At long last Monticello baseball and softball teams finally get a chance to play on home fields

by Rhett Sifford
Sports Editor
Unbelievably the Monticello High School baseball and softball teams finally played some games on their home fields this past week.
The snow was finally gone and crews were able to get the fields ready for action in time for four games between the two teams. Sadly, neither team was able to muster a victory this past week.
For the baseball team it was a light week. They hosted North Sevier in a 2A East doubleheader on Tuesday, April 18, suffering 15-5 and 16-5 losses in their first official home games of the season.
Jackson Keyes led the way at the plate for the Buckaroos in game one. He was 3 for 3 at the plate with a double and an RBI. Shane Lewis and Treydon Harris were both 1 of 3 on the day. Lewis had two RBIs and Harris got one.
In the second game Keyes was 2 for 3 with a home run and four RBIs. JD McDonald drove in one run for Monticello and was 1 for 3 at the plate. Easton Young was a perfect 2 of 2 in the loss.
With just three games remaining in the regular season the Buckaroos are 1-10 and ranked 12th in the 2A RPI standings. They’ll open the 2A Utah State Baseball Tournament on the road May 6.
But before that they close out the regular season with three games over the course of a week. They visited the Dove Creek Bulldogs on Tuesday, April 25, too late for the San Juan Record print deadline.
Next Tuesday, May 2 they’ll play another 2A doubleheader at home against the #13 North Summit Braves in games that could give the Bucks a little bit of momentum headed into the postseason.
A fairly busy past week began on the road for the Monticello High School softball team against South Sevier, where they suffered a doubleheader sweep to the Lady Rams 16-0 and 20-1.
The Lady Buckaroos returned home on Friday, April 21 to play their first games on their home field, suffering losses to Piute 17-2 and 26-9.
As the team heads into the final week of the regular season they’re in 18th in the 2A RPI standings with an 0-8 record. Monticello is going to play an impressive eight games in a seven-day period, all 2A Central doubleheaders.
On Tuesday, April 25 they visited #14 Altamont after the San Juan Record print deadline. Wednesday, April 26 the Lady Bucks are in Gunnison to take on the #8 Gunnison Valley Lady Bulldogs.
Friday, April 28 they are back home to host #2 Duchesne, then they’ll close out the regular season with a road trip to Salina to face the #11 North Sevier Lady Wolves.
If the standings remain unchanged Monticello will not earn a birth in the 2A Utah State Softball Tournament which begins on May 6. The Lady Buckaroos would need to move up to #17 or #16 to appear in a play-in game.