Monticello softball team upsets Wayne to earn birth in state tournament, but softball and baseball seasons both come to premature end over weekend

by Rhett Sifford
Sports Editor
The Monticello High School softball team pulled off a shocking 24-13 upset win over Wayne in a 2A Utah State Softball Tournament play-in game in Duchesne this past Saturday, May 6.
The win was impressive not only because it was the Lady Buckaroos’ first this season and first in the new era of Monticello softball, but because it put them into the state tournament in their first and only try.
Sadly the celebration was short-lived as the Lady Bucks suffered back-to-back losses to Duchesne and Milford, bringing their season to a premature close.
Monticello ends the year with a 1-18 record and they’ll have some good stories to tell their kids someday. The team overcame quite a bit of adversity this year to even get on the field. They established a solid foundation that can be built upon as they head into future seasons.
The MHS baseball team came up against their tough rivals from Blanding in the first round of their 2A state tourney, and the teams had to travel all the way to Beaver to play each other. That’s pretty appropriate in a season that saw the Bucks unable to even set foot on their home field until April.
Monticello was unable to muster any offense in the first round meeting with their rivals, falling 12-0 and dropping into the one-loss bracket of the tournament.
In the very next game of the day the Buckaroos suffered a 14-2 loss to North Summit, bringing their season to an end. It was a tough finish to a challenging season but MHS battled hard all year and can hold their heads high. The team finished with a 1-15 record.