Vikings rely on pitching, defense

Pecatonica graduates four All-Conference starters

Trinity Gruenenfelder returns to play third base for Pecatonica after earning Honorable Mention accolades last year.

Trinity Gruenenfelder returns to play third base for Pecatonica after earning Honorable Mention accolades last year.

BLANCHARDVILLE — With a loaded lineup in 2022, Pecatonica finished third in the Six Rivers East Conference with a 7-8 record. Overall, the team went 11-11. Despite an average regular season on paper, the Vikings peaked in playoffs.

Pitcher Chloe Schraepfer limited the opponents’ offense, while her own team did just enough to win. The Vikings were regional champions with a 2-1 win over Seneca and 3-1 win over Highland. The story was the same in the sectional semifinal, as Pecatonica came away with a 3-2 victory over Belmont.

Conference rival Barneveld proved to be too much, though, as the Vikings’ season came to an end at the hands of the Eagles for second straight year, 4-0.

Seniors Tessa Green (First-Team All-Conference infield), Niveah Gross (First-Team All-Conference outfield), Sam Ihm (All-Conference Honorable Mention infield) and Lexi Peterson (All-Conference Honorable Mention) were key players on the roster, especially on the offensive end.

“We lost four starters and some really good offensive players,” head coach Dan Schraepfer said. “It will be crucial for us to improve our hitting this year, as we will be facing some very good pitchers this year.”

Pecatonica Roster

Chloe Schraepfer, Sr., Pitcher

Trinity Gruenenfelder, Sr., Catcher/3B

Kyra Chrostowski, Sr., 2B

Amanda Chrostowski, Sr., 1B/OF

Maddie Hirsch, Jr., IF/OF

Bri Peterson, Jr., Pitcher/OF

Alyssa Cassidy, Jr., IF/OF

Sophia Schraepfer, Jr., OF

Piper Garthwaite, Jr., IF/OF

Mikaela Gross, So., IF/OF

Diana Hendrickson, So., Pitcher/1B

Brianna Turner, So., Pitcher/OF

Rya Jorenby, So., Catcher/OF

Brooklyn Johnsrud, Fr., Catcher/IF

Tatum Kurscher, Fr., IF/OF

Chloe Bocklund, Fr., IF/1B

Despite losing a good chunk of its offense, Pecatonica will remain competitive this season with Chloe Schraepfer on the rubber. In a competitive conference, she earned Honorable Mention recognition. She also made First-Team All-District and Second-Team All-State.

Trinity Gruenenfelder was the sixth All-Conference selection for the Vikings at infield. She can play both third base and catcher. Other returners with experience include Kyra Chrostwoski (senior), Amanda Chrostowski (senior), Bri Peterson (junior), Maddie Hirsch (junior), Alyssa Cassidy (junior), Mikaela Gross (sophomore) and Diana Hendrickson (sophomore).

“We have strong pitching and defense,” Dan Schraepfer said. “We return a lot of varsity players that have had a lot of playing time.”

Non-letter winners that could make an impact on varsity include Sophia Schraepfer (junior), Piper Garthwaite (junior), Brianna Turner (sophomore), Rya Jorenby (sophomore), Brooklynn Johnsrud (freshman), Tatum Kurscher (freshman) and Chloe Bocklund (freshman).

As in years past, Dan Schraepfer believes the Vikings will compete with Juda-Albany and Barneveld for the conference title, as “each team as returning, experiences players with great pitchers.”

“Our goal is to finish in the top three in a very tough conference,” Dan Schraepfer said. “At the end, we want to be competing for the conference championship.”