MUSCODA — The Pecatonica Vikings are still searching for their first trip to the WIAA state baseball tournament. Playing in their 12th sectional since 1972, the Vikings fell to Bangor 9-3 in the championship game at Riverdale High School on June 7.

“They were the better team,” coach Jim Strommen said. “They hit the ball well. And then our defense … we had some costly mistakes. But they could hit the ball well up and down the lineup. The bottom of the order hurt us early in the game.”

In the more than 40-years that Strommen, a Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer, has been at the helm of the program, a trip to the state tournament has been the single elusive achievement.

“Coach said to just hit the ball hard — don’t worry about where it goes. Pitching — just throw strikes and let the defense play behind you,” sophomore shortstop Tyler McKeon said.

Pecatonica defeated host Riverdale in the sectional semifinal earlier in the day, 7-3. Bangor had knocked off Ithaca 3-1 in their sectional semifinal game in the morning.

Bangor starting pitcher, senior Ashton Michek, has been more than serviceable this season. The lanky southpaw entered the game with five no-hitters on the season, including two perfect games. He had a strikeout to walk ratio of more than 13:1, and he had allowed just a single run all season. Next season he’ll pitch for Augustana University.

In the sectional final, Vikings got on the board right away in the bottom of the first inning, knotting the score at 1-1 with some small ball. In fact, the Vikings closed the game with six hits and three earned runs against Michek, by far the most in either category against him this season. In 5.2 innings of work, Michek walked one and struck out nine, though seven were in a row at a crucial time in the game. 

“He was a good pitcher, I’ll give him that,” McKeon said. “We tried to chip-chip-chip away. You can’t get six runs on one hit.”

Bangor had scratched a run off the board in the top of the first off Pecatonica starter Jameson Johnson. In the second inning, the Cardinals plated two more runners, and added another in the third to take a 4-1 lead.

The Vikings didn’t quit, instead focused in deeper on making contact with Michek’s mid-80s fastball and hard breaking bender. In the bottom of the third, Kegun Brunker and Elijah Knutson singled with two outs, then Johnson doubled both home with a hit to right field, keeping Pecatonica alive.

“That was a big inning. We had scored two to make it 4-3, and we always say that after we score, we want to shut them down so we can score again,” Strommen said. “Instead we gave up five. That was the key right there.”

Instead of throwing a zero, the pressure finally broke on the Vikings defense. After back-to-back singles with one out, runners were sitting at second and third. Strommen had his defense play in on the grass to keep another run from scoring. A grounder to shortstop Tyler McKeon was cleanly picked, but his throw was off target, allowing a run to score. A passed ball allowed another run to score, and Johnson’s day on the mound was over after 3.1 innings of work. He allowed 10 hits, eight runs and struck out two.

“They were just hitting balls into gaps, and there was no way to really stop them. We could only try to fight back,” McKeon said.

McKeon came on in relief, just has he had in the first game, when he struck out five in a row to stifle any hopes Riverdale had at a possible comeback. Three wild pitches, along with a walk and a single, led to two more runs scoring — five total in the inning.

“Jay-mo (Johnson) was going to start the second game anyway, as Tyler is our shortstop. Tyler was going to come on in relief anyway. He did a phenomenal job at the end of the first game for us,” Strommen said. “I wouldn’t have changed anything anyway.”

Pressed at the plate for runs, the Vikings started hunting for their pitch early in the count, and Michek turned the page from serviceable to stellar at the same time. Hunter Enloe flew out on the first pitch of the bottom of the fourth, and Coy Ruegsegger grounded out four throws later. From that point on, Michek would sit down seven batters in a row via the strikeout — on just 29 pitches (23 strikes, 6 balls). Enloe ended the run with a two-out single in the bottom of the sixth. It was the 100th and last pitch of the day for Michek.

“He was good and pounded the strike zone with his fastball and had a good curveball,” Strommen said. “He’s playing in the all-star game for the South team, so I get to coach him.”

Chase Horstman finished the game on the mound for Bangor, not letting the Vikings get anything going in the seventh. McKeon, a sophomore, flew out to center to end the game.

The loss came just two hours after Pecatonica completed a sectional semifinal win over Riverdale. In that contest, senior starter Hunter Enloe battled through 4.1 innings, allowing four hits, three runs (two earned) and five walks while striking out seven. 

“He grinded through some innings and made some big pitches when he had to. And he had some big hits for us too — three hits, a two-run triple, an RBI single. Hunter’s been good for us all year,” Strommen said.

McKeon struck out six of the eight batters he faced, with none reaching base.

“It’s just next man up — do your job,” McKeon said.

Playing as the away team, Pecatonica opened the game with a bang. McKeon walked on four pitched to leadoff the affair, then Brunker singled. With one out, Johnson sent a towering fly ball into the left center gap, plating both runners. Johnson would come around to score on a single by Enloe, who worked to a full count before the clutch hit.

The Vikings scored three more runs in the fifth — again McKeon, Brunker and Johnson — with Enloe smoking a 2-run triple to send the green and gold faithful into a frenzy. Riverdale plated three in the bottom half of the frame, knocking out Enloe on pitch count, but the Vikings added another run in the top of the sixth for insurance.

“Scoring early is such a big deal. Getting three in the first inning against a quality team like Riverdale — that was huge. They are well coached and fundamentally sound, and they don’t beat themselves. They have big arms and good gloves. We knew it was going to be a tough game,” Strommen said.

Enloe finished a home run shy of the cycle at 3-for-4, while also driving in three. Johnson had two walks to go with his two runs, two RBIs and double. 

The Vikings graduate a strong class, but there is young talent returning, like Johnson, Ruegsegger and McKeon.

“This offseason we need to work, work, work. I don’t want to watch this again,” McKeon said, referencing Bangor celebrating receiving their sectional title plaque. He also said those returning will need to step up their leadership more than just playing well on the field. “We need to help the underclassmen. Nothing gets done if we don’t help the underclassmen out.”

The season will still go down as a success, with a seventh-straight conference title and 12th regional championship.

“It’s always special — win conference, win the regional and play in the sectional. This is a great group of kids. These last few years have been really great,” Strommen said.