BLANCHARDVILLE - Pecatonica junior Lane Busser continued his hot streak Friday going 3-for-3 with two RBIs and two doubles to lead Pecatonica to a 12-3 win over Highland in the first game of a doubleheader.
The Vikings had to settle for a split in the twinbill as Highland escaped the initial victors 3-2 in the second game. The win was merely a point of pride for Highland. Only the first game of the doubleheader counts in the conference standings. Pecatonica, which is 10-4 overall and 7-1 in the Six Rivers East Conference, is still in the driver's seat to repeat as conference champions.
"Highland is one of the top teams in the west division," Pecatonica coach Jim Strommen said. "They are second in the Six Rivers West. It was a big win for us."
Pecatonica sophomore Bo Hendrickson crushed a three-run home run in the Vikings' seven-run second inning. The other big blows in the inning came on junior Everett Johnson's two-run single and Busser's two-run double that gave the Vikings an 8-0 lead.
Pecatonica junior Carter Ruegsegger pitched 5 2/3 innings to get the win in the first game. He gave up three runs and scattered eight hits while also striking out eight. Senior teammate Evan Prust tossed 1 1/3 shutout innings in relief and struck out two.
Pecatonica pounded out 14 hits total. Junior Colton Schraepfer went 3-for-3 with two runs and a double while fellow junior Everett Johnson was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Sophomore teammate Zander Brunker finished 2-for-4 with one RBI at the plate.
Johnson had a solid performance pitching in the second game as well, giving up three runs on just four hits. He struck out two, walked three and hit one.
Pecatonica has a big week ahead. On Monday, the Vikings host Argyle only to have Barneveld visit for a game Tuesday.
"Those two games will be key for us," Strommen said, noting that winning those matches will bring Pecatonica a step closer to conference champions.
The Vikings had to settle for a split in the twinbill as Highland escaped the initial victors 3-2 in the second game. The win was merely a point of pride for Highland. Only the first game of the doubleheader counts in the conference standings. Pecatonica, which is 10-4 overall and 7-1 in the Six Rivers East Conference, is still in the driver's seat to repeat as conference champions.
"Highland is one of the top teams in the west division," Pecatonica coach Jim Strommen said. "They are second in the Six Rivers West. It was a big win for us."
Pecatonica sophomore Bo Hendrickson crushed a three-run home run in the Vikings' seven-run second inning. The other big blows in the inning came on junior Everett Johnson's two-run single and Busser's two-run double that gave the Vikings an 8-0 lead.
Pecatonica junior Carter Ruegsegger pitched 5 2/3 innings to get the win in the first game. He gave up three runs and scattered eight hits while also striking out eight. Senior teammate Evan Prust tossed 1 1/3 shutout innings in relief and struck out two.
Pecatonica pounded out 14 hits total. Junior Colton Schraepfer went 3-for-3 with two runs and a double while fellow junior Everett Johnson was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Sophomore teammate Zander Brunker finished 2-for-4 with one RBI at the plate.
Johnson had a solid performance pitching in the second game as well, giving up three runs on just four hits. He struck out two, walked three and hit one.
Pecatonica has a big week ahead. On Monday, the Vikings host Argyle only to have Barneveld visit for a game Tuesday.
"Those two games will be key for us," Strommen said, noting that winning those matches will bring Pecatonica a step closer to conference champions.
