In a game heard on WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com, Eric Arnold's fourth-inning RBI double proved to be the game-winner, backing a 13-strikeout effort from Ike Young and Monticello held off Tolono Unity 3-2 in a Class 2A Sectional championship win from the Workman Family Baseball Field at Millikin University in Decatur on Saturday.
Arnold blasted a double to left field that scored Brian Wiltgen who had reached on an error to start the inning. The run put Monticello ahead 3-0.
The Rockets got that run back in its half but it could have been more. Young, who cruised through four innings, started labor in the fifth. The Illinois commit had the inning begin with an error. Then he hit Oliver Rawlings, the Rockets' nine hitter, to put runners at first and second with nobody out. Leadoff hitter Nolan Remole walked to load the bases then Tyler Henry walked in a run to put Unity on the board 3-1.
Young then fell behind Brayden Henry but got him to strikeout. The ball got away from catcher Eli Craft however, Rawlings at third base lost track of the situation and was tagged out by Craft running down the baseline, getting two outs on the play.
Monticello scored two runs to start the game in first. Arnold singled with one out then Craft was hit by a pitch. With Young at the plate, Arnold took third on a pitch that got away from Unity catcher Ryan Cunningham just enough for the senior to leg out the extra base. Zeke Young - running for Craft - took second on the play as well.
That set up Ike Young's sac fly that scored the first run of the game.
After Young's sac fly, Colton Vance hit a chopper that ended up in shallow left-center field for a run-scoring hit to make it 2-0.
Young labored through 6 1/3 innings. The All-State quarterback struck out 13 but walked six, hit two batters, and allowed just one hit.
Matthias Rudolph worked around a run-scoring error and a walk to get the final out and put the win away for Monticello.
Vance finished 2-for-2 and reached all three times at bat with a walk and a run driven in. Arnold was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
Arnold earned the ServPro of Piatt/DeWitt Counties Player of the Game.
Unity ends its season 18-13 overall.
Monticello improves to 30-6 and advances to take on Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin on Monday at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield. Hear the action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com. First pitch is set for 7 pm.
