BLANCHARDVILLE - Six Rivers East Conference rivals Pecatonica and Monticello were looking to build momentum going into the postseason.
Monticello senior Corey McGowan pitched a complete game to help the Ponies earn a doubleheader split Thursday, after knocking off the Vikings in the nightcap 9-1. Pecatonica (13-10, 9-6 Six Rivers East) won the first game in comeback fashion 6-3.
"In the first game we played well and were able to get some timely hits," Pecatonica coach Jim Strommen said.
The Vikings committed an uncharacteristic six errors in the second game. However, the story in the second game was McGowan's ability to pitch out of jams. McGowan gave up just one run on six hits. He struck out five and walked two.
"McGowan was tough with guys on base," Strommen said.
The Ponies (11-9, 9-5) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning of the first game. Monticello senior Tyler Ritschard, who went 2 for 4, lined a lead off single to right field. Junior Lukas Kolasch followed with a single. McGowan knocked in the run on a sacrifice fly.
Pecatonica senior Tannar Johnson, who was 2 for 4, answered with an RBI single off Kolasch in the bottom of the first, to tie the game at 1. The Ponies made sure that lead wouldn't last. Monticello's Josh Kolasch beat out an infield single in the second. He stole second and scored on Aaron Hefty's RBI single. Hefty came around and scored on an error to give the Ponies a 3-1 lead.
However, the Ponies' fielding woes came back to haunt them as Pecatonica's Jake Scoville, who led off the second with a single, scored when J.J. Hogan reached on an error. Pecatonica senior Ross Gilbertson delivered in the clutch with a go-ahead two-run single to give the Vikings a 4-3 lead.
Johnson helped the Vikings close the door as he pitched 2 2/3 shutout innings in relief.
"He has been around the block," Strommen said. "He has been through it before and done the job."
In the second game, the Ponies were able to jump out to a 4-1 lead in the first, and they built a 6-1 lead in the third, off Pecatonica senior pitcher Taylor Berg.
The Ponies had 12 hits in the second game. McGowan went 3 for 3. Lukas Kolasch went 2 for 3 at the plate and Trae Seffrood and Ritschard were each 2 for 4.
"You have to give credit to Monticello," Strommen said. "They hit the ball well consistently up and down the lineup."
McGowan's biggest impact for the Ponies came from his pitching. He was able to pitch out of a couple jams in the second game. The Vikings had a golden scoring opportunity in the second with runners on second and third and one out. McGowan was able to get a pop out and a fly out to end the threat.
In the sixth, the Vikings had the bases loaded and McGowan was able to induce a ground out.
Monticello senior Corey McGowan pitched a complete game to help the Ponies earn a doubleheader split Thursday, after knocking off the Vikings in the nightcap 9-1. Pecatonica (13-10, 9-6 Six Rivers East) won the first game in comeback fashion 6-3.
"In the first game we played well and were able to get some timely hits," Pecatonica coach Jim Strommen said.
The Vikings committed an uncharacteristic six errors in the second game. However, the story in the second game was McGowan's ability to pitch out of jams. McGowan gave up just one run on six hits. He struck out five and walked two.
"McGowan was tough with guys on base," Strommen said.
The Ponies (11-9, 9-5) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning of the first game. Monticello senior Tyler Ritschard, who went 2 for 4, lined a lead off single to right field. Junior Lukas Kolasch followed with a single. McGowan knocked in the run on a sacrifice fly.
Pecatonica senior Tannar Johnson, who was 2 for 4, answered with an RBI single off Kolasch in the bottom of the first, to tie the game at 1. The Ponies made sure that lead wouldn't last. Monticello's Josh Kolasch beat out an infield single in the second. He stole second and scored on Aaron Hefty's RBI single. Hefty came around and scored on an error to give the Ponies a 3-1 lead.
However, the Ponies' fielding woes came back to haunt them as Pecatonica's Jake Scoville, who led off the second with a single, scored when J.J. Hogan reached on an error. Pecatonica senior Ross Gilbertson delivered in the clutch with a go-ahead two-run single to give the Vikings a 4-3 lead.
Johnson helped the Vikings close the door as he pitched 2 2/3 shutout innings in relief.
"He has been around the block," Strommen said. "He has been through it before and done the job."
In the second game, the Ponies were able to jump out to a 4-1 lead in the first, and they built a 6-1 lead in the third, off Pecatonica senior pitcher Taylor Berg.
The Ponies had 12 hits in the second game. McGowan went 3 for 3. Lukas Kolasch went 2 for 3 at the plate and Trae Seffrood and Ritschard were each 2 for 4.
"You have to give credit to Monticello," Strommen said. "They hit the ball well consistently up and down the lineup."
McGowan's biggest impact for the Ponies came from his pitching. He was able to pitch out of a couple jams in the second game. The Vikings had a golden scoring opportunity in the second with runners on second and third and one out. McGowan was able to get a pop out and a fly out to end the threat.
In the sixth, the Vikings had the bases loaded and McGowan was able to induce a ground out.
