BB: WIAC: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Brewers20]

[/quote]
Who do u think will be the top three then if point finishes 4th?  LaCross is starting off on the right foot.
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I think Point will still finish 3rd in the conference for sure, but I hate counting them out of anything at this point in the season.  There is still a lot of baseball to be played.  Teams can get hot and go on 15-20 game winning streaks.  And teams can get cold and lose some games that they shouldn't like UWO losing 3 out of 4 to Platteville in 06. 

[Dagger]

I'm in no way counting point out, I have them as a for sure tourny participant...but i have to move them down as I originally had them as a title contender too, and say what you want about it being early but they have to be perfect from here on out to have a shot, and the WIAC is just too tough to do that I think.  I think lAX is going to be the fourth team this year.  Superior is on the right track and I think they will make in another two years for sure, but remember they still only won 4 conference games last year, and it typically takes around 12-13 conference wins to make the tourny.  Platteville just doesn't catch my eye and I know very little about them so maybe they could make a run at it too, but I just think LAX has more offensive capabilities than all the others looking to sneak in the conf tournament this year!  They could very well take the 3 spot with UWSP rounding out the field in 4th.

UWO's setup sounds pretty nice, WW also had a big screen TV with a leather couch and some bikes and exercise equipment so pitchers could do postgame workouts inside!  They had been talking about making a shower room out there when I was still around 5 years ago, but at the time didn't have water service to the field.  That place is pretty snazzy!  MAJOR draw for recruits!!!

[Brewers20]

I'm in no way counting point out, I have them as a for sure tourny participant...but i have to move them down as I originally had them as a title contender too, and say what you want about it being early but they have to be perfect from here on out to have a shot, and the WIAC is just too tough to do that I think.  I think lAX is going to be the fourth team this year.  Superior is on the right track and I think they will make in another two years for sure, but remember they still only won 4 conference games last year, and it typically takes around 12-13 conference wins to make the tourny.  Platteville just doesn't catch my eye and I know very little about them so maybe they could make a run at it too, but I just think LAX has more offensive capabilities than all the others looking to sneak in the conf tournament this year!  They could very well take the 3 spot with UWSP rounding out the field in 4th.

I know you weren't counting out Point for being in the tourney, I am just thinking really positive for the Pointers winning the regular season title and saying "it could happen." I think if they get a couple wins at Edgewood and a couple more against Stout, their confidence should be back up and that will be great heading into the LAX series.  The one thing about that series is that it's at La Crosse and they are tough at their home park, believe me, my career record there is 2-4, when they had no business beating us.  It's just on of those places I guess.  But if they can get 3 of 4 from LAX, they'll be sitting ok, but they'll have to get it done against Oshkosh, and with those games being split double headers at Point, they should be fun to watch, because both teams will have their top two going both times I'm sure. 
I'm just hoping for the best right now, but Point had better figure it out quick cuz the season goes by fast.

[cubs]

Well point either almost didnt make the tourny that year or almost lost a seed (I don't remember) because of those two games, because they had the same number of losses, but two (presumably) fewer wins. 

Whitewater was crowned Regular Season "Champion" and earned the #1 seed in the WIAC Touranment (and home-field advantage) in 2003 because of that very rule.  Oshkosh went 17-3, including beating Whitewater three out of four during the regular season, however they were unable to get all 24 games in, missing out on a pair against Superior, who was just BRUTAL that season, and two against La Crosse.  Whitewater went 19-5, and was able to "save" Callahan for Round Two of the WIAC Tournament, by getting the #1 seed, and the "easier" route to the WIAC Championship that season.

UWO did however earn an "at-large" bid that season, and beat Whitewater twice in the Regional to advance to the World Series.

[Dagger]

yeah, and it's situations like the one mentioned above that provide great examples of why the games should get played.  Conference games should get played no matter what, cancel the non conference games if you have to (obviously that's not desirable either but...) but get the conference games in so the 'best' team gets what they rightfully earned and aren't screwed by a percentage point because they got rained/snowed out and somebody else didn't.  That is one of my least favorite rules in the WIAC...well that and the transfer rule 

[Brewers20]

If anyone is interested, there will be live stats online for the UWSP vs. Edgewood DH.
http://www.sidearmstats.com/edgewood/baseball/

[cubs]

Score Updates....

Stout 4
Oshkosh 1    Top 7th

Platteville 0
Superior 0    Top 8th

Point 3
Edgewood 0  Top 6th

[Dagger]

any finals on game ones?

[ShineTime]

Stout beat Oshkosh game 1.  That makes Point getting swept this past weekend sting even more.  I won't get over it for a while because Point definitely should've had 3 of those games.

[BoBo]

UWW takes game 1 vs La Crosse 9-8, scoring the winning run with 2 out in the 9th after having one runner thrown out at the plate as the second out.  Warhawks trailied 4-0 by the time the Eagles finished batting in the second and 8-5 by the 5th, but scored 1 in the 6th, 2 in the 7th, in addition to the run in the bottom of the ninth. 

UWW-UWL game 1 box

La Crosse earns a split with a 3-2 victory in game 2.  No details available.

EDIT:  Game 2 box score

[badgerwarhawk]

In game two WHITEWATER led 1-0 but LaCrosse hit a two run home run to take the lead 2-1.  WHITEWATER tied it on a solo home run by Sam Petrasko and the game remained tied into the ninth inning.  In the ninth LaCrosse got a couple of hits and then consecutive base on balls, the second of which forced in the go ahead run.  WHITEWATER had the tying run on second with one out and third with two outs but was unable to score. 

WHITEWATER'S winning run in game one was scored on either a passed ball or wild pitch.  I haven't looked at the official box so I'm not sure how it was scored. 

I see it was scored a wild pitch.

[OshDude]

I know Stout can hit, almost always have ... but if Rubens can't beat them the Titans are in trouble. I don't care if Brad Demmin didn't play, your ace needs to beat Stout.

Something that crossed my mind ... is the WIAC a one-bid league this year? It's early enough to make it not so but late enough to start thinking about it. Good thing Augustana is losing weird games because if the CCIW gets three bids, the WIAC starts to look shaky with all the parity and several NAC teams quietly putting together nice seasons. For the WIAC's sake, I hope our OWP numbers are better because the NAC and WIAC don't play each other often this year, making it hard to compare.

Anyway, is that what it is – WIAC balance – or do we not have a viable contender this year?
CSS and the top of the MIAC/NAC must be getting a chuckle out of the WIAC results.

[Dagger]

that's a really good question, and something that I had thought about last night for a bit.  I don't see Point or WW making a dent in a postseason run this year, and I'm not being down on them or whatever...I'm just being realistic.  They are both good teams and they both have a legitimate shot at ncaa games this year, but I don't see either one getting out of regionals.  UWO in my eyes is the wiacs only real shot at getting a contender in there this year, and somebody that could win a game or two in the series.  But with that said, they need to stop losing to stout and norberts and all that crap.  Point is just too young and inexperienced I think to piece together that post season run that they will need.  They are going be a very good baseball team next year though!  WW still hasn't impressed me yet to date with much of anything, yes they are winning ball games, but as shine time said (and I don't think that even the WW fans would disagree) point should have won three of those games!  All three will have a chance at postseason games, but I think that as the lower echelon teams in the wiac slowly build their programs back up the days of seeing uwo, uww, uwsp the top three may be on the way out.  It used to be that those three teams would sweep all the other teams every year, and it would come down to who played who heads up better.  Now teams like lax, platt, sup, and apparently stout can come in and take a game or two from the big dogs, which will really make things interesting this year.  I do think the teams are down a notch from the past couple years in the wiac this season (compared to other conferences/regions) but they still have some darn good ball clubs in there.  The rest of this season will be very interesting as it plays out I think.  I see the wiac getting one at large at this point, and they may even be able to justify none at this point...nobody really looks like a contender yet!  But as we all know, may/june brings out the best of the guys and we'll see what happens then!

[ShineTime]

All I want for Xmas is for the Pointers to be able to play Edgewood 40 games per year so we can go 40-0.  Oshkosh definitely has the best chance to make a run because of their prolific offense.  I don't trust their pitching staff all that much though.  If Nix is on and throwing strikes Point can beat anyone in D3 but that's always a BIG if.  Whitewater is in the same boat they have a legit #1 pitcher in Dott and can do well in regionals because of it if they get in. 

[Brewers20]

Looking at the stats from yesterday's games between Point and Edgewood, and their overall statistics, Point needs to start hitting the ball better.  A team .275 batting average is so uncharacteristic for UWSP baseball.  When I was there the majority of our practice time was spent on the field doing defensive situations and bunt coverage's, with about 30 to 45 minutes penciled in for hitting stations, but we usually had about a .320-.330 team BA.  I think they might have to start doing some more match ups during practice so they can start putting some runs across the board.  Because if there not going to rely on the homerun this year, everyone in the line up is going to have be able to get base hits.  I have faith that they can do it, they just might have to get some more BP that's all.
 
As far as their pitching goes, it looks like they threw the ball well yesterday, and Edgewood usually isn't too bad.  Glad to see that is turning around.  They definitely have the talent on the mound to make a run in the post season; they just need to get the bats going a little better.

As far as the other games go in the WIAC, it's like I posted earlier, teams can get hot, and teams can lose games they shouldn't.  Rubens losing to Stout is a BIG shocker, but that just goes to show you, in the WIAC this year, anybody can beat anybody.  Matt Doornick for Stout has one of the best curveballs I've ever seen, and when he's on he can be very tough, so him striking out 13 Titans isn't too surprising.

The lack of offense in WW came out against LAX yesterday losing 3-2 in game 2.  And in game 1 they faced Zurbriggen who's not all that impressive.  So I'm still not too impressed with the 2009 Warhawks team, they just don't have the dominance they've had in the last few years.

Overall I think the WIAC is a little down this year, even though Oshkosh shouldn't be because they only lost two players (Leighton and Hendricks), but they're young so I guess that could be playing a factor.  Do I think any of them have a chance to make a post season run to Appleton? At this point, no, I think Point and WW will have to hit a lot better, and Oshkosh needs to pitch better and play better defense.  Point's pitching will also need to step up just a little bit.  Do I think anybody in the WIAC will get an at large bid? Right now, no, I don't think any of the teams deserve one.  La Crosse has the best record, but I don't see them ending the year as a contender.

I still think the regular season crown is up for grabs, the way the WIAC is shaping up to be this year, a lot can happen over the next 4 weeks.  I hope it comes down to the wire, whoever it is, because that's always fun to follow.