ARGYLE - The main job for any leadoff hitter is to get on base.
Pecatonica junior Brooks Chandler has excelled as a leadoff hitter this year, but he also provided the offensive punch the Vikings needed to roll to a 12-1 win over Argyle Monday.
Chandler went 2-for-4 with four RBI to propel the Vikings. With the win, Pecatonica (17-3, 15-3 Six Rivers East) maintains a one-game lead in the conference over Barneveld.
"Brooks has been one of our more consistent hitters," Pecatonica coach Jim Strommen said. "He has taken a step up this year. He kind of sets the table for us."
Chandler had a clutch two-out, three-run double in the fourth inning to give the Vikings a 5-1 lead on the Orioles. Argyle senior Kyle Olson gave up a single to Pecatonica junior Kyle Kleppe. Olson then walked Pecatonica's Gavin Burdick. Dakota Conwell hit into a fielder's choice and Kleppe scored when the ball got away at first base. Olson walked in a run, but the big blow came on Chandler's three-run triple. Chandler finished with two triples.
Conwell also made a big catch in the fifth that could have led to an Orioles' comeback.
"Dakota made a great catch," Strommen said. "If he doesn't make that catch in the fifth, two runs probably would have scored and Argyle is right back in the game."
Kleppe went 3-for-4 and Burdick was 2-for-3 with a double.
Pecatonica sophomore A.J. Hendrickson pitched five innings and gave up one run on two hits. He struck out eight and walked six.
"A.J. struggled a little bit," Strommen said. "He made some big pitches and got some strikeouts when he needed them with guys on base."
Olson pitched 32⁄3 innings and gave up five runs on four hits. He struck out four and walked four. Argyle junior Riley Ostby pitched 12⁄3 innings and gave up six earned runs on six hits. He struck out two and walked two.
The only run for the Orioles came in the third. Argyle senior Will Herman singled up the middle off Hendrickson. Olson helped his own cause by coming through with a chopper to Kleppe at third base. Olson beat the throw to first and Herman scored to give the Orioles a short-lived lead. Argyle's Cam Treuthardt singled for the other hit off Hendrickson.
Pecatonica senior Drew Schliem pitched a shutout sixth. Pecatonica will host Albany in a makeup game today. Pecatonica has four games left and the Vikings close the regular season hosting Barneveld May 28.
Barneveld 10, Black Hawk 2
BARNEVELD - Two Barneveld pitchers combined tossed a one-hitter to lead the Eagles to a 10-2 win over Black Hawk Monday.
Barneveld led 4-1 entering the fifth inning where the Eagles broke the game open with six runs. Black Hawk's Tayler Rupnow pitched four innings and gave up seven earned runs on four hits. He struck out four and walked nine.
Pecatonica junior Brooks Chandler has excelled as a leadoff hitter this year, but he also provided the offensive punch the Vikings needed to roll to a 12-1 win over Argyle Monday.
Chandler went 2-for-4 with four RBI to propel the Vikings. With the win, Pecatonica (17-3, 15-3 Six Rivers East) maintains a one-game lead in the conference over Barneveld.
"Brooks has been one of our more consistent hitters," Pecatonica coach Jim Strommen said. "He has taken a step up this year. He kind of sets the table for us."
Chandler had a clutch two-out, three-run double in the fourth inning to give the Vikings a 5-1 lead on the Orioles. Argyle senior Kyle Olson gave up a single to Pecatonica junior Kyle Kleppe. Olson then walked Pecatonica's Gavin Burdick. Dakota Conwell hit into a fielder's choice and Kleppe scored when the ball got away at first base. Olson walked in a run, but the big blow came on Chandler's three-run triple. Chandler finished with two triples.
Conwell also made a big catch in the fifth that could have led to an Orioles' comeback.
"Dakota made a great catch," Strommen said. "If he doesn't make that catch in the fifth, two runs probably would have scored and Argyle is right back in the game."
Kleppe went 3-for-4 and Burdick was 2-for-3 with a double.
Pecatonica sophomore A.J. Hendrickson pitched five innings and gave up one run on two hits. He struck out eight and walked six.
"A.J. struggled a little bit," Strommen said. "He made some big pitches and got some strikeouts when he needed them with guys on base."
Olson pitched 32⁄3 innings and gave up five runs on four hits. He struck out four and walked four. Argyle junior Riley Ostby pitched 12⁄3 innings and gave up six earned runs on six hits. He struck out two and walked two.
The only run for the Orioles came in the third. Argyle senior Will Herman singled up the middle off Hendrickson. Olson helped his own cause by coming through with a chopper to Kleppe at third base. Olson beat the throw to first and Herman scored to give the Orioles a short-lived lead. Argyle's Cam Treuthardt singled for the other hit off Hendrickson.
Pecatonica senior Drew Schliem pitched a shutout sixth. Pecatonica will host Albany in a makeup game today. Pecatonica has four games left and the Vikings close the regular season hosting Barneveld May 28.
Barneveld 10, Black Hawk 2
BARNEVELD - Two Barneveld pitchers combined tossed a one-hitter to lead the Eagles to a 10-2 win over Black Hawk Monday.
Barneveld led 4-1 entering the fifth inning where the Eagles broke the game open with six runs. Black Hawk's Tayler Rupnow pitched four innings and gave up seven earned runs on four hits. He struck out four and walked nine.
