Tom Price jr.
A 1-0 loss to Mt. Whitney in their final game of the Visalia-Tulare Invitational on April 7 at Mt. Whitney summed up a tournament's worth of frustration for the Exeter Monarchs.
One day after Exeter was blanked by tournament champion Redwood 12-0, their bats continued to flounder against the Pioneers managing just three hits. The Monarchs were held hitless by pitcher Curtis Gardner for 5 2/3 innings before Morgan Munger legged out an infield hit. The two shutout losses were just the conclusion to a decline in offensive production. In Exeter's second game of the tournament they were beaten 8-2 by Porterville. and managed just three hits.
The Monarchs tournament opener against Delano turned out to be an illusion. Exeter put 12 runs on the board behind the hitting of Kurtis Stutsman who tied a school record with six RBI. The only other players to accomplish that feat were Cleveland Indians pitcher Jeriome Robertson and current Monarch head coach Steve Garver.
Exeter resumes East Sequoia League play this week with games against Dinuba and Corcoran. As of press time results of Tuesday's game with Dinuba had yet to be played and results can be found in the April 21 issue of The Exeter Sun.
