BB: WIAC: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[badgerwarhawk]

That's what I was told.  No doubt that is something that's discussed in the pregame.

[voice]

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.

No different than off scoreboards on the outfield fence at Major League ball parks.

[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.

No different than off scoreboards on the outfield fence at Major League ball parks.

There is a big difference between a scoreboard built into a wall, and a freestanding scoreboard that is elevated above the wall.  Generally, the latter is not in play, but if they've chosen to keep it in play, it's no big deal.  It's just unusual.  That's my only point.

[pickleshiner]

Looks like I'm way off again Point ended up splitting with St. Norbert's today losing game 1 5-4 with their ace pitching and winning 8-1 in the 2nd game.  Looks like Point may finish 500 for the season.

[Just Bill]

Looks like I'm way off again Point ended up splitting with St. Norbert's today losing game 1 5-4 with their ace pitching and winning 8-1 in the 2nd game.  Looks like Point may finish 500 for the season.

Don't you get whiplash with these sudden changes of direction all the time?  There is such a thing as the middle of the road.  See if you can find it.

[pickleshiner]

Just nervous that's all they barely beat Lawrence and split with an OK Norbert's team.  On a side note where the hell was Koback today for Point?

[cubs]

Just nervous that's all they barely beat Lawrence and split with an OK Norbert's team.  On a side note where the hell was Koback today for Point?

Point was in control the whole time against Lawrence, and that was with having their #6 pitcher on the mound (Mittelstaedt.) 

That "ok" St. Norbert's team you speak of showed last year that even though they may only have an "average" record, they can play with (and sometimes beat) some of the top teams in the Midwest, as they went 3-3 against the WIAC last season with wins over Point and Oshkosh, who I'm sure you know both shared the WIAC regular season title with Whitewater.  (They also beat Platteville.)

I hope you have good medical coverage....  I assume you are going to break your ankle a few times with all that jumpiing on and off the Pointer bandwagon you are doing....

[Dagger]

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.

not that it's a big deal, but a baseball infield (college standards) needs to be about twice as bright as a football stadium when it comes to the lighting.

On another note, I'm going to try and keep my spinal cord in-tact here, but I'm beginning to be a little concerned for Point.  There has to be some mental thing going on where they are just not able to bring everything they have to every game.  They have way too much talent to be as inconsistent as they have been.  There could certainly be other reasons, but in my experiences, inconsistency like that which they are exhibiting right now is from a lack of mental preparedness.  They may also be a little over confident as well.... I have no idea really, but I'm going to wait another 10 games before I hit the panic button.  7-4 is still a good start, just think it could have been better.

Whitewater looks to be playing well, and their facility is one of the best, until UW-Milwaukee builds their new field in a couple years.  You certainly can't beat the warhawks facilities in D3, and they give them a big advantage before the game even starts.  Even after playing there for two years, you still feel a little intimidated by the place!  It's a beautiful facility and also a 1-0 lead before the game begins.  It's going to be a great battle this year between point and uww for the top spot in the WIAC! 

[badgerwarhawk]

Even after playing there for two years, you still feel a little intimidated by the place!  It's a beautiful facility and also a 1-0 lead before the game begins.   

Fear the bird! 

[Brewers20]

I'm not too worried about Point's shaky start to the season...Seems like it happens every year.  In 06 and 07 we came back from florida just a game or two over .500 and we made it to the World Series.  Our competition was pretty stiff however, but winning is winning and losing is losing.  I'm sure they'll turn it around.
I wonder if Koback may be injured or if he is just not playing the field as much this year and focusing more on pitching.  We'll see if he plays or pitches this Saturday against Ripon.  If he doesn't do either, you almost have to assume that he's injured.

[pickleshiner]

It's really hard to take Koback's bat and his speed on the bases out of the lineup but the way Lorenz and Delorit have started I'm guessing Koback is going to be heavily counted on in the rotation which sucks.  Their offense is a lot better with Koback in the lineup.  I thought their lineup against Trinity game 1 was the best it could possibly be set up.

[Brewers20]

It's really hard to take Koback's bat and his speed on the bases out of the lineup but the way Lorenz and Delorit have started I'm guessing Koback is going to be heavily counted on in the rotation which sucks.  Their offense is a lot better with Koback in the lineup.  I thought their lineup against Trinity game 1 was the best it could possibly be set up.

Well I'm sure there is a good reason for Koback not playing, what it is, i'm not sure.  I'm sure lorenz and delorit are going to come around, we're still in the first 10 or so games here, a lot of ball to play yet.  As everyone says, better to end hot then start hot, hopefully thats the case again this year. 
On another note, does anyone know how good of pitchers Whitewater has been facing?  Their team batting average is ridiculous.  Just wondering if WWs hitters are that good or if the pitching they're facing is that bad, or maybe it's a little of both.  Just curious

[badgerwarhawk]

You can draw your own conclusion about WARHAWK hitters but here's the low down on the pitchers they've faced.

Against Ripon we faced their two pitchers, Wierschke and Dwyer, who are 1st and 2nd in innings pitched for the Red Hawks.
Against Washington and Jefferson we faced their two pitchers, Trushel and Kennedy, who are 1st and 2nd in innings pitched for the Presidents.
Against Cortland we faced their pitcher, Assmann, who is 1st in innings pitched for the Red Dragons.
Against Hope we faced their two pitchers, Clements and Fairchild, who are 2nd and 3rd in innings pitched for the Flying Dutchmen.
Against Hamline we faced their two pitchers, Eickman and Krietfort, who are 3rd and 4th in innings pitched for the Pipers.
Against Augsburg we faced their pitcher, Ozga, who is 2nd in innings pitched for the Augies.

I don't know how good they are but for the most part we are facing pitchers who are getting significant innings for their teams.  Obviously the season is still young and their position, in terms of innings pitched, could change but to date we're facing pitchers that our opponents use regularly.

[pickleshiner]

I've drawn my conclusion.  Whitewater will lose 2 games in the WIAC to Point but will walk away with the title.  Point will manage to win the conference tourney as the #4 seed.  Whitewater will go unbeaten in regionals and win the world series making WIAC champs in Football, Basketball, and Baseball.  Whitewater is looking better than their last world series team offensively.  Point is just way too inconsistent and can't put the same lineup on the field on a regular basis.  Great teams have a lineup 1-9 that's consistent with a few guys coming off the bench with clutch hits.  I'm also very concerned about Point's pitching staff so far.  Their really missing Zielke and Barry from last year.

[cubs]

I'm not even sure where to start with that.....

First of all, if Point is the #4 seed, they won't even make the WIAC Tournament, as it is only the top three seeds this season.  I will bet the farm that Point finishes either #1 or #2 during the regular season this year.

Secondly, while Whitewater may be looking better offensively this season, their pitching staff isn't even close to the World Series team that featured Reinhard and Tomasiewicz.  One could argue they don't even have one guy as good as either of those two, who combined to go 27-1 and threw nearly half of Whitewater's total innings that season.

Lasty, the pitching in the WIAC is down as a whole this season.  I still think Point has the deepest staff, which over the long haul will pay dividends with the way the WIAC schedule is set-up with six games in five days.

You take Whitewater and I'll take Point, and we'll see who is right.  Make sure you get some ice for that ankle!!