By Dennis Bowling
Manteno Coach Josh Carlile has high expectations for the Panthers. They’re currently in fourth place in the very competitive Illinois Central Eight Conference. They were able to sweep the Lisle Lions with relative ease on April 18.
In the first game, Manteno junior Alyssa Dralle did a great job in the circle. She allowed a meager four hits and fanned four batters, to help the Panthers beat the Lions 10-0 (five innings) in an ICE contest in Manteno.
In the second contest, the Panthers whipped the Lions 20-1 (five innings) to complete the sweep. Manteno’s winning pitcher was Macy Iwanus, who allowed four hits and fanned nine batters. She led the offense knocking in six RBIs.
Manteno Coach Carlile was pleased with the mound performance of both pitchers.
“It was a pretty good day,” he said. “Alyssa was in the zone. She was able to stay ahead of the batters. Macy (Iwanus) was able to hit the ball hard and is a real competitor. She wants to compete on every pitch. We played solid up and down the lineup.”
Dralle is very confident on the mound for the Panthers.
“I checked on my defense; they were making all of the plays,” she said. “We were playing great and had some good energy.”
“My rise ball pitches were working well,” she said. “Macy was just on fire. Jaz (Manau) was calling the pitches.”
The Panthers Manau, a very good catcher, summarized the keys to Dralle’s decent outing.
“Alyssa’s curve ball was working really well,” she said. “Her rise ball was moving, too. She was able to stay ahead in the count. Macy is a pretty good hitter and has a powerful swing.”
In the first inning, Manteno (10-6, 6-2) scored two runs. The Panthers Lily Bivona led off with a single. Ava Pequette’s infield ground out moved Bivona to second base. Iwanus smashed a single and, on the play, Bivona scored for the first run. Drew Hosselton’s single plated Iwanus for the second run.
The Panthers scored three runs in the second inning for a 5-0 lead. Dralle crushed a triple to right field. Kenzie Hespen’s fly out drove in Dralle for the third run. Pequette reached base on a fielding error and, on the play, Bivona scored for the fourth run. An Iwanus single knocked in Pequette for the fifth run.
Manteno added two runs in the third frame to make it 7-0. Ava Peterson crushed a double to centerfield, then stole third base. A Manau single plated Peterson for the sixth run. Manau scored on a Lion fielding error for the seventh run.
The Panthers scored one run in the fourth inning to extend the lead to 8-0. Alyssa Singleton’s single knocked in Sophie Peterson for the eighth run.
Manteno scored two runs in the fifth frame for a 10-0 lead, as Sophie Peterson drove in two runs to highlight the scoring rally.
In the second game, the Panthers Gabby Monterastelli drove in three RBIs. AJ Lubben, Singleton, and Bivona each drove in two runs for Manteno.