our record reflects, but that’s baseball,” said Head Coach Mark Ulven. “The guys have played hard every game, it’s just come down to a play here and there that would have made a big difference.”
The regular season concludes this week and then the sub-state playoffs begin on Tuesday, July 23 in Osseo. The seeding meeting for the playoffs is on Wednesday after the Monticello Times goes to publication.
Monticello led 4-0 after five innings against STMA but the Golds tied the game 5-5 in the seventh inning. Because St. Michael-Albertville was playing in a weekend tournament, the teams agreed to play one inning with international rules. Both teams started the eighth with a man on second base.
Both teams scored in the extra frame and the game ended in a 6-6 tie. Trevor Dahlke started on the mound and pitched four shutout innings. Ethan Longley led the offense with two hits and Tim Marcus had a double. Tyson Visness, Nick Anderson and Cal Ulven also recorded hits.
The game on Monday against Hutchinson lasted three hours.
Post 260 scored 15 runs on 18 hits during the extra-inning loss. Nick Anderson gave Monticello a quality start on the mound but the defense faltered during pivotal moments that Hutchinson took advantage of to win the game.
Caden King led the offense in hits after going 4-for-5 with three doubles and three RBI. Cal Ulven had three hits and drove in five runs. Tyson Visness had three doubles and two RBI. Easton Peters, Colin Lovegren and Anderson all collected multiple hits as well.
Monticello played Willmar on Monday night and put a lid on the regular season with a home game against Delano on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Monticello High School. The playoffs begin next week from July 23 through July 28. Games will be played at Osseo Senior High School.
Post 260 has a steady pitching rotation. Monticello will be a dark horse team in the sub-state playoffs if the bats can keep up and do their part.
“If we continue to grind out at-bats like we have all season and we make the plays when they are presented to us, we can definitely make some noise in the sub-state playoffs. I remind the guys what a privilege it is to play meaningful baseball with their friends and never to take it for granted,” added Coach Ulven.
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