MINERAL POINT - Pecatonica baseball coach Jim Strommen couldn't have picked a better time to try an extraordinary play.
With Pecatonica and Mineral Point scoreless in the second inning and Vikings base runners on first and third base, Strommen called for a double steal. Pecatonica senior Dakota Conwell stole second and junior Cory Swenson stole home in what proved to be the game-winning run in the Vikings' 1-0 win over the Pointers in the season opener on Tuesday.
"In the first game you don't really expect a game like that," Strommen said. "There was good pitching on both sides. When you get good pitching and defense you will win a lot of games."
Pecatonica entered the season as the top-ranked team in the WisSports.net Division 4 preseason poll. Pecatonica senior Cory Linder, who went 2-for-3, doubled in the second to set up the scoring opportunity. Swenson entered as a courtesy runner for Linder and moved to third on a wild pitch, and Mineral Point walked Conwell.
Strommen used seven pitchers - one pitcher per inning. Pecatonica senior Jarrett Carlson got the win on the mound.
"I went into the game and wanted to give everyone an opportunity," Strommen said. "We have practiced it in practice. We have another game on Thursday and I would like to use everyone again. With the new pitch count rule, I wanted to give some different guys exposure. It's not something I haven't done before. Twelve or 15 years ago, I used one pitcher per inning for a few games."
Pecatonica junior Evan Prust went 2-for-3 at the plate.
With Pecatonica and Mineral Point scoreless in the second inning and Vikings base runners on first and third base, Strommen called for a double steal. Pecatonica senior Dakota Conwell stole second and junior Cory Swenson stole home in what proved to be the game-winning run in the Vikings' 1-0 win over the Pointers in the season opener on Tuesday.
"In the first game you don't really expect a game like that," Strommen said. "There was good pitching on both sides. When you get good pitching and defense you will win a lot of games."
Pecatonica entered the season as the top-ranked team in the WisSports.net Division 4 preseason poll. Pecatonica senior Cory Linder, who went 2-for-3, doubled in the second to set up the scoring opportunity. Swenson entered as a courtesy runner for Linder and moved to third on a wild pitch, and Mineral Point walked Conwell.
Strommen used seven pitchers - one pitcher per inning. Pecatonica senior Jarrett Carlson got the win on the mound.
"I went into the game and wanted to give everyone an opportunity," Strommen said. "We have practiced it in practice. We have another game on Thursday and I would like to use everyone again. With the new pitch count rule, I wanted to give some different guys exposure. It's not something I haven't done before. Twelve or 15 years ago, I used one pitcher per inning for a few games."
Pecatonica junior Evan Prust went 2-for-3 at the plate.
