RIVER RIDGE - Backed by strong pitching and solid defense, the Pecatonica baseball team picked up a doubleheader sweep against River Ridge.
Led by senior Tyler Hodgson, the Vikings (22-5) earned a 7-2 win in the first game. Pecatonica manufactured two runs in the third, four in the fifth, and one run in the seventh inning off of 11 hits as a team. Hodgson pitched all seven innings for the Vikings, giving up two runs off of five hits, one walk and three strikeouts. At the plate Hodgson finished 3-for-4, with three RBIs and one double. Teammate Chase Norton finished 2-for-4 with an RBI.
In game two, fellow ace Drew Schliem continued the pattern of dominant pitching, as the junior pitched all seven innings in the 8-1 win. The Vikings scored all eight of their runs between the fourth and sixth innings. Sophomore Dalton James led Pecatonica offensively, going a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate.
"We had some good pitching that was backed by sound defense tonight," Vikings coach Jim Strommen said. "In the second game though, it felt like we kind of had to manufacture some runs offensively. But we had a good end to an excellent season, nonetheless."
With a bye in the first round, Pecatonica will face the winner between Shullsburg-Benton and Southwestern on Wednesday.
"We're in a loaded regional," Strommen said. "We definitely have our work cut out for us. Barneveld, Highland, Shullsburg-Benton ... you name it, (they're) all very strong teams."
Riverdale 5, Darlington 1
DARLINGTON - In their final home game, the Darlington baseball team dropped a 5-1 loss to conference opponent Riverdale.
Against Riverdale pitcher Trevor Troxel, the Redbirds were unable to get their offense into a rhythm and scored their only run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Troxel pitched all seven innings and did not give up an earned run, while striking out seven Darlington batters and allowing three walks.
"We kept it close for a while," Darlington coach Matt Austin said. "(But) we just couldn't get over the hump."
Junior Jason Singer finished 2-for-3 with a double in his team's final regular season game.
The No. 4 seed Redbirds will host Iowa-Grant on Tuesday.
"This was our last game of the year," Austin said. "We have to get ready for the playoffs. Truthfully, I think we're in an ideal spot. We've played them (Iowa-Grant) twice this year and managed to come out on top. If we can get that win, hopefully we can get on a little bit of a roll here."
Marshall 6,
New Glarus 1
MARSHALL - The Knights dropped their final regular season game with a 6-1 loss to conference rival Marshall on Thursday.
Led by Kigen Mares, the host Cardinals rattled off three runs in the first and followed up with one run in each of the next three innings off of 10 team hits.
New Glarus collected five hits as a team, led by senior Kyle Larson who in his last regular season game finished 3-for-3 with a double at the plate. The Knights will travel to take on Cambridge in the opening round of the regional playoffs on Tuesday.
Led by senior Tyler Hodgson, the Vikings (22-5) earned a 7-2 win in the first game. Pecatonica manufactured two runs in the third, four in the fifth, and one run in the seventh inning off of 11 hits as a team. Hodgson pitched all seven innings for the Vikings, giving up two runs off of five hits, one walk and three strikeouts. At the plate Hodgson finished 3-for-4, with three RBIs and one double. Teammate Chase Norton finished 2-for-4 with an RBI.
In game two, fellow ace Drew Schliem continued the pattern of dominant pitching, as the junior pitched all seven innings in the 8-1 win. The Vikings scored all eight of their runs between the fourth and sixth innings. Sophomore Dalton James led Pecatonica offensively, going a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate.
"We had some good pitching that was backed by sound defense tonight," Vikings coach Jim Strommen said. "In the second game though, it felt like we kind of had to manufacture some runs offensively. But we had a good end to an excellent season, nonetheless."
With a bye in the first round, Pecatonica will face the winner between Shullsburg-Benton and Southwestern on Wednesday.
"We're in a loaded regional," Strommen said. "We definitely have our work cut out for us. Barneveld, Highland, Shullsburg-Benton ... you name it, (they're) all very strong teams."
Riverdale 5, Darlington 1
DARLINGTON - In their final home game, the Darlington baseball team dropped a 5-1 loss to conference opponent Riverdale.
Against Riverdale pitcher Trevor Troxel, the Redbirds were unable to get their offense into a rhythm and scored their only run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Troxel pitched all seven innings and did not give up an earned run, while striking out seven Darlington batters and allowing three walks.
"We kept it close for a while," Darlington coach Matt Austin said. "(But) we just couldn't get over the hump."
Junior Jason Singer finished 2-for-3 with a double in his team's final regular season game.
The No. 4 seed Redbirds will host Iowa-Grant on Tuesday.
"This was our last game of the year," Austin said. "We have to get ready for the playoffs. Truthfully, I think we're in an ideal spot. We've played them (Iowa-Grant) twice this year and managed to come out on top. If we can get that win, hopefully we can get on a little bit of a roll here."
Marshall 6,
New Glarus 1
MARSHALL - The Knights dropped their final regular season game with a 6-1 loss to conference rival Marshall on Thursday.
Led by Kigen Mares, the host Cardinals rattled off three runs in the first and followed up with one run in each of the next three innings off of 10 team hits.
New Glarus collected five hits as a team, led by senior Kyle Larson who in his last regular season game finished 3-for-3 with a double at the plate. The Knights will travel to take on Cambridge in the opening round of the regional playoffs on Tuesday.
