CAMBRIDGE — With a 4-1 win over No. 1-seed Cambridge in a WIAA Division 3 regional final game May 30, 5-seed New Glarus won its program’s first regional title. The Bluejays had swept the Glarner Knights during the regular season 4-3, 3-0.
New Glarus scored three of its four runs in the fifth inning. Nolan Julseth and Ashlin Mihlbauer lined back-to-back one out singles. Mihlbauer’s hit to center proved to be the game-winner. Leyton Mihlbauer was hit by a pitch, and the Glarner Knights scored two more runs on three straight hits.
Patience at the plate was crucial in the win, as the team drew eight walks. Leyton Mihlbauer, who was hit by a pitch twice, drew two walks and didn’t have an official at bat on the night. Nathan Hendrickson, Ashlin Mihlbauer and Patrick Alt tallied one hit and RBI each.
With the win, New Glarus advances to the Prairie du Chien sectional June 4 with 6-seed Marshall, 1-seed Aquinas and 2-seed Viroqua. New Glarus and Marshall split during the conference season, with the Knights winning 14-1 in the first matchup. The Cardinals were the Knights’ last loss of the season, 11-6, on May 6.
PECATONICA 7, RIVERDALE 3
BLANCHARDVILLE — The No. 1-seed Vikings clinched their 14th regional title and third straight with a 7-3 win over the 3-seed Chieftains.
“I’m proud of the guys,” Pecatonica head coach Jim Strommen said. “It’s never easy. Anything can turn in a matter of pitches. Now we get our conference rival, Barneveld. It’s an exciting time for baseball.”
Jameson Johnson jump-started the offense with a solo home run in the first. In the second, No. 9 hitter Austin Enloe reached, setting up for the top of the order. Tyler McKeon singled, and Johnson blasted another home run. From that point on, Riverdale didn’t pitch to Johnson.
Instead, Elijah Knutson and Carson Kurnscher hit back-to-back RBI doubles in the sixth for insurance runs.
Johnson finished 2-for-2 with two home runs, two intentional walks, four RBIs and three runs scored. Knutson and Kurschner were 2-for-4 with a double and RBI each. McKeon earned the win, giving up two earned runs on four hits in 5 1/3 innings’ work. He struck out 10 and walked three. Lukas Rue came in for relief in the sixth with bases loaded and one out. After walking the first batter, he struck out the final two batters of the inning.
Pecatonica advances to the Johnson Creek sectional with 5-seed Barneveld, 1-seed Johnson Creek and 3-seed Oakfield. The Vikings swept the Eagles in the regular season 7-2, 5-1.
