Holmen High School's baseball team looked like it cured a lot of its ills in its regular-season finale with defending Division 3 state champion Aquinas May 20, outhitting the Blugolds 11-8 and committing two fewer errors. But Holmen's lack of offense and inconsistent defense jumped back to the fore at Tuesday's Division 1 regional semifinal at Onalaska in a 6-0 loss that ended the Vikings season at 2-17.

HHS never led after allowing two unearned runs in the bottom of the first, with a leadoff walk and one-out error turning into a second run after a two-out, bloop double to right. Holmen also allowed an unearned run in the third by playing an RBI single into a runner at third with nobody out, with the runner eventually scoring on a flare single to left. The final two unearned runs the Viking allowed came in the fourth after a dropped fly ball, dropped cut-off throw and throw in the dirt.

“Today was the story of our season,” HHS head coach Duane Vike said. “Our pitching has been better as the season has gone along.”

Shane Peterson was the victim of the shoddy defense. He pitched a complete-game five- hitter, but five of the six runs he allowed were unearned.

“Pitching is part of the defensive formula though, too,” Vike said. “When you're allowing a lot of baserunners you've defense isn't going to be as good.

“It's easier to play with a guy like (Onalaska's Kyle) Stewart throwing. Your pitching makes your defense and your defense makes your pitching, and we were a little lacking in both departments this year.”

Stewart threw a four-hit shutout. Holmen did not get the tying run to the on-deck circle in the final five innnings.

Jarrod Bock had two of the Vikings knocks, both singles along the left-field line. Corey Jessessky and Ross Jenks added infield singles in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively, with Peterson drawing the lone HHS walk.

While far from spectacular, Holmen did earn its two wins in the season's final two weeks. Vike also coaches the village's American Legion baseball team.

“We did show some improvement skill-wise,” Vike said. “But we need to take a little more ownership when we do make mistakes.”

The Vikings lose Jenks, Jay Merfeld, Jessessky, Bock, Peterson and Robby Burge to graduation. Among those eligible to return next year are shortstop Trey Candahl, Jeff Matt, outfielder Brit Bell, pitcher Jordan Vaaler, Squier, tournament-series call-up Ethan Bock, infielder Dominic Lenz, pitcher Zach Mally, Ross Kerska, outfielder Bennett Johnson, Taylor Hauser and pitcher Mat Price.

“I was happy with what we got out of our seniors for the most part,” Vike said. “I was very happy with our hitting in the second half of the season. We competed well when we hit.”