SOUTH WAYNE - While the Black Hawk bats are still starting to show up, Monday evening Jake Kaempfer proudly presented his excuse slip for being tardy.
After missing the first three games of the season due to a family vacation, the Warriors senior had two doubles in a 7-3 Six Rivers East victory over Pecatonica that tied the clubs for second place in the league at 4-3.
While the multi-sport star drilled his second two-bagger into the alley in the third inning, his first triggered a four-run rally in the second even if he didn't square it up like the second.
Kaempfer hit a flare over first base and was sprinting out of the box, not letting up until he slid into second base.
"Jake just used his speed and never stopped running," head coach Todd Strang said. "He got set back a bit and we're just starting to see him see the ball pretty well right now."
Cody Foster drove Kaempfer home and leadoff man Tommy Butts plated him after a fielder's choice moved Foster up 90 feet.
An RBI-double was followed by an RBI-single by shorstop Joey Hartwig to cap the rally started by Kaempfer's hustle.
Aside from the grit, Strang was ecstatic to get four hits from the bottom third of his order
"Not only are our bats starting to get going, we're starting to see it up and down the order 1-9," Strang said.
The authority on hard work in South Wayne, catcher Taylor Goodman drove home two runs and is relieved that the hours in the cage are starting to pay dividends.
"We've come a long ways and we spend a lot of time in practice hitting," Goodman said. "We came out swinging tonight like we've been hoping to do all season and it finally just clicked tonight."
Goodman's fellow senior and battery mate Alex Abraham fanned seven batters in getting the complete-game victory.
A couple of late walks came back to haunt him as the Vikings put one across in the fifth and the seventh.
"Pec is an amazing team and we were just lucky to get out of here with a victory," Abraham said.
That sort of respect is born from a conference rivalry that moves seamlessly from the gridiron to the hardwood and certainly doesn't take a season off when it comes to battles on the diamond.
"It's the Cubs and the Brewers if that's how you look at it," Strang said, "and these kids will do anything to beat each other.
"Pec's one of the top dogs and to take one from them tonight is huge. The conference championship is still there, but we've got a lot of work to do."
Bryan Daley went a perfect 3-for-3 for Pecatonica. If the Vikings hope to remain in the league runnings, it will weigh heavily on the health of Lee Vlasak. The junior ace has battled some arm issues but looked as good as advertised in working a clean seventh that wrapped up two batters before Goodman's cleanup spot.
"It was very nice to not see him," Goodman admitted. "He throws hard, has a lot of pitches and a really good curveball. He's probably one of the best pitchers in the conference."
After missing the first three games of the season due to a family vacation, the Warriors senior had two doubles in a 7-3 Six Rivers East victory over Pecatonica that tied the clubs for second place in the league at 4-3.
While the multi-sport star drilled his second two-bagger into the alley in the third inning, his first triggered a four-run rally in the second even if he didn't square it up like the second.
Kaempfer hit a flare over first base and was sprinting out of the box, not letting up until he slid into second base.
"Jake just used his speed and never stopped running," head coach Todd Strang said. "He got set back a bit and we're just starting to see him see the ball pretty well right now."
Cody Foster drove Kaempfer home and leadoff man Tommy Butts plated him after a fielder's choice moved Foster up 90 feet.
An RBI-double was followed by an RBI-single by shorstop Joey Hartwig to cap the rally started by Kaempfer's hustle.
Aside from the grit, Strang was ecstatic to get four hits from the bottom third of his order
"Not only are our bats starting to get going, we're starting to see it up and down the order 1-9," Strang said.
The authority on hard work in South Wayne, catcher Taylor Goodman drove home two runs and is relieved that the hours in the cage are starting to pay dividends.
"We've come a long ways and we spend a lot of time in practice hitting," Goodman said. "We came out swinging tonight like we've been hoping to do all season and it finally just clicked tonight."
Goodman's fellow senior and battery mate Alex Abraham fanned seven batters in getting the complete-game victory.
A couple of late walks came back to haunt him as the Vikings put one across in the fifth and the seventh.
"Pec is an amazing team and we were just lucky to get out of here with a victory," Abraham said.
That sort of respect is born from a conference rivalry that moves seamlessly from the gridiron to the hardwood and certainly doesn't take a season off when it comes to battles on the diamond.
"It's the Cubs and the Brewers if that's how you look at it," Strang said, "and these kids will do anything to beat each other.
"Pec's one of the top dogs and to take one from them tonight is huge. The conference championship is still there, but we've got a lot of work to do."
Bryan Daley went a perfect 3-for-3 for Pecatonica. If the Vikings hope to remain in the league runnings, it will weigh heavily on the health of Lee Vlasak. The junior ace has battled some arm issues but looked as good as advertised in working a clean seventh that wrapped up two batters before Goodman's cleanup spot.
"It was very nice to not see him," Goodman admitted. "He throws hard, has a lot of pitches and a really good curveball. He's probably one of the best pitchers in the conference."
