BLANCHARDVILLE - Only one game was finished in the Pecatonica and Shullsburg-Benton baseball doubleheader on Friday. Inclement weather in the fifth inning of the second game forced the game to be suspended.
In the first game, Vikings ace Drew Schliem carried his team to A 7-5 victory with a strong outing on the mound. The junior hurler pitched all seven innings, allowing five runs (zero earned), four walks, while striking out 15. Helping his cause in the field, Schliem also batted 2-for-4. Pecatonica imporves to 8-3, 5-3 Six Rivers East.
"Defensively, we didn't play very well," Pecatonica coach Jim Strommen said. "Drew got us out of some trouble spots with some huge strikeouts. He fought through some adversity and questioned some calls by the umpire. You just have to battle through that and Drew did just that."
Kyle Kleppe batted 2-for-2 with a double and Gavin Burdick finished 2-for-3.
The second game was halted in the fifth inning, with Pecatonica leading 1-0. The game will be resumed on a date that is yet to be determined.
Belmont 12, Argyle 2
Argyle 3, Belmont 3
BELMONT - The Argyle baseball team's struggles seemed to continue in their cross-conference double header against Belmont. The Orioles dropped a 12-2 decision in six innings in the first game, and while fortunes may have started to take a turn for the better in the second game, the game was called after five innings on account of the weather. Argyle and Belmont were tied 3-3 after five innings.
"We definitely haven't been playing to our potential," Orioles coach Chuck Bredeson said. "Our first game was just plagued by mental mistakes and no focus. In the second game we started to finally make some plays, (but) unfortunately the game ended. I can't really pinpoint what's wrong, (but) hopefully we can turn things around."
Kyle Olson went 3-for-3 with a double in game one. Senior Alec Treuthardt blasted a home run in the first inning of game two, while Brock Bruehlman drove in the game tying run. Kyle Emberson finished 2-for-3 in game two.
Darlington 9, Southwestern 6
HAZEL GREEN - In the first two innings of work, the Darlington baseball team compiled all nine of their runs to jump out with a huge lead against Southwestern in their matchup on Friday. As it turned out, nine runs was all the Redbirds needed to hold off a six-run fourth inning by the host Wildcats.
"It was nice to see our team start off that well," Darlington coach Matt Austin said. "I would like to see us finish a little bit better and put together a more complete game. (But) I liked the way we were able to put the ball into play, and any time you can do that, good things will happen."
Jason Singer started on the mound for the Redbirds, holding the shutout until late in the fourth, where Southwestern rattled off a six-run inning. Junior Cole McDonald came into relief and pitched the remainder of the game.
"It was good to face one of those challenging innings," Austin said. "Yeah they (Southwestern) scored some runs, (but) it's nice to get some experience in situations like that and get those out of the way."
Waterloo 12, New Glarus 0
NEW GLARUS - Still in search of their first win, the New Glarus baseball team faced reigning Capitol South champions Waterloo on Friday. With not having seen the field in over a week, th`e Knights experienced some early troubles in their 12-0 loss against the Pirates.
"With us being inside for the past week, I was expecting some mistakes," Knights coach Ross Eddy said. "When you don't take the field, it's always hard to replicate those in-game situations that you want your players to see."
Waterloo raced out with eight runs to open the game. The Pirates added runs in the second, third, and fifth to beat New Glarus in five innings.
Ashton Jelle was 1-for-2 for the Knights. New Glarus (0-10) will play Belleville in a conference doubleheader on Saturday, May 3.
Albany 8, River Ridge 4
River Ridge 17, Albany 9
ALBANY - In their cross-conference doubleheader, the Albany baseball team split their games against River Ridge, winning the first game 8-4, while dropping the second, 17-9.
The Comets were the first team to get on the scoreboard late in the second inning of the first game. Albany pitcher Mitchell Kauk held River Ridge scoreless until early in the fourth inning. After River Ridge scored again in the fifth inning, the Comets responded with four and three runs in the fifth and sixth innings to give their team enough breathing room.
Kauk picked up the win, throwing all seven innings, allowing four runs (three earned), seven walks, and six strikeouts. At the plate, Kauk was 3-for-4 with a double, while teammate Cole Trapp was 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs.
"Mitchell has been on a roll pitching wise," Comets coach Brandon Bakken said of his ace's performance in the first game. "He has done a great job of putting us in a position to win games."
In the second game, River Ridge collected 16 hits en route to a 17-9 victory to break any chance of an Albany sweep. Kauk finished 3-for-4, with a homer and two RBIs. Clinton Sullivan went 2-for-2 with two RBIs including a home run blast himself. In the end, offensive firepower by the Comets bats wasn't enough to give them the edge.
"We were hoping to get a sweep and kind of disappointed that we didn't get it," Bakken said. "(But) we don't feel like we have the record that shows how well we have been playing. We've played against some solid teams."
Highland 7, Black Hawk 1
HIGHLAND - The Warriors found themselves falling behind early in their matchup against Highland on Friday. The host Cardinals used their starting ace to limit Black Hawk offensively to five hits and one run while striking out 13.
After the fifth inning, Highland maintained a 6-0 shutout that carried into the final inning until Black Hawk was finally able to advance a runner and cross home plate.
Tayler Rupnow batted 2-for-3 at the plate for the Warriors. Tanner Sweeney and Bret Paulson each collected doubles.
In the first game, Vikings ace Drew Schliem carried his team to A 7-5 victory with a strong outing on the mound. The junior hurler pitched all seven innings, allowing five runs (zero earned), four walks, while striking out 15. Helping his cause in the field, Schliem also batted 2-for-4. Pecatonica imporves to 8-3, 5-3 Six Rivers East.
"Defensively, we didn't play very well," Pecatonica coach Jim Strommen said. "Drew got us out of some trouble spots with some huge strikeouts. He fought through some adversity and questioned some calls by the umpire. You just have to battle through that and Drew did just that."
Kyle Kleppe batted 2-for-2 with a double and Gavin Burdick finished 2-for-3.
The second game was halted in the fifth inning, with Pecatonica leading 1-0. The game will be resumed on a date that is yet to be determined.
Belmont 12, Argyle 2
Argyle 3, Belmont 3
BELMONT - The Argyle baseball team's struggles seemed to continue in their cross-conference double header against Belmont. The Orioles dropped a 12-2 decision in six innings in the first game, and while fortunes may have started to take a turn for the better in the second game, the game was called after five innings on account of the weather. Argyle and Belmont were tied 3-3 after five innings.
"We definitely haven't been playing to our potential," Orioles coach Chuck Bredeson said. "Our first game was just plagued by mental mistakes and no focus. In the second game we started to finally make some plays, (but) unfortunately the game ended. I can't really pinpoint what's wrong, (but) hopefully we can turn things around."
Kyle Olson went 3-for-3 with a double in game one. Senior Alec Treuthardt blasted a home run in the first inning of game two, while Brock Bruehlman drove in the game tying run. Kyle Emberson finished 2-for-3 in game two.
Darlington 9, Southwestern 6
HAZEL GREEN - In the first two innings of work, the Darlington baseball team compiled all nine of their runs to jump out with a huge lead against Southwestern in their matchup on Friday. As it turned out, nine runs was all the Redbirds needed to hold off a six-run fourth inning by the host Wildcats.
"It was nice to see our team start off that well," Darlington coach Matt Austin said. "I would like to see us finish a little bit better and put together a more complete game. (But) I liked the way we were able to put the ball into play, and any time you can do that, good things will happen."
Jason Singer started on the mound for the Redbirds, holding the shutout until late in the fourth, where Southwestern rattled off a six-run inning. Junior Cole McDonald came into relief and pitched the remainder of the game.
"It was good to face one of those challenging innings," Austin said. "Yeah they (Southwestern) scored some runs, (but) it's nice to get some experience in situations like that and get those out of the way."
Waterloo 12, New Glarus 0
NEW GLARUS - Still in search of their first win, the New Glarus baseball team faced reigning Capitol South champions Waterloo on Friday. With not having seen the field in over a week, th`e Knights experienced some early troubles in their 12-0 loss against the Pirates.
"With us being inside for the past week, I was expecting some mistakes," Knights coach Ross Eddy said. "When you don't take the field, it's always hard to replicate those in-game situations that you want your players to see."
Waterloo raced out with eight runs to open the game. The Pirates added runs in the second, third, and fifth to beat New Glarus in five innings.
Ashton Jelle was 1-for-2 for the Knights. New Glarus (0-10) will play Belleville in a conference doubleheader on Saturday, May 3.
Albany 8, River Ridge 4
River Ridge 17, Albany 9
ALBANY - In their cross-conference doubleheader, the Albany baseball team split their games against River Ridge, winning the first game 8-4, while dropping the second, 17-9.
The Comets were the first team to get on the scoreboard late in the second inning of the first game. Albany pitcher Mitchell Kauk held River Ridge scoreless until early in the fourth inning. After River Ridge scored again in the fifth inning, the Comets responded with four and three runs in the fifth and sixth innings to give their team enough breathing room.
Kauk picked up the win, throwing all seven innings, allowing four runs (three earned), seven walks, and six strikeouts. At the plate, Kauk was 3-for-4 with a double, while teammate Cole Trapp was 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs.
"Mitchell has been on a roll pitching wise," Comets coach Brandon Bakken said of his ace's performance in the first game. "He has done a great job of putting us in a position to win games."
In the second game, River Ridge collected 16 hits en route to a 17-9 victory to break any chance of an Albany sweep. Kauk finished 3-for-4, with a homer and two RBIs. Clinton Sullivan went 2-for-2 with two RBIs including a home run blast himself. In the end, offensive firepower by the Comets bats wasn't enough to give them the edge.
"We were hoping to get a sweep and kind of disappointed that we didn't get it," Bakken said. "(But) we don't feel like we have the record that shows how well we have been playing. We've played against some solid teams."
Highland 7, Black Hawk 1
HIGHLAND - The Warriors found themselves falling behind early in their matchup against Highland on Friday. The host Cardinals used their starting ace to limit Black Hawk offensively to five hits and one run while striking out 13.
After the fifth inning, Highland maintained a 6-0 shutout that carried into the final inning until Black Hawk was finally able to advance a runner and cross home plate.
Tayler Rupnow batted 2-for-3 at the plate for the Warriors. Tanner Sweeney and Bret Paulson each collected doubles.
