BB: WIAC: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Dagger]

Got to be frustrating for point, when in two of your first three double headers you score double digits in the first game for the win, and then come out in the nightcap and get shut-out, or darn near shut out!  I'm going to hope that it's the quality of competition that is rising after the initial defeat to shut them down, but I'm still not convinced that's a good excuse.  Having not seen them play yet it's hard to say anything, but I don't like the trend that's developing.

[pickleshiner]

Or the fact that they scored 13 runs the first game and their coach decided to put starters on the bench for game 2.  I got chewed a few weeks ago for stating Peebs likes to get everyone in and look what happens when he changes the lineup.  Of course I'm not Peebs but my advice would be play every game to win or as it's to make the world series.  Luckily their splits are with excellent teams so it won't hurt them but if they split with Norbert's or Ripon it won't help them.  It's going to be very difficult to keep Thomas's bat out of the lineup but who do you bench?  Tuschen had a great game yesterday and I don't think you can bench Jirschele.  I'm sure if Koback is on the mound perhaps Thomas could DH although Koback can hit so good.  Why hasn't Koback pitched yet?

[Brewers20]

Hey all,
First post of the year for this guy!...Point's struggles in game 2s of DHs are very surprising to me with all of the veterans on that team.  Hopefully they can get it out of their systems before they get back up north.  As far as who you bench?  Seems like everyone is hitting fairly decent right now, it's all about whose the hot hitters when you get back up north.  In Florida you have to get everyone at least 6 ABs or 2 starts in the field, thats the point of the spring trip.  But whoever performs the best down there will get the nod in the first few games up north, after that it's whoever gets hot and stays hot throughout the season.  I'm sure Koback is just resting his body, with a guy like that you don't want to burn him out, better to have him at the end of the year than in the beginning.  The rest of their trip they should be able to do pretty good, they only have one game today so we'll see how they perform in a full 9 innings.

[badgerwarhawk]

The WARHAWKS beat Washington & Jefferson again today by a 12-4 score.  W&J took a 2-0 lead in their first at bat but the WARHAWKS responded with a pair of runs on a RBI triple by Daniel Putnam and a SAC fly by Jeff Donovan in their half of the inning and took the lead for good with three runs in their second at bat.  Putnam went 3x5 with 4 RBI and Matt Kenseth was 2x4 with an RBI.  Jordan Stine also had 3 RBI.  Aaron Leitner got the start and was relieved in the fifth inning by Kyle Lee who pitched 3.1 shutout innings for the win, his second of the season.  Peot (.1) and Hooper (.2) finished the ninth.

The schedule has us playing Bowdoin (ME) this morning and a varsity reserve game against Elgin Community College this afternoon.   

[Brewers20]

Anyone know how UWSP did today against Bowdin?

[Brewers20]

Bowdoin's website has the score from the UWSP game on their website.  UWSP 14 Bowdoin 2....another solid game for the Pointers.

[Dagger]

I think if point can get through the remainder of their trip and open WIAC play with only one more loss, maybe two, they will be sitting really good.  Right around what I had thought a couple weeks ago would be a good start.  With most of the heavy lifting done, as far as tough opponents are concerned, they need to finish strong!  I'm afraid more than 2 losses from today until conference play will not bode well in the future, should it come down to at large berths.  I would guess whoever wins the WIAC will lose at least 4-5 conference games.  My personal opinion is that you need to win 28 games or so to be a strong contender in the at large pool.  I know there are other factors, and scenarios where teams with less wins get in, but just for the sake of something to talk about for now.  If 28 wins were the magic number that would mean that Point could afford to lose no more than 9 more games this season.  take away 5 (lets say 6) for conference games, and that's only a 3 game (or so) cushion to work with.  The way the conference looks this year with all the parity between teams, I could see the champ losing 6 games or more! 

[voice]

I have been with the UW-Whitewater baseball trips both in Florida and Arizona in recent years.  The one thing I have found is "Spring Trip" schedules can often be changed, or games added.  Thus the schedule discrepency involving Point and Whitewater today.  Both teams rolled to wins.

UWW 12, Washington & Jefferson (Penn) 4.   The Hawks  are now 8-1 this year.
UWSP 14, Bowdoin (Maine) 2   The win lifts the Pointers to 4-3 on the season

I have developed a UW-Whitewater baseball blog this spring with plenty of information other than just box scores and statistics.
Check it out by clicking onto:
 http://voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com/

Will be blogging live at all Warhawk baseball games (home and away) this season.  Will also be blogging each week about the other teams around the WIAC.

Check it out!

[cubs]

Nice article on former UWO pitcher Jack Taschner, and his bid to make the 25-man roster with the Pirates....

http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100311&content_id=8762948&vkey=news_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit

[pickleshiner]

The Pointers dominated Allegheny today 3-2.

[voice]

pickleshiner - Pointer's DOMINATED Allegheny today 3-2??  Good win for the Pointers coming back from being down 2-1 for the win - but dominating.?  Perhaps pickleshiner was partaking in too much pickle juice today???  Just kidding

[pickleshiner]

Point is going to destroy Norbert's on Sunday.  I'm assuming they'll throw Delorit and Williams.  It's time to put the best team on the field and make a statement.  I have high expectations for Point from here on out.  Quite frankly if they don't sweep Norbert's, Ripon, and Oshkosh the next 6 games I think it's a disappointment.  I know their at Oshkosh but Oshkosh just doesn't seem to have the offense to keep up with Point and their pitching is nothing special.

[BoBo]

Point is going to destroy Norbert's on Sunday.

[badgerwarhawk]

Prucha Field and Jim Miller Stadium have to be one of the best college baseball facilities in the state.  The new playing surface is super nice.  It's softer than playing on natural grass and all the bounces are true.  The dugouts have been expanded and the Kohler Suite has replaced the portable toilets.  The sound system has been updated and works like a charm.  The lights have been installed and are working.  I'm told that when illuminated the field is brighter than the playing field at Perkins Stadium.  The outfield irrigation system will insure the remaining grass is green and lush.  The fence in left now plays at 330 feet down the line and dead center is 395.  Right field is still 320 down the line but the scoreboard installed last year slightly overhangs the fence and keeps balls hit off of it in play.  The new netting which extends above the brick backstop provides an unobstructed view of the playing field.  The only remaining project is sodding which is scheduled for this upcoming work.  I think teams are really going to enjoy playing on it.

The WARHAWKS opened the renovated facility in grand style improving their season record to 10-1 with a double hitter sweep of Ripon winning the first game 11-1 in seven innings and taking game two 3-1.  Riley Tincher (3-0) went the distance in game one holding Ripon to five hits while striking out six and issuing a single base on balls.  Ripon took the early lead scoring their only run in the top of the fourth but the WARHAWKS answered with five runs of their own in the bottom of the inning before adding a single run in the fifth and five more in the sixth.  Ryan Leavitt had five RBI on a pair of home runs and Jeff Donovan drove in four runs going 4x4 at the plate.  Rob Coe (2) and Daniel Putnam (2) also had multiple hits.

Game two was a tighter affair in which the WARHAWKS prevailed 3-1.  Jason Hooper got the start giving up Ripon's only run on four hits and striking out six in 5.1 innings before being replaced by Kyle Lee.  Lee entered with Ripon runners on first and third with one out but worked out it with a strike out and infield ground out.  Lee (2-0) pitched 2.2 innings striking out three and giving up a single hit.  Ben Versnick struck out the side in Ripon's ninth.  Trailing 1-0 in the sixth the WARHAWKS scored three times with RBI hits from Jeff Donovan and Rob Coe.  Coe finished with a pair of hits and RBI.

The WARHAWKS return to action hosting a pair of games with Marion on Thursday.

[Just Bill]

So the face of the scoreboard is in play, huh?  That's very different.  I'm sure that's an emphatic point made during the pre-game coaches meeting.