Monticello is 2-8 against Duchesne since May of 2018 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Tuesday. The Buckaroo will square off against the Eagles at 2:00 p.m. Monticello is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 9.3 runs per game this season.
While Monticello didn't have the best season last year (they finished 5-14), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past. They were the clear victors by a 13-3 margin over Dove Creek on Friday. The Buckaroo haven't had any issues with the Bulldogs recently, as the game was their fourth consecutive win against them.
Jackson Keyes
| 04/04/25 vs Dove Creek | 11 |
| 03/06/25 @ Monument Valley | 5 |
| 04/26/24 vs Dove Creek | 5 |
| 03/10/25 vs Dolores | 4 |
| 04/30/24 @ North Summit | 4 |
Jackson Keyes made a big impact no matter where he played. He looked comfortable on the mound, striking out 11 batters over five innings while giving up three earned runs off seven hits. Those 11 strikeouts gave him a new career-high. He was even better at the plate, going a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run, three runs, and three RBI. He is becoming a predictor of Monticello's success: when he posts at least two runs the team is undefeated (and 1-2 when he doesn't).
In other batting news, Arturo Guiterrez was excellent, scoring three runs while going 2-for-3. Another player making a difference was Cache Young, who scored a run while going 2-for-4.
Monticello was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .464. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Dove Creek only posted a batting average of .333.
Meanwhile, Duchesne fell victim to Gunnison Valley and their airtight pitching crew on Monday. They took a 3-0 hit to the loss column at the hands of the Bulldogs. The Eagles just can't catch a break and have now endured three losses in a row.
Duchesne saw four different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Nashden Goodliffe, who went 1-for-3 with one stolen base. Kyson Giles was another, getting on base in two of his three plate appearances with two stolen bases.
Monticello's victory was their fourth straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 5-2. Those home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.3 runs over those games. As for Duchesne, their defeat dropped their record down to 5-11.
Monticello suffered a grim 11-0 defeat to Duchesne when the teams last played back in March of 2024. Can the Buckaroo avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
