A dominant outing on the mound paired with an explosive performance at the plate propelled the Monticello Sages to a commanding 12–0 victory over the Westville Tigers in non-conference baseball action Friday night at Monticello High School.
Monticello improved to a perfect 6–0 on the season behind a standout performance from Heyden Roman, who controlled the game from the first pitch. The right-hander struck out 10 batters over five innings, allowing just one hit while issuing one walk and hitting a batter. Roman consistently kept Westville off balance with a mix of velocity and control, never allowing the Tigers to generate sustained offense.
At the plate, Cole Basak led the charge in a big way, driving in six runs on a night that featured three extra-base hits. His production helped fuel a relentless Sages offense that scored in each of the first four innings.
Monticello wasted no time getting on the board in the bottom of the first. Basak delivered a run-scoring triple to ignite the offense, and the Sages capitalized on early momentum to take a 3–0 lead by the end of the inning.
The Sages continued to apply pressure in the second inning. With runners on base, Basak came through again—this time with a double that brought home Dawson Gaitros. Monticello’s lineup remained aggressive and efficient, extending the lead to 6–0 heading into the third.
In the third inning, Basak stayed hot at the plate, singling to drive in Jax Bailey and push the advantage to 7–0. By that point, Monticello had firmly taken control, combining timely hitting with disciplined at-bats to keep the Tigers on their heels.
The decisive moment came in the fourth inning when Basak delivered the biggest swing of the night—a bases-clearing double that broke the game wide open and extended the lead to 10–0. The Sages would tack on two more runs to reach the final margin of 12–0, invoking the run rule.
While the offense stole the spotlight, Monticello’s defense and pitching were equally sharp. Roman worked efficiently through five shutout innings, facing minimal trouble and allowing just a single hit. His performance earned him Player of the Game honors.
Westville, now 3–5 on the season, struggled to find rhythm offensively and dropped its fourth consecutive contest.
Monticello will look to keep its unbeaten streak alive as it returns to action Saturday at home against New Berlin. The Sages will also be back on the field Monday when they host Lincoln, with first pitch scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
With strong pitching, consistent hitting, and early-season momentum, Monticello continues to establish itself as a team to watch.
Cole Basak with a Deep Triple
Cole Basak with a Single an RBI
“He’s Okay!” – Dawson Gaitros gets hit by Pitch advancing to 1st