Wisconsin Hall of Fame coach Jim Strommen is back for season 46 leading Pecatonica baseball.
He returns several key performers from last season and is hoping to challenge in Six Rivers play.
The Vikings ended the 2025 season 13-13 and were 8-8 in conference action.
The Vikings had their season ended when they lost regional semifinal.
The Vikings will have to replace:
-Drew Hendrickson: 1st team all conference utility
-Chuck Anderson: 2nd team all conference in-field
-Levi Krebs: Honorable mention all conference/outfield
The Vikings have a strong group of returnees to form the nucleus of this year’s squad.
Back are:
-Austin Enloe: Sr, pitcher/utility .167 BA/4-5 W/L record 51 innings pitched ERA-1.90
-Ashton McNett: Sr, SS/pitcher. .271 BA/1-3 W/L record 15 innings pitched ERA-6.68
-Marty Anderson: Jr, Catcher/Utility, .200 BA
-Luke Leonard: Jr, Utility
-Reid Schlimgen: So, Pitcher/Infield/. 233 BA/15 RBI’s/1-1W/L record 19 innings pitched ERA-2.21
-Cooper Schraepfer: So, Pitcher .239 BA
Newcomers Strommen feels could crack the line-up are:
-Kashton Gross: Jr/Outfield/pitcher
-Michael Henderson: Jr/1st base/pitcher
Kale Hendrickson Soph outfield/pitcher
-Linden Ula: So/utility/pitcher
-Reed Cassidy: So/utility
Strommen knows what he wants to see from the Vikings to become a strong team.
“Get better every practice so that we create confidence in abilities that improves our toughness especially mentally,” Strommen said. “Finish games especially defensively and on the mound.” Strommen sees the squad as a coachable team that wants to get better and improve on last year’s record.
He feels improved baserunning is an area needing improvement.. To be successful Strommen feels the Vikings need to see improved walks to strikeout ratio at the plate. “We need to reduce the amount of free bases defensively and on the mound. We also have to be better at two-strike and situational hitting.”
Strommen sees the Braves and the Timberwolves as the leading Six Rivers contenders along with Potosi/Cassville.
“Belmont and River Ridge are returning co-champs with lots of returning players, especially pitching. Barneveld returns seven starters plus all of their pitching. Potosi/Cassville returns their three top pitchers from last year,” Strommen said.
Assisting the Vikings are Larry Schliem, Drew Schliem, Blake Butowski, Tyler McKeon and Colton Schraepfer.
