In a game heard on WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com, Monticello got contributions from its entire lineup and Jack Buckalew was solid across five innings leading Monticello past St. Joseph-Ogden 11-5 in an Illini Prairie Conference win Monday in Monticello.

St. Joe put up three runs in the top of the third inning but the Sages answered with six runs in the fourth, all with two outs.

Jacob Trusner powered a drive through a vicious blowing across the field to the base of the center field fence for a two-run double that tied the game then Spencer Mitze plated two runs with a single with the bases loaded that gave the Sages a 6-3.

Luke Teschke would add a two-run single two innings later that put Monticello up 9-4 and then back-to-back RBI groundouts by Mitze and Wade Carroll put the Sages up 11-4 in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Buckalew battled through five innings. He allowed three runs on six hits with no walks and had five strikeouts.

Mitze game breaking base hit and solid defense in left field through Monday's wind earned him the ServPro of Piatt/DeWitt County Player of the Game.

The Spartans fall to 21-6 overall and 7-1 in the Illini Prairie Conference.

The Sages go to 15-4 overall and 7-1 in the IPC. A win Thursday at Rantoul guarantees Monticello a share of the Illini Prairie Conference title. 

Monticello travels to Tuscola Wednesday and wraps up the Illini Prairie Conference slate on Thursday at Rantoul.