BB: WIAC: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[OshDude]

If it's been a heated game and Sam Spurney is coming at my legs, if it all possible I get up and out of the way of Sam Spurney, get my two outs and tell Sam Spurney what I thought of his slide over my shoulder on my to the dugout. If there are only two outs, I'm now in one piece and I tell Sam Spurney what I thought of slide as he trots back to grab some bench.

I think all former and current middle infielders have taken bush and/or hard slides, and we all have the scars to prove it. However, I never punched or kicked a dude for crushing me. Sometimes it just happens (bad feed, bang-banger, etc.), but most of the time there are ways to avoid it. If you're still playing in college – especially in a hardnosed league like the WIAC – prior experience should let you know that if you don't avoid the shot you're going to get destroyed.

[BigPoppa]

Is this REALLY what the WIAC board has become this week? You have a great race for the title and all you are talking about is an on-field fight.

[Brewers20]

Thanks Big Poppa, it looks like the focus has turned to something that isn't nearly as important as what could happen today.

Oshkosh @ Point

Platteville @ Whitewater (Have to finish game 2 of series with UWP up with a guy on first with no outs in the bottom of the 9th down 7-5)

Stout @ Superior

The top two double headers are very VERY important.  If Point sweeps, they're looking extremely good to bring home the hardware, given their past success  against Platteville.  If Whitewater loses one and Oshkosh sweeps, UWO is looking good to win the title.  If Point and Oshkosh split and Whitewater sweeps, then it will all come down to the last weekend, what a finish to the season that would be.  I knew the WIAC would be close, but not this close.  Hopefully today there are some good, clean, hard faught games around the league.

GO POINTERS!!

[BigPoppa]

The finish in the WIAC regular season is VERY important as it appearsthe NCAA is leaning toward award two bids to the WIAC as of last week. A WIAC regualr season title might be enough to earn a Pool C bid should they falter in the WIAC tourney.

[cubs]

Taking BP's lead, what does everyone think the pitching match-ups will look like today at Point?

I would guess UWO will likely go with their two "hottest" pitchers in Demmin and Kannenberg.  Kannenberg only faced two batters last week, so it would be a "new" look for the most part, and Demmin threw wel last week with the exception of one bad inning in UWO's 9-6 victory.

On the other hand, one would think Point would go with their lone lefty in Delorit to try and neutralize UWO's lefty line-up.  However the combination of Delorit just throwing six innings on Monday at Superior and getting "roughed-up" a bit last week, i doubt he gets a start today.  I would probably lean towards Williams and Barry getting the call as neither has faced UWO yet this season.  Regardless, I wouldn't be surprised to see Zielke log a few innings today, as he had a pretty light workload this weekend.

If I'm not mistaken the wind should be blowing in from left, but who knows if it will switch between now and 1:00.  Could make for one of the few "pitcher's days" at Point.

[BigPoppa]

I have no idea of what to think of the WIAC this year. It might be the most balanced league in the nation. To be this deep into the season and still have no clear-cut leader or obvious top four is amazing. So many teams still have a shot at the post-season which makes for great baseball.

[BoBo]

Thanks Big Poppa, it looks like the focus has turned to something that isn't nearly as important as what could happen today.

Oshkosh @ Point

Platteville @ Whitewater (Have to finish game 2 of series with UWP up with a guy on first with no outs in the bottom of the 9th down 7-5)

Actually, the suspended game is in the top of the 9th...it's being played at Whitewater!

[biggio34]

Not sure about everyone else, but I call this spikes high and definately off the ground....

http://www.superiortelegram.com/media/full/jpg/2009/04/28/u-41.jpg

[biggio34]

I also know that umpire and he is a complete toolshed and I dont think he knows the game well enough to make the proper call on an illegal slide.  Even though it should really be the home plate ump making the call.

[BigPoppa]

Not sure about everyone else, but I call this spikes high and definately off the ground....

http://www.superiortelegram.com/media/full/jpg/2009/04/28/u-41.jpg

To quote the immortal Rodney King, "Can't we all just get along?"

[janesvilleflash]

I've never seen a good hard slide to break up a double play end up with the infielders pants ripped from the ankle to up past the knee.

As for we shouldn't talk about it, hell yes we should. It's part of the game too.

[biggio34]

I forgot to give credit to the photographer---Jed Carlson from the Superior Telegram for his great shots. Excellent photographer that knows how to shoot sports. Has won numerous awards for his work.

[BigPoppa]

I forgot to give credit to the photographer---Jed Carlson from the Superior Telegram for his great shots. Excellent photographer that knows how to shoot sports. Has won numerous awards for his work.

That IS a great shot.

[badgerwarhawk]

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words.  That appears to be appropriate in this case.   Excellent photography.

[biggio34]

By the way, the reason Cummings wasn't in the second game was because he was at the hospital getting his THIGH stitched up. Not due to a coaching decision, so your unbias on looker was off a little bit.
As for the rules, you cannot break up a double play. You must take a strait line into the bag, not travel over the bag, or do anything to impede or intentionally distract the defensive player. Both the runner and the batter should be called out. It is the plate umpires responsibility to make the call on the person sliding.