---

Just when it looked like Barneveld's baseball team was going to cruise to a relatively easy win over Pecatonica in the Division 4 Regionals semi-finals the Vikings had other plans.
The Vikings, who won the Six Rivers East title and had beaten Barneveld 4-2 last week rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh and had two runners on base when Brooks Chandler flied out to end the game with the Eagles claiming a 9-6 win.
Barneveld scored two runs in the top of the first after two outs. Cole Breuer reached on an error and raced to third on a double by Nate Francaque. Sam Shatrawka then singled to center to send in Breuer and Francque.
The Vikings answered with a run in the bottom of the first. Chandler led off with a single to right, advanced on a sac bunt by AJ Hendrickson and scored on a single to center by Drew Schliem.
The Vikings tied it in the bottom of the third. Schliem walked and stole second. Kyle Kleppe was walked intentionally and a wild pitch moved both runners up a base. Devin Burdick slapped a grounder to the right side that allowed Schliem to score.
It didn't stay 2-2 long as the Eagles struck for three runs in the top of the fourth.
Will Clausen led off the frame with a double and scored on a single by Wes Williams. Trevor Siegenthaler bunted Williams to second and Trey Laube plated him with a single. An error put Colton Sullivan on base and moved Laube to third. He then came home on a wild pitch.
The Vikings manufactured a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth. Schliem doubled to start the inning and Kleppe was intentionally walked. Dakota Conwell was hit by a pitch to load the bases before Schliem scored on a fielders choice and Kleppe crossed the plate while a play was being made at second.
Barneveld then went up 8-4 with a three run sixth. Sullivan started it with a walk then Sorensen received a pass to put runners on first and second. With two outs Shatrawka singled to center to send in Sullivan and Sorensen scored on an error. Courtesy runner Jacob Slaney and scored on a single by Wiliams.
Barneveld scored its last run in the top of the seventh. Laube walked and eventually scored on a double steal.
The Vikings would not go away and got their first two runners on base as Schliem and Kleppe both walked. Burdick loaded the bases with a single. Schliem scored when Conwell was hit by a pitch. Logan Green was also hit by a pitch which forced in Kleppe.
Schliem, who had come on in relief, got Presley Hauser and Chandler on fly outs to end the game.
Schliem was 2x3 with a double and an rbi for the Vikings and also stole a base.
Shatrawka had a 3x5 day at the plate and drove in three runs. Williams was 2x4 with two rbis. Clausen and Francque both had doubles.
Hendrickson took the loss for the Vikings, lasting 3 1/3 innings. He gave up six runs, three of them earned, six hits along with two strikeouts and a walk. Schliem went 3 2/3 with four runs, two earned, on four hits, four walks and four strikeouts.
The Eagles used three pitchers with Siegenthaler taking the loss. He struck out one, walked four, spaced two hits which led to two runs, both earned.
Sullivan went 1 2/3 with a strikeout, a walk, a hit and two earned runs. Williams finished with a pair of walks, a hit and two earned runs.
The win moved Barneveld to the Regional finals where they met Highland Friday.
It wasn't our night," said a disappointed Vikings' mentor, James Strommen, following the game.
"Baseball is a game of inches and they (Barneveld players) made the plays regarding those inches and we didn't."
"They (the Eagles defenders) played good defense - they made some nice plays - and one has to give them credit. They put the ball in play - put the pressure on us and came away with some key hits - in key situations."
"The balls we did hit hard tonight were right at defenders. Trailing in that last inning, were down 9-4, got a couple runs and had the winning run at the plate when Brooks Chandler flew out deep to left. So - we had a chance at the end - but in total, this was game where we just gave them too many runs," added Strommen - referring to the five runners allowed via walks issued by Viking pitchers - and the four Pecatonica fielding errors, at the point of the season where there is no tomorrow - teams are not afforded any second chances.
"I congratulate our kids for their body of work and for the overall great season - a year in which they were able to win the conference championship," added Strommen.