Were it not for an unusual play in the bottom of the fourth inning, Kyle Jacobson’s performance on the mound most likely would have been the story of Tuesday night’s battle between Monticello and Charlottesville. But with a mounting pitch count and the Black Knights tying the game shortly after his exit, the Mustangs starter was left with what was an unfortunate no decision.
“As long as the pitching is solid and the defense plays well, we don’t care how we win,” Jacobson said.
And so with the greater goal of Monticello keeping its winning streak alive and maintaining pace with the Jefferson District front runner in William Monroe, Tyler Moneymaker was able to put Jacobson’s 4 and 2/3 innings of work to use. First, the Mustangs’ 3-sport standout senior got out of a serious jam in the top of the fifth with minor damage, then he put the game on ice with a 2-run homerun in the bottom of the inning before he closed the door on Charlottesville for the next two innings in a 4-2 win.
“The whole year we’ve talked about adversity,” said Mustangs coach Peter O’Malley. “Things got a little haywire on us but we bounced back, came through, and of course, Moneymaker gave us the big homerun. We preach “hang in there, hang in there and hope for the best” and that’s what happened.”
While Charlottesville had its fair share of base runners and hard hit balls, Monticello was in command for a little more than the first half of the contest thanks to a fistful of plays in the outfield and good first inning. In their first turn at bat, the Mustangs jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to a pair of RBI singles from Connor Lilly and Josh Malm.
Jacobson was strong for the first three and 2/3rd’s innings as he earned eight strikeouts and allowed just two hits. But a ground ball with two runners on went awry as Monticello missed a tag to force an inning ending out, then committed an error in trying to the same thing in a rundown that allowed Charlottesville’s Haun DaVerney to score. After two walks, one from Jacobson that loaded the bases, and another from Moneymaker that tied the game, the Mustangs got out of their second bases loaded jam of the night. One audible pep talk later from O’Malley in between innings, Monticello worked its way back out in front for good.
With Jhalil Mosley coming up with a single just before, Moneymaker came to the plate and waited for his pitch. It was low, but across the middle and the senior made the most of his reach by hammering it over the fence in left field to make it a 4-2 game.
“I was looking for one high, but I’ll take them as they come,” Moneymaker said. “A homerun is a homerun, it doesn’t matter how you hit it.”
With a little help from his defense, again in the outfield, Moneymaker was able to work through the next two innings, including a bases loaded sixth to keep his team within a game of Monroe.
For Charlottesville, it was a game where they were just one hit away from breaking it open. The Black Knights left nine runners on base between the third and sixth innings. They had just three hits though.
“That’s been our Achilles heel this year, not getting that one hit,” said Black Knights coach Richie Williams. “But we’re so young, we’re learning. It’ll come in due time I know. I really like they way they’re working at it.”
Starter Ben Mattern was solid and only paid once for a missed pitch on Moneymaker’s homer in the fifth, dealing his way to five strikeouts and keeping Monticello’s first six hits relatively quiet. Offensively, Dale Richardson drove in the first run in the fifth while Andrew Chambers’ walk accounted for the second. Devonte Taylor, Jessie Scott and DaVerney accounted for all three hits.
Malm was 3 for 3 for Monticello. Moneymaker was 1 for 3. Max Man was 1 for 1 with two walks. Lilly was 1 for 2.
Charlottesville, (1-9, 1-5) travels to Fluvanna County Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Monticello (6-3, 5-1) gets the week off before facing Monroe on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in a critical showdown.
