Grand finale: Monti, Cascade split

MONTICELLO -- They'll exit the Tri-Rivers Conference together. They'll probably exit as softball co-champions.Lael Lubben delivered the game-winning hit in the bottom of the eighth inning to give Class 3A seventh-rated Monticello a 1-0 victory in the first game of Monday's double-header at Monticello High School. Then eighth-grader Riley Takes smoked a two-run home run as No. 14 Cascade captured a 2-1 decision in the nightcap."The first game was an awesome game," said Cascade Coach Ken Weber. "To lose in extra innings, we could have had our heads down. But the girls battled."As a result, the league race is extended to Wednesday.Monticello (25-6, 17-1) has wrapped up at least a share of its third straight Tri-Rivers title. Cascade (22-7, 15-1) goes to Starmont for a makeup double-header Wednesday, needing a sweep to earn a title share.The Panthers, of course, will be rooting for the Stars."You know it," said Monticello Coach Tiffany Rave. "We will be."Both schools will move to the River Valley Conference in the fall. Their final night as Tri-Rivers rivals resulted in two nailbiters.Monticello didn't manage a hit against Cascade pitcher Kate Coyle until the seventh inning, then broke through in the eighth.Pinch-hitter Andrea Bone led off the bottom of the eighth by reaching on an error, then was bunted to second by Sonya McCormick. After Kennedy Kraus lined out, Bone stole third.Lubben then laced a solid liner to left, and Bone scored the winning run easily."(The pitch) was inside. I like it better down the middle," Lubben said. "Coach just said to hit it on a line."Lubben had an opportunity to be a double hero, but grounded out in the seventh inning of Game 2 with two outs and the tying run at second base.Monticello took a 1-0 lead in the nightcap on Allison Kraus' RBI single in the third inning, but the Cougars more than got the run back, in a hurry.Lynsey Dolphin reached on an error with one out, then Takes failed to get a bunt down."I was nervous," she said. "I knew I just had to try as hard as I could to make up for it."Takes sent the next pitch over the left-field fence to put the Cougars in front for good."They knew we wanted to bunt, and once the defense comes up, we want to hit it by them," Weber said. "Riley was aggressive and put it over the fence."It's entirely possible that these teams could meet again in two weeks in a 3A regional final."These kinds of games are great for us at this time of the year," Rave said. "Little things are going to make the difference in a game that can go either way." 

Two outs when winning run scored.Kate Coyle and Lisa Tucker. Erin Hosch and Lael Lubben. W -- Hosch (17-5). L -- Coyle (11-4).

Game 1

 

 

 

 

R

H

E

Cascade

0 0 0

0 0 0

0 0

--

2

1

Monticello

0 0 0

0 0 0

0 1

--

1

3

1

Lynsey Dolphin and Lisa Tucker. Hannah Thompson and Lael Lubben. W -- Dolphin (10-2). L -- Thompson (8-1). HR -- C: Riley Takes (3).

Game 2

 

 

 

 

R

H

E

Cascade

0 0 0

2 0 0

--

2

7

2

Monticello

0 0 1

0 0 0

--

1

5

3