POTOSI - The Vikings split their conference crossover doubleheader against Potosi on Thursday, losing the first game 4-1, but rebounding with 4-2 victory in their second game.
Despite losing the first game, three errors by the Pecatonica defense helped propel the host Chieftains to score four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Drew Schliem pitched six innings for the Vikings, allowing four hits, one walk while striking out 10 batters. At the plate, Schliem led the Vikings with a 2-for-3 performance.
"We didn't put enough together in the first game," Pecatonica coach Jim Strommen said. "Potosi played great defense, (but) our lack of scoring was a mix of their play as well as some mistakes on our part."
In the second game, the Vikings scored consecutive runs in each of the first three innings, while pitcher Lucas McKeon put in a solid performance on the mound, ensuring that his team maintain the lead.
"Our pitching is our strength," Strommen said. "We have some formidable players who can hit the zone."
McKeon struck out 16 batters, allowing two runs and two hits throughout his seven innings of work. Chase Norton was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs in the second game.
After splitting the night, Strommen feels that his team can learn from their play to make adjustments in the weeks to come.
"We didn't play well enough defensively to win both games," he said. "We had some troubles catching the ball and making routine plays, and that's what we'll address as we move forward."
Cassville 11,
Black Hawk 1
Cassville 15,
Black Hawk 0
CASSVILLE - Black Hawk's Tayler Rupnow hit a solo home run in the first inning, but it wasn't enough as Cassville went on to knock off Black hawk 11-1.
Black Hawk senior Brady Meythaler pitched four innings and gave up 11 runs on 13 hits. He struck out six and walked three.
"I think Brady got a little tired," Black Hawk coach Jeff Solberg said. "I probably stayed with my pitchers a little longer than I should. I want them to get their arms in shape. I kind of want them to battle through adversity."
The Comets swept the doubleheader by beating the Warriors 15-0 in Game 2. Rupnow went 2-for-2 in the second game of the twinbill to lead the Warriors. Black Hawk junior Heath Butler started and pitched three innings. He gave up 11 runs on seven hits. He struck out three and walked seven.
"It was his first start," Solberg said. "He will walk less with the more innings he gets. It's just getting our pitchers more innings."
With the losses, Black Hawk drops to 0-4. In the first two games, the Warriors had just one hit and they had six in the doubleheader.
"We cut down on our strikeouts, and we were making contact," Solberg said.
Belmont 8, Albany 7
Belmont 13, Albany 5
BELMONT - In the first game of their doubleheader, the visiting Comets lost a close decision that came down to Belmont's lone score in the sixth inning. Both teams traded big innings in the third and fourth innings, as the host Braves struck first with a five-run inning in the bottom of the third, only for Albany to respond with a five-run inning of their own in their next series of at-bats. Seniors Mitchell Kauk and Ethan Pfeuti pitched on the mound for Albany, combining for eight hits, 10 walks and five strikeouts.
In their second game, Albany was unable to contain Belmont's bats, as the Braves swept the night by compiling 16 hits en route to a 13-5 victory. Kauk went 2-for-2 at the plate including a double, while Pfeuti went 2-for-3. Joey McNaught and Brock Gilkes each went 2-for-4.
Brodhead-Juda 5, Clinton 3
CLINTON - Daniel Skoumal pitched seven solid innings for the Brodhead-Juda baseball team in their game against Clinton. The junior allowed five hits, four walks, one earned run, while striking out 10 batters to give his team the edge in a 5-3 victory. At the plate, Tyler Schwartzlow was 2-for-3 for the Cardinals, who did the bulk of their damage in the sixth inning by scoring four runs after trailing by two early in the game.
In another doubleheader, Highland swept Monticello. The Cardinals beat the Ponies 19-1 and 11-1.
Despite losing the first game, three errors by the Pecatonica defense helped propel the host Chieftains to score four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Drew Schliem pitched six innings for the Vikings, allowing four hits, one walk while striking out 10 batters. At the plate, Schliem led the Vikings with a 2-for-3 performance.
"We didn't put enough together in the first game," Pecatonica coach Jim Strommen said. "Potosi played great defense, (but) our lack of scoring was a mix of their play as well as some mistakes on our part."
In the second game, the Vikings scored consecutive runs in each of the first three innings, while pitcher Lucas McKeon put in a solid performance on the mound, ensuring that his team maintain the lead.
"Our pitching is our strength," Strommen said. "We have some formidable players who can hit the zone."
McKeon struck out 16 batters, allowing two runs and two hits throughout his seven innings of work. Chase Norton was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs in the second game.
After splitting the night, Strommen feels that his team can learn from their play to make adjustments in the weeks to come.
"We didn't play well enough defensively to win both games," he said. "We had some troubles catching the ball and making routine plays, and that's what we'll address as we move forward."
Cassville 11,
Black Hawk 1
Cassville 15,
Black Hawk 0
CASSVILLE - Black Hawk's Tayler Rupnow hit a solo home run in the first inning, but it wasn't enough as Cassville went on to knock off Black hawk 11-1.
Black Hawk senior Brady Meythaler pitched four innings and gave up 11 runs on 13 hits. He struck out six and walked three.
"I think Brady got a little tired," Black Hawk coach Jeff Solberg said. "I probably stayed with my pitchers a little longer than I should. I want them to get their arms in shape. I kind of want them to battle through adversity."
The Comets swept the doubleheader by beating the Warriors 15-0 in Game 2. Rupnow went 2-for-2 in the second game of the twinbill to lead the Warriors. Black Hawk junior Heath Butler started and pitched three innings. He gave up 11 runs on seven hits. He struck out three and walked seven.
"It was his first start," Solberg said. "He will walk less with the more innings he gets. It's just getting our pitchers more innings."
With the losses, Black Hawk drops to 0-4. In the first two games, the Warriors had just one hit and they had six in the doubleheader.
"We cut down on our strikeouts, and we were making contact," Solberg said.
Belmont 8, Albany 7
Belmont 13, Albany 5
BELMONT - In the first game of their doubleheader, the visiting Comets lost a close decision that came down to Belmont's lone score in the sixth inning. Both teams traded big innings in the third and fourth innings, as the host Braves struck first with a five-run inning in the bottom of the third, only for Albany to respond with a five-run inning of their own in their next series of at-bats. Seniors Mitchell Kauk and Ethan Pfeuti pitched on the mound for Albany, combining for eight hits, 10 walks and five strikeouts.
In their second game, Albany was unable to contain Belmont's bats, as the Braves swept the night by compiling 16 hits en route to a 13-5 victory. Kauk went 2-for-2 at the plate including a double, while Pfeuti went 2-for-3. Joey McNaught and Brock Gilkes each went 2-for-4.
Brodhead-Juda 5, Clinton 3
CLINTON - Daniel Skoumal pitched seven solid innings for the Brodhead-Juda baseball team in their game against Clinton. The junior allowed five hits, four walks, one earned run, while striking out 10 batters to give his team the edge in a 5-3 victory. At the plate, Tyler Schwartzlow was 2-for-3 for the Cardinals, who did the bulk of their damage in the sixth inning by scoring four runs after trailing by two early in the game.
In another doubleheader, Highland swept Monticello. The Cardinals beat the Ponies 19-1 and 11-1.
