Dragons lose hard-fought battle with Mustangs

By Jeremy Knight, Special Correspondent
Published: May 22, 2008

On Tuesday, May 13, the William Monroe varsity baseball team hosted the Monticello Mustangs in the final Jefferson District game in the regular season.
Both teams came into this game looking to gain some momentum heading into the Jefferson District tournament. In the first meeting between the teams, Monroe won a close game by the score of 3-2.
But not this time.  Monticello would escape with a final 10-6 victory.
After holding the Mustangs to no runs in the first, the Dragons struck early by getting the first run of the game. Eric Utz reached on a Mustang error with two outs that scored Bruce Shifflett and gave Monroe a 1-0 early lead.
Following a quiet second inning, Monticello got on the board by scoring two runs in the top of the third. They were able to push across two runs on just two hits and a walk in the inning.
Not to be outdone, Monroe tied the game at two by scoring their second run of the game in the bottom of the third. Shane Racer would score on the first hit and first rbi for Utz.
The Dragons would threaten again in the bottom of the fourth after a walk to Jason Nave and a double by Shifflett, but were unable to push across any runs.
The score remained tied at two until Monticello scored three runs in the top of the sixth. After a walk and a Monroe error, the Mustangs got all three runs on one swing of the bat as they powered a three run homer to right field.
Once again the Dragons were determined not to give up as they scored four runs in the bottom of sixth inning to grab the lead right back. Following two straight singles, Ryan Bouton reached on a Monticello error that allowed Mitchell Morris to score.
Later that inning and with two outs, Racer and Danny Morris both got an rbi single back to back and brought home the second and third runs of the inning. Another Mustang error would allow the fourth run of the inning to score.
At the end of the sixth inning, the Dragons led the seesaw game 6-5.
But that would be short lived.
In the top of the seventh inning, Monticello got five runs off just two hits. Monroe pitchers walked six Mustang batters that allowed Monticello to have a 10-6 lead heading into the last at-bat for the Dragons.
In the bottom of the seventh, Monroe would get two runners on base, but they were unable to get anyone home—and unable to answer the Mustangs for a third time in the game.
The final score:  10-6, a Monticello victory.
Monroe out-hit the Mustangs 8-6. Leading them was Racer with two hits and an rbi. Utz and Danny Morris both had a hit and one rbi. Also Mitchell Morris, Ryan Bouton,
Bruce Shifflett and Jason Nave all added a hit of their own.
After the game coach, Mark Arrington said: “Monticello wanted the game more than we did. We didn’t come ready to play tonight and were not mentally in the game. We will need to bounce back quickly because the district tournament is coming up.“
With the loss the Dragons fell to 6-14-1 overall and 4-8 in the district.
Then on Friday May 16, William Monroe faced Fluvanna in the first round of the Jefferson District baseball tournament.
The Dragons lost by a score of 8-3