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Maybe the eight errors that Pecatonica had in their 2018 non-conference baseball opener with Mineral Point will be a case of getting the mistakes out of the way in one game, at least that is what veteran coach Jim Strommen hopes.
"Maybe getting them all in one game will be enough for the season," said Strommen. "At any rate we will go on from there."
In contrast the visiting Pointers had eight hits to 10 for the Vikings in their 9-6 win. Coach Jordan Tibbits split the mound duties between freshman Liam Stumpf and junior Curtis Cox. Stumpf went four frames and was touched for two runs and four hits while striking out three and walking two.
Cox went on to finish the game, working the final three innings giving up four runs on six hits. He fanned three and walked two.
Strommen went deep into his staff and put four different pitchers on the mound. Evan Pruss started and worked the first two innings. He gave up two runs on two hits with two strikeouts and no walks. He hit one batter.
Carter Ruegsegger took over and pitched the third and fourth innings. He struck out three and walked one. He watched three runs cross the plate in a five error inning for the Vikings.
Lane Busser threw his change of speed pitches for the next 2 1/3. He gave up two hits, four runs, fanned one and walked one.
Colton Schraepfer finished the final 2/3, giving up two hits and two runs while fanning one and walking one.
The Pointers struck early with two runs in the first. Grady Gorgen was hit by a pitch then Stumpf sent him home with a triple before scoring on a fielders choice.
The visitors added three in the fourth on five errors as no ball went out of the infield.
The Pointers iced it in the seventh. With one out Isaac Lindsey singled, Grant Bossert doubled and Cox singled for an rbi. Stumpf doubled for another run and another scored on an error.
The Vikings chipped away and got within one at 5-4 in the sixth. After the four run Pointer seventh they plated two runs and finished with the tying run at the plate.
"I was proud of the team for not giving up and having a chance at the end," Strommen said. "We hit fly balls and they hit ground balls which we had trouble handling. Our outfield also had their struggles."
Strommen added that Pointer centerfielder Grady Gorgen was a difference maker in the game.
"He took away two extra base hits and ran down some deep fly balls," Strommen said.
The Vikings came alive in the fourth frame with two runs. Pruss walked and Ruegsegger plated him with a double. Everett Johnson sent Griffin Gordon, who was a courtesy runner, to third with a single and Busser lofted a sacrifice fly to score him.
In the fifth Cory Swenson tripled and scored on a wild pitch.
Johnson singled to lead off the sixth, advanced on a single by Busser and scored on a single by Zander Brunker.
In the seventh Schraepfer reached on an error with one out and Pruss singled to put runners at the corners. Ruegsegger's sac fly and Busser's single sent in the two Viking tallies.
Pruss and Brunker were 2x2, and Johnson was 3x4 with a double.
Stumpf led the Pointers with a 3x4 day at the plate that included a triple and two doubles. Lindsey was 2x4 and Bossert had a double.
The Vikings host New Glarus in a non-conference game next Monday.
The Pointers host New Glarus Thursday and travel to Platteville Tuesday.