BB: WIAC: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[OshDude]

Nice box score for DubDub in its opener against Augsburg. Good to see JD (SB, 2B, HR ... only XBH's in the game) and Stine (2-for-5, SB, 2 RBI) didn't need time adjusting to game pitching after a year away. Dan Putnam added three steals from the leadoff spot to give the Warhawks five in the game.

Only one game, but different year, same old Whitewater. Running, bombing, efficiency on O (3 LOB) and good enough pitching.

[cubs]

Oshkosh's roster is up. Perhaps Rubens will pitch this year after all. Besides that, no surprises.

Good recruiting class for the Titans. Is Christensen the same all-stater from several years ago? Pretty sure it is, but he's the only Titan I'm not positive about.

If I had to guess, I'm going to say that Rubens will not be pitching this season and is just listed on the roster since he was a captain last year, and is possibly a captain again this season.

The one surprise for me was Andy Cordier from FVL...  He was listed in the Wisconsin Baseball yearbook as playing for Wisconsin Lutheran, so to see him on UWO's roster was a bit of a surprise.

[cubs]

Here's the deal with Point this year that I'm concerned about.  I think Peebs is going to try too hard to make everyone happy by getting everyone playing time instead of just trying to win each and every game.  I know you can never have too much talent but I think Point actually has the most quality depth they've had in years.  It's great if you have injuries but sucks when you have 4-5 great players on your bench.  As far as my username, I'm going to be shining it if Point ever plays to their potential.  I set my self up for disappointment again though believing this was going to be Point's best team since 05 and than they lose to an average St. Olaf squad.  I know it's early but IMO it was a shocking loss.

Point is TWO games into the season for christ's sake!!!!  Cut the guy some slack, as he has some new players and likely wants to see what they can do in game situations.  It would be different if there was a big difference in talent with some of these guys, but they are all solid players.  Hell, you were upset with Cummings early in the season last year, and he ended up being Point's top hitter by 40 points.  Let the season play out a bit before you go postal.  I can't even imagine what your going to say when Fritz takes the mound down in Florida!!!

[cubs]

Is anyone else concerned that kannenberg is going to blow out this year???  first games and he already was used in back to back games.  That's not easy on the arm to recover from, and I know they have a nice layoff until they play again, but this type of over use seems to be the trend lately at UWO, and then all the big guns are too worn down by the end of the year to contribute like they are capable of!  I hope for kannenberg's sake that they don't do that to him all season long!

While I understand where you are coming from, Kannenberg had a pretty low pitch count in Game #1, throwing 85 pitches.  With the way he dominated the Augsburg bats, I can understand why he came back to close the game out with UWO not having another game in almost a week.  My guess is however he will be starting one of the four games this weekend against Edgewood or St. John's.  I'm kind of surprised however that Kannenberg didn't have any AB's in the Augsburg DH, considering he was a .333 hitter last season.

[pickleshiner]

I have no problem with Fritz taking the mound in Florida I seen him pitch a few times and he's not too bad.  They also can put Jirsch at short if Fritz is pitching and have Tuschen at 2B and Thomas at 3B.  Point is really going to have a dillema between Jirschele, Tuschen, and Thomas.  Thomas is such a good hitter it's hard to keep him out but I know he can be a liability at times defensively.  I"m trying to keep it under control this year but it's hard.  I just look at this year's team and it reminds me of the days of Wiczek and all the other sticks they had.  They really should not lose more than 6-7 games this year with all the talent.

[badgerwarhawk]

Having Stine and Donovan back in the batting order has already paid dividends as the two went 5-9 with 3 runs scored and 4 rbi.  Donovan had two extra base hits (double, home run).  Also Mike Kenseth is back in the order.  He's a solid glove at SS and decent hitter.  It looks like Coe has recovered sufficently to be playing.

[badgerwarhawk]

The WARHAWKS are crushing Hamline, 17-0, after five.  Donovan, Putnam, Kuhlmann, Wessels and Mullin all have multiple hits.  Donovan has another home run.  Aaron Leitner went five innins surrendering 2 hits before being relieved by Eric Schmitz. 

[cubs]

The WARHAWKS are crushing Hamline, 17-0, after five.  Donovan, Putnam, Kuhlmann, Wessels and Mullin all have multiple hits.  Donovan has another home run.  Aaron Leitner went five innins surrendering 2 hits before being relieved by Eric Schmitz.

BW-
You are going to like Leitner A LOT!!!  He is a solid pitcher, but with the defensvie and offensive support that Whitewater will be able to give him, it will only make him better.  While Point and Oshkosh are not as left-hand heavy in their line-ups as they used to be (Point with 4 lefties, and Oshkosh with 5 lefties) I still think he will match up well against both teams.

[cubs]

It appears that Oshkosh will be starting the following this weekend:
Saturday
Game #1-Grabig
Game #2-Westphal

Sunday
Game #1-Lenzen
Game #2-Kannenberg

It will be interesting to see whio is in relief each day to see where some of the other guys figure in, since three of the four guys starting threw in the opening series.

[badgerwarhawk]

The WARHAWKS swept Hamline easily 18-1 and 13-1 in a pair of seven inning games.   Leitner got the win in the first one and Jason Hooper went six innings allowing 4 hits and striking out 5 for the win in game two.  Jeff Donovan pitched a scoreless inning in relief.  Donovan finished the day 5x10, 6 rbi.  Jordan Stine 3x8, 6 rbi.  Travis Wessels 4x7, 3 rbi and a pair of triples.  Ben Kuhlmann 5x9, 4 rbi.  Dan Putnam 5x9, 2 rbi.  One the day the WARHAWKS' offense goes 34x68 with 22 extra base hits and 9 stolen bases.  

The team will resume play 3/19 in Florida where they'll play Hope (2), Cortland, Salem State, Bowdoin and Otterbien.  The varsity reserve will face Kalamazo College, Elgin Community College and Lawrence.

[BigPoppa]

Looking at UW-O's schedule, every single game is in-region this year. Outside of WIAC play, they have scheduled winnable non-conference games which should really help their in-region AND overall record when it comes to handing out NCAA bids in May.

They have three weekends in a row in the Metrodome against, UMAC, MIAC, MWC and NathCon schools. Kudos to Coach Lechnir for working so hard to make sure every single game they play this year truly counts.

[cubs]

They have three weekends in a row in the Metrodome against, UMAC, MIAC, MWC and NathCon schools. Kudos to Coach Lechnir for working so hard to make sure every single game they play this year truly counts.

I noticed that as well..... 

Another thing that I found interesting was that the games are pretty spread out.  Since UWO lacks quality pitching depth this season, it allows the Titans to send out their top four or five guys each weekend they are in Minnesota.  Not sure that helps in the long-term, but it will give them a chance to post a pretty nice record going into WIAC play regardless of how strong their opponents are.  It would not surprise me one bit to see UWO at 12-2 or better heading into their DH with Stevens Point in April.

[BigPoppa]

Agree 100%. They are setting themselves up nicely for a run at a Pool C if they falter in the WIAC.

[cubs]

Agree 100%. They are setting themselves up nicely for a run at a Pool C if they falter in the WIAC.

In all honesty I see them as the third best team in the WIAC right now behind Point and Whitewater.  If Whitewater gets some pitching to go along with their sticks, they are going to be awfully hard to beat.  Point may have the most balanced team, with solid pitching depth and offesive fire-power, despite being shut-out by St. Olaf.  Rumor has it that Koback was in the 91-93 range in the cages during practice, and if that is the case, it just provides more depth to an already strong pitching staff.

[BigPoppa]

I see the WIAC:

1. Stevens Point
2. Whitewater
3. Oshkosh
4.

All three could be in the regional... maybe one shifted to the Central (like WW in 2009).