BLANCHARDVILLE - The Vikings capped their 2010 regular season with a doubleheader split with Edgar Saturday. Pecatonica (13-11, 5-5 Six Rivers East) held off Edgar (6-13, 5-9 Marawood South) in the first game, 13-5, but lost the second game, 13-6.
"We played well for the most part," said Pecatonica head coach Jim Strommen, whose team ended a three-game losing streak Friday night at Belmont by scoring two-runs in the seventh to win the game by a run. "We hit the ball pretty well. We had nine hits Friday night and we hit the ball well the first game (Saturday)."
Edgar, which hails from the Wausau area, is known for its football program, which won state this past fall.
"They are a very athletic team," junior Tannar Johnson said. "We didn't know much about them coming in, so we just wanted to play hard. It was a nice tune up getting ready for playoffs. And everybody got a chance to play and have some fun."
In the opening game, Pecatonica's J.J. Hogan took to the mound and allowed five runs in four-plus innings of work, earning the win on the mound. Johnson took over with two on in the fifth and closed out the game.
The Vikings scored one run in the first and four in the second to take a 5-2 lead. In the fourth, Pecatonica plated three more runs.
Senior Devin Jeglum was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and Johnson was 3-for-4 with two runs.
"(Jeglum) is in a different role for us this year. Last year, he batted third and this year I just decided to put him at the top of the order. He's not only our best hitter, but our best base runner too," Strommen said.
The offensive barrage by the Vikings was fueled by everyone who took to the plate as well. Wyatt Massey was 2-for-3 with a pair of runs, Taylor Berg was 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two runs and Tannar Kleppe added two hits.
Every hitter for Pecatonica either had a hit or scored a run in the game.
"We had played three consecutive one-run games, so to play a game where it was 13-5 was kind of nice," Strommen said.
Game 2
Strommen capped off the final homestand of the year by giving each player a shot to see some action.
"Second game, I gave a lot of guys who haven't gotten a lot of playing time some opportunities. Unfortunately one of them got hurt and I had to put Tannar back in," Strommen said.
Johnson finished the day 5-for-8 at the plate, including going 2-for-2 in Pecatonica's six-run second inning.
Strommen used three different pitchers in the second game. Matt Goldthorpe opened the game on the hill, tossing the first two innings on the hill. Jake Scoville threw the next two innings and Tyler Francois threw the last two.
Strommen said that because the team played four games in a three day stretch, his pitching options were limited.
Edgar scored three runs in the first, four in the second, six in the fourth and one more run in the fifth.
The doubleheader could be Jeglum's last chance to play at home as a Viking.
Pecatonica travels to Argyle Friday for the WIAA Division 4 playoff opener. The game is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m., moved up because of Pecatonica's graduation Friday night.
"It's hard thinking that is could be your last game. It's going to be a big game for us," Jeglum said. "We're going to have be ready mentally, and that doesn't always happen."
Strommen had kind words to say to his two seniors, Jeglum and Chris Hendrickson, who has found a role in the lineup and has a steady glove at first base.
"Devin's been a three-year starter for us and is one of our offensive leaders and is a leader both on and off the field for us," Strommen said. "Chris has had a real solid senior year. He was part-time starter as a junior but this year he's had a solid season for us. They are the leaders on the team and you have to have those guys."
The players from both Argyle and Pecatonica know each other well. The two schools co-op in football, cross country, track and field and wrestling, and many players stay friends even after the seasons end.
"It turns into a really competitive game because the kids know each other. They're friends," Strommen said.
"We played well for the most part," said Pecatonica head coach Jim Strommen, whose team ended a three-game losing streak Friday night at Belmont by scoring two-runs in the seventh to win the game by a run. "We hit the ball pretty well. We had nine hits Friday night and we hit the ball well the first game (Saturday)."
Edgar, which hails from the Wausau area, is known for its football program, which won state this past fall.
"They are a very athletic team," junior Tannar Johnson said. "We didn't know much about them coming in, so we just wanted to play hard. It was a nice tune up getting ready for playoffs. And everybody got a chance to play and have some fun."
In the opening game, Pecatonica's J.J. Hogan took to the mound and allowed five runs in four-plus innings of work, earning the win on the mound. Johnson took over with two on in the fifth and closed out the game.
The Vikings scored one run in the first and four in the second to take a 5-2 lead. In the fourth, Pecatonica plated three more runs.
Senior Devin Jeglum was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and Johnson was 3-for-4 with two runs.
"(Jeglum) is in a different role for us this year. Last year, he batted third and this year I just decided to put him at the top of the order. He's not only our best hitter, but our best base runner too," Strommen said.
The offensive barrage by the Vikings was fueled by everyone who took to the plate as well. Wyatt Massey was 2-for-3 with a pair of runs, Taylor Berg was 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two runs and Tannar Kleppe added two hits.
Every hitter for Pecatonica either had a hit or scored a run in the game.
"We had played three consecutive one-run games, so to play a game where it was 13-5 was kind of nice," Strommen said.
Game 2
Strommen capped off the final homestand of the year by giving each player a shot to see some action.
"Second game, I gave a lot of guys who haven't gotten a lot of playing time some opportunities. Unfortunately one of them got hurt and I had to put Tannar back in," Strommen said.
Johnson finished the day 5-for-8 at the plate, including going 2-for-2 in Pecatonica's six-run second inning.
Strommen used three different pitchers in the second game. Matt Goldthorpe opened the game on the hill, tossing the first two innings on the hill. Jake Scoville threw the next two innings and Tyler Francois threw the last two.
Strommen said that because the team played four games in a three day stretch, his pitching options were limited.
Edgar scored three runs in the first, four in the second, six in the fourth and one more run in the fifth.
The doubleheader could be Jeglum's last chance to play at home as a Viking.
Pecatonica travels to Argyle Friday for the WIAA Division 4 playoff opener. The game is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m., moved up because of Pecatonica's graduation Friday night.
"It's hard thinking that is could be your last game. It's going to be a big game for us," Jeglum said. "We're going to have be ready mentally, and that doesn't always happen."
Strommen had kind words to say to his two seniors, Jeglum and Chris Hendrickson, who has found a role in the lineup and has a steady glove at first base.
"Devin's been a three-year starter for us and is one of our offensive leaders and is a leader both on and off the field for us," Strommen said. "Chris has had a real solid senior year. He was part-time starter as a junior but this year he's had a solid season for us. They are the leaders on the team and you have to have those guys."
The players from both Argyle and Pecatonica know each other well. The two schools co-op in football, cross country, track and field and wrestling, and many players stay friends even after the seasons end.
"It turns into a really competitive game because the kids know each other. They're friends," Strommen said.
