By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Pec's pair of aces shut down Ponies
11272a.jpg
Times photo: Mark Nesbitt Pecatonica senior Lee Vlasak is congratulated by coach Jim Strommen after a leadoff homer in the first inning of the Vikings', 6-1 win over Monticello on Tuesday.
MONTICELLO - Pecatonica baseball coach Jim Strommen doesn't have to be tempted to wear out his ace pitcher's arm to fight for a Six Rivers East Conference title or a top seed come tournament time.

That's because his Vikings have two senior aces - Milton Kurschner and Lee Vlasak. Both were effective Tuesday, shutting down Monticello 6-1 on the Ponies' sun-splashed field.

The Vikings' one-two punch on the mound allows Strommen to keep both ace pitchers strong and healthy for the postseason run.

"I'm hoping so," Strommen said. "I expect a lot out of them. Maybe, I expect too much out of them. I think they would rather have high expectations."

Vlasak crushed a leadoff solo homer to left center in the first inning on the second pitch from Monticello sophomore Tyler Ritschard. Pecatonica (10-1, 6-1 Six Rivers East) added to its lead when Chris Hendrickson brought in a run with a sacrifice bunt.

"I knew it would be close," Vlasak said of his leadoff homer.

Ritschard pitched a complete game for the Ponies and gave up six runs on seven hits. With the loss, Monticello falls to 3-6 overall and 2-4 in the Six Rivers East.

"He (Ritschard) made one mistake in the first inning and Lee got him," Monticello coach Jason Pinnow said. "We have come to expect that from him (Vlasak) because he's a good hitter."

Monticello designated hitter Trae Seffrood, who was 2-for-3, blasted a solo homer to right in the second to cut the Vikings' lead to 2-1.

Kurschner pitched four innings and gave up just one run on two hits. Vlasak pitched three shutout innings in relief and struck out five.

Pecatonica senior Harley Demler singled to left to lead off the fourth. He stole second and Taylor Berg reached on an error, which opened the door for the Vikings. With two outs, the Ponies intentionally walked Vlasak to load the bases. Kurschner then came through with a clutch two-out RBI single down the first-base line just out of the reach of Monticello first baseman Casey Klossner. A second run scored on the play when Pecatonica got in a rundown at second that gave the Vikings a 4-1 lead.

That score held until the seventh, when Pecatonica sophomore Ross Gilbertson delivered a two-out, two-run single. That followed a hit-by-pitch (Kurschner), a walk (to Tannar Johnson, who reached base three of four times he batted - 1-for-2 with two walks) and an error.

"Pinch hitting is one of the toughest things to do," Pinnow said. "You can only tip your cap to Ross. If you don't make the outs, they will make you pay for it."

"That was a big hit," Strommen said. "It gave us a bigger cushion. (Gilbertson) has done that role for us this year."

His hit made the Ponies' threat in the bottom of the seventh less potent.

Seffrood singled in the bottom of the seventh and Vlasak walked two batters to load the bases. Vlasak ended the threat when he induced Ritschard to fly out to center.

"I just knew I had to get a strikeout, groundout or popout there," Vlasak said. "If they get momentum there, anything could happen.

"We are playing better. We have everyone on the team hitting good. We can still do better."