Bucks make a run at 2A state tourney

THE BIRD SCOOP
by Walter & Becky Bird
Baseball
It was a crazy, eventful week for the Monticello High School baseball team, as they played a total of seven games in the span of six days.
On Monday, April 30 the Bucks played two make-up games against Rowland Hall in Gunnison. With Thomas Anderson on the hill, the Bucks jumped out to an early 3-2 lead after the first inning.
After that, the Bucks shut out the Winged Lions. But the Monticello offense got going, adding single runs in the fifth and sixth innings and three in the seventh inning to take the 8-2 win.
Monticello ended the game with seven hits. Kayden Draper, Mark Beh, and Brayson Wilcox all had doubles in the Thomas Anderson pitching win.
In the second game, Monticello recorded two runs in the second inning, three runs in the fourth and fifth innings and two more runs in the fifth inning on its way to a 10-0 Tyler Draper shutout win.
The Winged Lions struggled in the game, recording five errors and only managing two hits. Monticello hit well in the game, stringing out ten hits, led by Kayden Draper and Keaton Young’s doubles.
After two solid wins against Rowland Hall, Monticello traveled to Duchesne for a double header with the Eagles. In the first game, Monticello won by a score of 15-5. The second game was an offensive slugfest with Monticello coming out on top, 19-13.
With these wins, Monticello finished 8-4 in the 2A North – good enough for third place behind Gunnison and North Sevier, who shared the region title with matching 11-1 records.
With this finish, Monticello earned the right to play in the first round of the State of Utah 2A Baseball Championships on Saturday, May 5 in Beaver, UT.
Saturday started well for the Bucks, as they recorded a state tournament win against the Parowan Rams 10-9. It didn’t look good early as Parowan jumped out to a 2-0 lead after two innings of baseball.
However, Monticello got rolling, scoring two runs each in the third, fourth and sixth innings. It was good that they scored consistent runs in the middle innings, as Parowan put up four and three runs in the fifth and sixth innings.
A late rally of four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning secured Kayden Draper’s pitching win.
In support of Draper, Buck hitters Thomas Anderson, Zack Cecil, and Kayden himself each hit a double in the exciting come-from-behind win.
Perhaps, Monticello was emotionally spent as they faced the hometown Beaver Beavers in the Bucks second game of the day. The Beavers had some bite early, as they jumped out to a first inning 11-0 lead.
The Beavers then tacked on six runs in the second inning and another two runs in the third and fourth innings. By then the damage was done, as Monticello couldn’t recover, dropping the game 19-0.
Monticello managed six hits in the game but couldn’t string those hits together to manufacture some runs. One lone bright spot was Brayson Wilcox’s triple.
After recording the earlier win, Kayden Draper shouldered the loss in the second game. Monticello’s seven errors in the game added to a frustrating outing for the Bucks.
With the loss, the Bucks had to play Parowan again in an afternoon elimination game. The defensive bleeding continued as Parowan jumped out to a 3-1 lead after one inning.
The Bucks rallied in the bottom of the third, tying the game at 3-3. However, Monticello gave up five runs in the fourth and seventh innings and could only manage two runs in the fourth inning and two more runs in the fifth inning, as the game slipped away from the Bucks, 13-7.
Again, the Monticello bats were active producing ten hits, but the Bucks just didn’t score enough runs, as Thomas Anderson ended up with the loss.
It was a great, successful season for the Bucks, who had not been to the post-season for four years. The team finished with a 13-7 overall record and a third place 2A North finish, paced by seniors Thomas Anderson, Brayson Wilcox, Keaton Young, and Tyler Draper.
These boys have been a fixture in Monticello baseball since they were freshmen and will be missed.
Congrats to coaches Steve Draper, Ryan Young, and Coby Christensen and the rest of the team on a great season.
Track
On a sun-filled Friday and Saturday, May 4-5, the Monticello track teams were in Provo for the 2018 Mr. Mac / BYU Invitational.
To participate in this meet, the athletes had to meet certain times and criteria. It is not a meet that is open to everyone, so its regarded as a mini-state meet, with the best of the best from five states going head to head.
As is customary, the 1A Monticello teams compete with 2A and 3A teams from all over the state.
The Monticello boys ended up in 26th place at the meet, scoring seven overall points. The Bucks finished behind 1A teams Panguitch, Valley, Wayne, and Rich who scored 19, 16, 12, and 8.5 points respectively.
They also edged Milford by one point, so it should be a tight battle for the 1A state track championship in a couple of weeks on the same BYU track. Of note, the Grand boys won the 1A-3A meet, scoring 60.5 overall points.
In the sprint events, Max Hedgelin placed ninth in the 100M with a time of 11.51. Teammates Brayson Wilcox, Gage Wilcox, Tyler Draper, and Thomas Anderson finished 23rd, 36th, 37th, and 106th with times of 11.87, 12.04, 12.04, and 12.89.
In distance, Adam Bunker placed 15th in the 1600M with a time of 4:35.69. Teammates Alan Pettit and Hyrum Johnson finished 30th and 59th with times of 4:51.42 and 5:02.43.
Corey Bunker finished 76th, running a 5:07.72. In the 3200M, Adam Bunker placed third with an excellent time of 9:42.99. Alan Pettit placed 24th running a time of 10:38.26. Corey Bunker followed, finishing 31st in 10:53.90.
In middle distance, Adam Bunker placed 18th running a 2:04.88 in the 800M. Teammates Alan Pettit and Hyrum Johnson followed placing 68th and 73rd with times of 2:18.11 and 2:19.72.
In hurdles, Adam Bunker placed 14th in the 300MH with a time of 43.27.
In the field events, Gage Wilcox placed 50th in the Shotput with a throw of 35-04.75. He followed that with a 17th place finish in the Discus, winging it 115-4.25
The Monticello boys Sprint Medley team placed 14th with a time of 4:03.54 and tenth in the 4x100 relay running a 46.09. In the 4x400, Monticello placed 23rd, running the overall 1600M in 3:59.06.
On the day, the Lady Bucks did not place, as they failed to score a point in the meet. But it was a good experience for them to compete and things will be different when they return to the same track in a couple of weeks for state to compete against only 1A competition.
In the sprint events, Presley Lewis finished 27th with a time of 13.77 in the 100M.
In hurdles, Makayla Sheeran finished 22nd in the 100MH, running a time of 17.81. She also placed 22nd in the 300MH with a time of 51.47.
In distance, Madison Freestone placed 51st in the 1600M, running a 5:56.56. She followed that with a 39th place finish in the 3200M with a time of 13:20.74.
In the field events. Naomi Mantz placed eleventh in the High Jump, clearing 4-10.00. Hannah Leiataua placed 14th in the Discus, tossing it 95-00.25. She also finished 21st in the Shotput, heaving it 30-11.25.
The Lady Bucks took 20th in the 4x100 relay with a time of 54.55.
The Monticello track teams will again be in action on Wednesday, May 9 for the Region 19 Track Championships at the San Juan High School track in Blanding before the state meet in a couple of weeks at BYU in Provo.
Golf
The Monticello golf teams traveled to Price on Thursday, May 3 to play the Carbon County Country Club. After a snowy Wednesday in Monticello, the teams were welcomed by lots of sunshine in Price.
The boys had a great match and soundly beat Green River by 38 shots, besting them 367 shots to 405. Britton Brewer was the top Buck golfer, shooting a round of 88. Ryan Bird finished a shot back at 89.
Justin Cecil and Dylan Bird rounded out the scoring with matching rounds of 95. Bowden Hunter and Wyatt Fullmer shot a 97 and 105 on the day.
The Lady Bucks also played the entire track in Price after only playing nine holes in April. Tymbr Black’s round of 102 led the team. Olivia Chamberlain finished with a 125 and Ellie Thayn ended up with a round of 132. Brooklyn Holt shot 142. Nyla Maryboy did not make the trip to Price.
The Monticello golfers finished the regular season on Tuesday, May 8 when they traveled to Green River for the final Region 19 match.
Next week, Monticello will play in the 1A State Golf Championships on May 16-17 at Mountain View GC in West Jordan.