BB: WIAC: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Dagger]

I noticed a classic WW move with the mid-inning switch of a position player.  Could have gotten hurt I suppose so maybe I should check on that first, but I just found that amusing.  He has done that several times throughout the last couple years, it's just demoralizing to the players!  Nobody makes an error on purpose, have some respect for your own team at least and let him finish the inning!  Not to mention that today's switch took out their best player this year...again though he could have been injured, anybody know what happened?

[cubs]

I noticed a classic WW move with the mid-inning switch of a position player.  Could have gotten hurt I suppose so maybe I should check on that first, but I just found that amusing.  He has done that several times throughout the last couple years, it's just demoralizing to the players!  Nobody makes an error on purpose, have some respect for your own team at least and let him finish the inning!  Not to mention that today's switch took out their best player this year...again though he could have been injured, anybody know what happened?

It appears the CF change happened right after Hiroskey's triple to CF, so if I was going to speculate, I would say there might have been an injury involved.  If it was an error, don't you think it would have been scored an error?

[Dagger]

you never know, I have seen him yank infielders mid-inning for not cutting to the right base!  that wouldn't be scored an error...Being that petrasko is their best hitter right now and a good player I would think that he was injured...but given the circumstances (getting throttled twice there already this year, and now getting it again) it wouldn't take much to set off a reaction which would result in that happening!  Could have simply misplayed the ball!  I'm not going to say anything else about it for now until I hear something about the situation, but just thought it was funny and he does that stuff all the time!

[cubs]

UWO 5
UWW 0    Top 2nd

Fosler seems to be a "thorn" in Whitewater's side this season, as he smacks a two-out, two-run double in the first.  (He was 5x8 in the first DH this season against the Warhawks.)  M. Fadness follows with a two-run single, and Hiroskey caps off the inning with a RBI triple.

UWO 11
UWW 0

FINAL (7 Innings)

Well three Whitewater vs Oshkosh games so far this season, and the Warhawks have gone down by the mercy rule all three times.  Surprising to say the least!!

Fosler continues to haunt the Warhawks, as he goes 3x4 with two doubles and a HR in the opener.  For the season he is now 8x12 with two doubles, two triples, and a HR against the Warhawks, in addition to scoring nine runs and and having five RBI's.

Rubens bounces back after a pair of losses, and stifles Whitewater once again.  He goes the distance, giving up just four hits, and faces just five batters over the minimum.

[Dagger]

petrasko is in the lineup in game two...injury unlikely in game one

Very shocking to say the least is right about the outcomes of these games!  If someone would have told me this would  happen a couple weeks ago I would have told them they are on crack!  But here we are and there is WW down three times by the 10 run rule!  Rare for that to happen to them once in a season, let alone three times in one year to the same team.  bye bye WW from the rankings after this week, and welcome to the titans...at least one would sure think!

[cubs]

UWW 4
UWO 0    Bottom 1st

Well, Petrasko must not have been injured too severly, if at all, as he is back in CF for Game #2.

Whitewater already has more hits in just one inning of Game #2 (five singles) than they did in all of Game #1 (four) as they jump out to an early lead.

Interestlingly, Dott is not on the mound for the Warhawks in Game #2, as Ben Versnik gets the start for Whitewater.  UWO hit him hard the first time they faced him, as he gave up six runs in just one third of an inning a couple of weeks back.  UWO counters with Kannenberg.

[Dagger]

Point loses to stout in game one at point 6-8   I'm not liking the chances of them doing too well the rest of this season!  It's just one of those years for the pointers, lot of young guys getting some great experience, and I fully expect them to make a strong statement next year...but I'm not seeing it this year   too bad for them.  Being a Pointer in the past, it's hard to watch this and I feel for the upper class men who haven't had to deal with anything like this before.  I think this may be one reason why things seem to be unraveling.  They have a team with few veterans, and the ones that they do have don't know what losing is like and maybe they just are able to react to it like they need to in order to lead the young guys to victory.  I don't know, just a thought.  I'm always going to be a strong supporter of the pointers, including the rest of this year, but I'm just being honest here...they aint looking to hot right now   I can and will say this though...NEVER underestimate the pointers!

[cubs]

Point loses to stout in game one at point 6-8

Stout was actually up 7-0 after five innings, and 8-2 through seven.  A late Pointer rally, scoring three in the 8th and one in the 9th,  comes up just short.

[OshDude]

I noticed a classic WW move with the mid-inning switch of a position player.  Could have gotten hurt I suppose so maybe I should check on that first, but I just found that amusing.  He has done that several times throughout the last couple years, it's just demoralizing to the players!  Nobody makes an error on purpose, have some respect for your own team at least and let him finish the inning!  Not to mention that today's switch took out their best player this year...again though he could have been injured, anybody know what happened?

It appears the CF change happened right after Hiroskey's triple to CF, so if I was going to speculate, I would say there might have been an injury involved.  If it was an error, don't you think it would have been scored an error?

Not an error, just lack of hustle. He didn't run in on one where he shoulda called off the SS, and he coasted on the one over his head. The one over his head shoulda been caught. He got the hook immediately after.

[cubs]

Whitewater manages to avoid a season sweep at the hands of UWO with a 7-4 victory in Game #2.  Whitewater jumps on Kannenberg for five runs, however Ryan Demmin comes on and keeps things close allowing the Titans to chip away and cut it to 5-4.  Whitewater scores single runs in the 8th and 9th innings for the final margin.

Aaron Dott comes on and gives up two hits and a walk while striking out four in 2 1/3 IP to record the save.  

Demmin gives up just three hits and one walk while striking out three in seven innings of relief.

One thing I forgot to mention....  Over the two games today, Whitewater attempted 10 stolen bases, and were caught five times.  Going into the game, Hiroskey had only thrown out six runners on the entire season.

[OshDude]

Very frustrating second game. Kanny couldn't get off the field, and that one good inning – over four games – nets a win for UWW. Fear not, UWW can still chirp. Was wondering if I'd hear it this year. Well, sure enough ...

After throwing 99% fastballs the first time, Dott threw a billion sliders today. For strikes even. He looked much better, obviously. Versnik was throwing much harder today than he did the first time around. After UWW put up four runs, it looked like he had another 5 mph than the last time I saw him.

Vode pushed a lot of buttons to no avail in Game 1. It was hard keeping track of the subs. I found it weird that he seemingly waved the white flag so early. Vode then coached a GREAT Game 2. He handled matchups very well and took some nice calculated risks, like pitching to Berger in the middle of the game when he didn't have to.

Ryan Demmin was pretty good today. Just not perfect like he had to be, as it turned out.

B. Demmin may be out a while longer. His right hand is still in a soft cast.

[cubs]

Well with teams having between one third and half of their WIAC games completed at this point, here is how things stand:

La Crosse 9-3
Oshkosh 6-2
Whitewater 7-5
Platteville 5-7
Stout 5-7
Point 3-5
Superior 1-7

Point has a six game stretch coming up that SHOULD give us a pretty good idea of where they will end up, getting La Crosse four times over the weekend and Oshkosh twice next Wednesday.  I would think anything less than 3-3, and Shietime's prediction of Point missing the WIAC tournament could actually hold some weight.

[ShineTime]

I just want to make it clear that my prediction wasn't to be a dick it's just I know baseball too well and could tell just from a few games that Point is not ready to be a contender this year.  Like Dagger said Point has the talent but their very young.  Even when Point has been solid the past few years they haven't played well at La Crosse so I would be surprised to see Point win more than 2 at La Crosse and am actually planning on Point only winning 1.  For some reason I think Point is going to take 2 of 4 from Oshkosh though(Just a gut feeling).  I really think Point will have a tough time with Superior because their hitting is so inconsistent and Superior has a really underrated staff.  I realize Superior has no offense right now but one could say that about Point right now too.  I have to get a few things off my chest though after Point blew a game against Stout today.  I know I've said these things before but I'm going to say them again because I know their right.

1.  It's time to completely get G. Bloom out of the lineup.  He has a pretty swing warming up and maybe he can rake in practice but there's a lot better hitters on the bench that can DH and he sure as heck shouldn't be behind the plate in front of Rennicke or Consodine.  This isn't to ridicule him but let's be honest here he's playing because his last name is Bloom.  Kobach not hitting kills the Pointers offense and Surman should be on the field at all times IMO even if he's struggling.
2.  I believe I was right in that Peebs would have to actually coach for once because Point lacks the star power they've had over the past few years.  Not saying Peebs is a bad coach but I've come to realize he makes some horrible decisions with his pitching staff and with situations in general.  I think he's done a mediocre job of coaching so far.
3.  It's time to get Zielke where he belongs:  In the starting rotation.  Zielke is the most complete pitcher Point has and let's face it there not in the lead often this year and need to WIN NOW.  You can't leave him sit there and hope that you have a lead so you can use him.  He's a senior and deserves to go out as a starter like he should've been all along. 
4.  I realize Kobach is a tremendous pitcher as a freshman but IMO he's better suited for CF and being in the lineup offensively.  He may have struggled at the plate recently but he's still a phenom with the bat.  They have enough pitchers that are equal to or better so leave him in Center and put Arch back in right.  Keep Surman in LF and have Spurney DH.  Enough of the shuffling at DH and in the field.  Last suggestion would be to use Cummings as a pinch runner and that's it.  He's a SR but he's not getting it done offensively unless he gets a bunt hit.  Let Iverson or Krueger finish the year there so we have some experience there for next year. 

I will join Dagger in saying I will always love the Pointers and go to as many games as possible but it's really hard to watch this year.  The dugout is dead most of the time especially if they fall behind early.  I think if it weren't for Rennicke and his passion that it would almost feel like being at a church service with all the silence.

[WLCALUM83]

Here's news about a prep player headed UW-Oshkosh's direction:

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/preps/43078327.html

[BigPoppa]

Point's struggles are shocking to me. Never in my mind did it occur that they might miss the WIAC post-season. With that said, I still think they have time to straighten it out, but all hopes for a Pool C bid are long gone. They MUST win the WIAC tourney to get a NCAA bid.