DENMARK — The Denmark Vikings baseball team is looking to repeat their 2021 state title, but they can grow even more in 2022 thanks to that experience.
After finishing 31-1 last year, the program is 26-3 heading into the state tournament. The three seeded Vikings play the two seed Pewaukee on Wednesday night after punching their ticket to state last week by shutting out Notre Dame 6-0 in the sectional final.
“I think we’re doing a great job 1-20 on this team,” said senior outfielder Hayden Konkol. “Everyone has a job. In the dugout guys are loud. Everybody has a job and they know it and they do it well.”
One thing that’s hard not to notice, is the intensity the Vikings have in practice.
“We bring a lot of intensity and I think that helps us in games when we need that extra push and it just helps,” said senior pitcher Owen DeGrand.
According to head coach Bill Miller, who has been coaching the team for 32 years, his favorite part about this squad is their camaraderie.
“They’re really resilient,” said Miller. “Tournament games we were down in the first inning in the first three games to come back and win all three of those games. Even when we’re down they have a lot of fight in them and they don’t worry about the situation.”
Most of the players have known Miller since they were young and it’s hard to deny the success they have had under his tutelage.
“There's a reason he’s got all of his accolades," said Konkol. "He deserves every single one of them. He brings this team together so well.”.
“He's the sword in the rock,” Said DeGrand. “He's everything. He's the one who has been here forever. He's one of the greatest coaches in the state.”
Despite winning state last year, the team knew they could grow even more heading into 2022 and that’s playing together and to enjoy the experience that they’re about to have playing in front of fans at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton
“It's time to enjoy the experience. A lot of these guys were there last year, it’s a new experience for some of them and we just want them to enjoy it,” said Miller.
