BB: WIAC: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[cubs]

Swine flu??

[ShineTime]

It's funny you say that and I'm surprised the State of Wisconsin hasn't gone overboard and cancelled all athletic events.  What would you rather have the HIV or Swine Flu?

[brewcrew2008]

i heard cody has a sprained thumb

[ShineTime]

Thanks for the update.  I have been trying to find out for the past 24 hrs.  That really sucks that Arch and Koback are both out today.  Nothing like gift wrapping Whitewater or Oshkosh the conference title.  Are either of them going to be available for the conference tourney?  If not that really sucks for the conference because I would rather see Platteville in and have a chance to take it rather than Point with a depleted roster.

[cubs]

Thanks for the update.  I have been trying to find out for the past 24 hrs.  That really sucks that Arch and Koback are both out today.  Nothing like gift wrapping Whitewater or Oshkosh the conference title.  Are either of them going to be available for the conference tourney?  If not that really sucks for the conference because I would rather see Platteville in and have a chance to take it rather than Point with a depleted roster.

Gift-wrapped?  Like Whitewater and Oshkosh haven't had their fair share of injuries throughout the season.  It just so happens that Point has had a couple injuries this weekend, as opposed to throughout the season like the Titans and Warhawks.

[cubs]

Game #1 Finals
Platteville 4
Point 2

-Surman leaves a small village on the bases in his first three AB's (7 LOB.)
-The first two Pioneer runs were unearned off of the Pointers Scott Williams.
-Spurney grounds out to SS, with runners on 2nd and 3rd in the 9th, following a double steal.
-Pioneers still have "ace" Joe Lange in the hole for the final game of the series.

Oshkosh 9
Superior 0

-Demmin goes the distance for UWO

La Crosse ?
Stout ?

??

[cubs]

It appears that Bloom may be being a bit cautious with Archambeau and Koback.

Archambeau pinch-hit in the 8th inning with a runner on first.  He tried to bunt for a hit with two outs, but was unsuccessful.  He has stayed in the game to play 1B, in the bottom half of the 8th inning.

Koback pinch-ran in the 9th inning following a single by Rennicke, but obviously an injured thumb isn't going to be affected much by running.

Wouldn't be surprised to Archmabeau starting Game #2......

[cubs]

Well with the loss in Game #1, Point loses not only the game, but the chance at hosting the WIAC Tournament as well even if they win Game #2.  They could even end up as the #3 seed, unless Superior is able to knock off UWO in Game #2 today. 

Whitewater is looking good to host right now, unless Point also loses Game #2 and Oshkosh wins, which would give UWO hosting rights.

Lange is indeed on the mound to start Game #2 against Kyle Barry. 

Once again however, no Archambeau in the line-up for Point.

[ShineTime]

Way to choke Pointers way to choke!!  The blame can only be placed on Coach Bloom at this point.  If Arch was healthy enough to get in the game in the 8th he should've been playing the entire game.  You can't leave 2 of your top 3 players on the pine.  Even a sprained thumb sounds a little shady for not playing.

[Titan20]

so who won conference?

[ShineTime]

I believe Whitewater, Point, and Oshkosh all finished 15-9.  Oshkosh won the series against Whitewater so I believe they are the 1 seed and Whitewater is the 2 seed since they took the series against Point.  To me it doesn't make sense though.  Point took 3 of 4 against Oshkosh so I don't know how they could be ahead. 

[Dagger]

Well I finally made it to some games this weekend, and unfortunately had to witness Point lose the regular season title.  A couple notes from the UWSP UWP games....The 10-0 game on saturday was ugly all the way around for point.  Nix looked like crap, and nobody could get a hit against kyle mack!  it's hard to put into words what it was like, other than to say not good! 

the first game on sunday was just one of those games for the pointers, who were squaring up on every single ball they hit (with a few exceptions).  They just found their way right into the gloves of the pioneers, not much you can do.  Scotty williams looked great on the mound, and deserved a better fate.  UWP found a way to score by hitting a swinging bunt to third which was beat out at first (scored a run) with two outs, and texas leaguer combined with a pointer miscue or two.  Very frustrating to watch point ripping the ball all over the park and not get rewarded at some point for it and to have platteville playing like they did both offensively and defensively and walk away with a W.  It really was just one of those games where you just couldn't get a break.   Spurney ripped his last at bat with a sharp two hopper right, and I mean right at, the shortstop who picked it and threw him out to end the game!  Five feet either way and it's tied...

Delorit also looked great on saturday in game one(to backtrack a little).  Game two barry was on the bump, looked very good also and the bats came alive in the fourth I believe with three consecutive doubles with two outs to go up 2-0.  I left shortly after that, but the boys looked like they were going to take control of the game at that point, and the pioneers could not touch barry.

Shinetime you're a true fan aren't you?  As always staying classy...there was no chocking this weekend...they flat out got beat on saturday game two, to the same team that took 3 of 4 against UWO in UWO mind you, and in game one on sunday were dominating the bats with nothing to show for it.  The defensive side did not cost them anything really and the pitching, other than nix, was very strong!  There was a good team in the pioneer uniforms, and Point just could get it done.   They had a great season considering everything and everyone that was new to the program, or at least new to playing consistently.  They had a great season to finish where they did, and I feel pretty good after this weekend going into the tournament...assuming the bats show up!

The arch and cummings collision was a pretty serious impact, which left arch in a neck brace saturday night with his shoulder and neck swelling up.  I would rather have him for sure healthy for the tournament (which they are guaranteed to be in) then risk the future to get a couple at bats on sunday.  The Point defense had its moments, as it usually does, but overall played pretty sound D all weekend.  It was just a story of no...NO...clutch hits with guys on base.  No joke I think they left over 27 guys on base in the first game on saturday!   A couple big hits here and there and the weekend turns out totally different for the boys, but so goes the game of baseball.

One thing I can say after finally seeing them play, is that scotty williams, joel delorit, and kyle barry (with zielke and lorenz in the late innings) is without doubt the best pitching in the conference, and if the bats wake up do not be surprised to see point walk through the tournament.  Their pitching staff is very capable of shutting teams down, it's more a matter of getting a hit when its needed that will hold them down.  Should be a very interesting conf. tourney this year! 

Good luck to all that find their way there (and in what position 1-4) and Congratulations on making it this far....Go Pointers

[BaseballFan]

1. UWW
2. Point
3. UWO
4. LaCrosse

But the top 3 are considered co-champions

Gotta go by tie-breakers to figure it out

[ShineTime]

I'll be the first to make predictions but these are based on believing that Arch and Koback will play for Point.

Game 1:  Oshkosh 9  LaCrosse 5  I think Kanny will throw for Oshkosh and Benitz for LaCrosse.  LaCrosse eliminated

Game 2:  Point 2  Whitewater 1  It's going to be very difficult to beat Dott but after Point beat Lange today I think it can happen.  Arch really struggles against lefties so if he's out it shouldn't hurt as much other than his play in the outfield.  I'm hoping Point throws Williams.  I have a feeling Surman is going to hit a 2 run bomb in the top of the 9th and make up for his poor performance this weekend.  I know Whitewater won all 4 at Point but if you were at all 4 like I was there was no doubt who the better team was and that was Point.

Game 3:  Oshkosh 15  Whitewater 3  Demmin will throw for Oshkosh and put an end to Whitewater's tremendous season.  Whitewater has just lost way too much to put enough runs on the board and they will need to as Oshkosh has roughed them up this year.

Game 4:  Oshkosh 5  Point 4  Ruebens over Delorit.

Game 5:  Point 4  Oshkosh 3  Berry over Matson.  Point gets the automatic bid and Oshkosh lucks out and gets an at large.

Let's hear some other predictions.

[OshDude]

Game #1 Finals
Platteville 4
Point 2

-Surman leaves a small village on the bases in his first three AB's (7 LOB.)
-The first two Pioneer runs were unearned off of the Pointers Scott Williams.
-Spurney grounds out to SS, with runners on 2nd and 3rd in the 9th, following a double steal.
-Pioneers still have "ace" Joe Lange in the hole for the final game of the series.

Oshkosh 9
Superior 0

-Demmin goes the distance for UWO

La Crosse ?
Stout ?

??

Grinnell and Monmouth set a D-III record for combined LOB's in a game the other day ... 43. It went 19 innings, but still.