DARLINGTON - Senior Jason Singer pitched a gem and kept Cuba City in check as Darlington knocked off the Cubans 3-1 Tuesday.
With the win, Darlington clinched at least a share of the Southwest Activities League championship. Darlington (14-4, 12-1 SWAL) can win the title outright with a win against Fennimore Tuesday.
"It's the first conference championship in 16 years," Darlington coach Brad Solberg said. "I have really good players and senior leadership. We have really good coaches with Dennis Murphy and Brad Schliem. All year they have bought into a new system. We struggled early on, but we stuck with it. To see it work is a special thing. It means a lot for the community. There are a lot more people going to our games now. People are excited. We kind of tab it fill the hill."
Singer pitched a complete game and gave up two earned runs on seven hits. He struck out five and walked one.
The Redbirds scored three runs in the sixth inning to seal the win. Singer led off with a single. Darlington's Will Schwartz was hit by a pitch. Senior Cole McDonald bunted. Cuba City's second baseman was late covering first base and the right fielder was charging in to cover. The throw sailed into right field and both Singer and Schwartz scored to give the Redbirds a 2-1 lead and McDonald raced to third. Darlington sophomore Jesse Sturtz reached on an error and McDonald scored. The back-to-back errors were a back-breaker for the Cubans.
Pecatonica 7, Albany 6
BLANCHARDVILLE - It wasn't a perfect game by any means, but Pecatonica survived five errors to come back to beat Albany 7-6 Tuesday.
Albany led Pecatonica 6-2 going into the fifth inning. Pecatonica rallied by scoring five runs in the fifth to win it. With the win, Pecatonica (18-3, 16-3 Six Rivers East) maintains a one-game conference lead on Barneveld.
"We didn't play very well defensively," Pecatonica coach Jim Strommen said. "We were fortunate enough to win. We didn't make some routine plays and that cost us. They (Albany) made us pay."
Pecatonica's Gavin Burdick went 2-for-3 with two RBI and junior Brooks Chandler was 2-for-4 with a triple.
Albany jumped out to an early lead with three unearned runs in the second inning. Albany's Clinton Sullivan went 3-for-4 with one RBI.
Chandler pitched 3 2/3 innings in relief to get the win. He gave up one run on three hits. Junior Kyle Kleppe started for the Vikings and pitched two innings - giving up three runs on five hits.
Teammate Riley Gould pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief and surrendered two runs on one hit.
With the win, Darlington clinched at least a share of the Southwest Activities League championship. Darlington (14-4, 12-1 SWAL) can win the title outright with a win against Fennimore Tuesday.
"It's the first conference championship in 16 years," Darlington coach Brad Solberg said. "I have really good players and senior leadership. We have really good coaches with Dennis Murphy and Brad Schliem. All year they have bought into a new system. We struggled early on, but we stuck with it. To see it work is a special thing. It means a lot for the community. There are a lot more people going to our games now. People are excited. We kind of tab it fill the hill."
Singer pitched a complete game and gave up two earned runs on seven hits. He struck out five and walked one.
The Redbirds scored three runs in the sixth inning to seal the win. Singer led off with a single. Darlington's Will Schwartz was hit by a pitch. Senior Cole McDonald bunted. Cuba City's second baseman was late covering first base and the right fielder was charging in to cover. The throw sailed into right field and both Singer and Schwartz scored to give the Redbirds a 2-1 lead and McDonald raced to third. Darlington sophomore Jesse Sturtz reached on an error and McDonald scored. The back-to-back errors were a back-breaker for the Cubans.
Pecatonica 7, Albany 6
BLANCHARDVILLE - It wasn't a perfect game by any means, but Pecatonica survived five errors to come back to beat Albany 7-6 Tuesday.
Albany led Pecatonica 6-2 going into the fifth inning. Pecatonica rallied by scoring five runs in the fifth to win it. With the win, Pecatonica (18-3, 16-3 Six Rivers East) maintains a one-game conference lead on Barneveld.
"We didn't play very well defensively," Pecatonica coach Jim Strommen said. "We were fortunate enough to win. We didn't make some routine plays and that cost us. They (Albany) made us pay."
Pecatonica's Gavin Burdick went 2-for-3 with two RBI and junior Brooks Chandler was 2-for-4 with a triple.
Albany jumped out to an early lead with three unearned runs in the second inning. Albany's Clinton Sullivan went 3-for-4 with one RBI.
Chandler pitched 3 2/3 innings in relief to get the win. He gave up one run on three hits. Junior Kyle Kleppe started for the Vikings and pitched two innings - giving up three runs on five hits.
Teammate Riley Gould pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief and surrendered two runs on one hit.
