Bigger fish to fry

Monticello’s hopes of winning a second straight Mississippi 8 title went out the window when they lost to Princeton last week but they have bigger fish to fry. They bounced back by crushing Becker two days later and reminded the state that they aren’t done yet.

The Magic had won seven games in a row before dropping a non-conference matchup to Orono on Monday, May 6. They hosted Princeton the next day and needed a win to stay alive in the conference championship race.

After two scoreless innings, the Tigers took a 1-0 lead to start the third inning. Monticello answered with three during the bottom of the frame and led by two. Princeton responded by putting up a crooked number in the fourth and took the lead permanently. No other runs crossed the plate for either team and the red and black fell 6-3.

Monticello was held to three runs on three hits. Two of those hits came off the bat of junior Brock Holthaus, who finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored. Freshman Cale Holthaus had the other hit, an RBI triple and drove in two. Senior Caden King drove in the other run with a sacrifice fly. Senior Tyson Visness and junior Easton Peters scored the other runs.

Junior Campbell Bosacker started the game on the mound and pitched four scoreless innings. Junior Tim Marcus (L) entered the game out of the bullpen and allowed six runs (five earned) over the final three innings.

Two days later, Monticello hosted Becker with a chance to play spoiler with the Bulldogs leading the conference. Becker, who beat Monticello 8-4 on April 12, was previously undefeated in conference play. That was until the Magic beat up on the Bulldogs 11-1 in five innings on their home turf.

Monticello scored seven runs on 10 hits in their previous two games combined. Against Becker, they scored 11 on 10 hits.

The party started quickly in the first inning for the Magic. Visness led off the game with a triple and came around to score his first of two runs. The Magic led 2-0 after one and after allowing a run in the second, countered with six runs in the bottom of the second.

After a scoreless third, Monticello scored another run in the fourth and two in the fifth to 10-run the Bulldogs after senior Nick Anderson (W) shut them out after the second. He finished with five strikeouts.

Brock Holthaus was 2-for-3 with two doubles, three runs and two RBI. Peters had two hits including a double and two runs. King had two hits including a double, two RBI and two walks. Senior Colin Lovegren drove in two and scored once. Bosacker and Anderson also had an RBI each.

On Friday, May 10, Monticello lost a non-conference game 6-5 to Benilde-St. Margaret’s. The Magic scored five runs on 10 hits but committed four errors in the loss.

Monticello (10-5, 9-3 Mississippi 8) played Chisago Lakes (6-9, 3-8) on Tuesday. On Thursday they had a road game against Totino-Grace (7-7) and another road game against St. Cloud (9-3) on Friday.

They return home to end the regular season against Sauk Rapids-Rice (3-10) on Tuesday, May 21 and Anoka (5-10) on Thursday, May 23. The double elimination 2024 Section 5AAA Baseball Tournament begins on Tuesday, May 28 and runs through Tuesday, June 4.