HIGHLAND — The Vikings shook things up in the WIAA Division 5 postseason, knocking off fourth-ranked and top-seeded Highland 3-1 on May 26.
The win marks the program’s first regional title since 1999. The only time the Vikings made it to state was in 1993.
Pecatonica got on the board right away. Trinity Gruenenfelder singled to left on the second pitch of the game, and on the fourth pitch, Tessa Green roped a double down the left first line to score a run.
Both teams went back and forth with adding zeros on the scoreboard, but that changed in the top of the sixth inning.
Green, a senior, singled to the outfield on a full count to lead off the inning. On the very next pitch, fellow senior Lexi Peterson laced a home run to center field to make it 3-0.
Highland responded in the bottom of the frame, scoring a run on a sacrifice fly. Pecatonica pitcher Chloe Schraepfer punched out the next batter looking to end the threat in the inning. In the seventh, Schraepfer put down the Cardinals in order with two infield pop outs and a liner snagged by Gruenenfelder in the air at third.
Bri Peterson added a double for the Vikings. Schaepfer was steady in the pitcher’s circle, striking out four while allowing just one walk and three hits. Highland’s Grace Dreischmeiee had 12 strikeouts and walked one.
WIAA Division 3
Cambridge 2, Brodhead 0
BRODHEAD — After playing two innings May 26, the Cardinals saw their regional championship against Cambridge postponed 24 hours. Unfortunately for Brodhead, the host, the bats dried up with the infield as a promising season came to an end early.
McKenna Young was tagged with the loss at pitcher for Brodhead. She struck out 16 batters and allowed just three hits. However, she struggled with her command at times, walking for batters and throwing three wild pitches.
Cambridge scored the first run in the top of the third — the first inning of work on Day 2. The Blue Jays would add another run in the top of the fifth on the second of two wild pitches in the same at bat with two outs.
Brodhead popped out 12 times in the game, including nine times over the final five innings.
Ava Risum was 2-for-3 for Brodhead, with Young smacking a double and Cora Hafen a single.
WIAA Division 4
Belmont 10, Argyle 0
ARGYLE — The No. 6-ranked Orioles were held to just two hits in a regional final loss to No. 7-ranked Belmont May 27.
Lindsay Connors and Jenny Helfvogt each had a single for Argyle.
Grace Ganshert struggled on the mound, allowing 14 hits and six earned runs with just five strikeouts.
The Braves took the lead in the top of the fourth, scoring four runs. Belmont added another in the fifth, and five more in the sixth to end Argyle’s season an inning early. The Orioles also had three errors in the contest.
Oakfield 6, Juda-Albany 1
OAKFIELD — The state’s second ranked team kept last year’s Division 4-runner up from advancing in the May 27 regional championship.
Anna Skoumal and Alana Durtschi each had two hits, with one of Skoumal’s a double. Avary Briggs gave up 10 hits and two walks at pitcher. She struck out four, and all six runs were earned.
Juda-Albany scored the first run of the game in the third when Skoumal drove in Ciarrah Davis. Oakfield scored three runs in both the third and fourth innings.
