BB: WIAC: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[OshDude]

Oshkosh and La Crosse split pitcher's duels. Rubens went the distance for a 5-0 UWO win in Game 1. Running and Lauersdorf pitched well in a 4-2 LAX win in Game 2. It was a struggle on offense all day.

[ShineTime]

Whitewater took game 2 as well 6-2.  Donovan had a towering 3 run HR to right to seal it.  Point just could not get the bats going and the balls they did hit hard were right at people. 

[badgerwarhawk]

The WARHAWKS take game two from the Pointers by a score of 6-2.  Leading 1-0 into the seventh inning the WARHAWKS erupted for five runs on four singles and a three run home run off the bat of Jeff Donovan.  Point answered with a pair in the bottom of the inning but couldn't get any more.  Donovan improves his record to 5-0 going the distance allowing 2 earned runs on seven hits, 3 walks and striking out 4.  Andrew Eichstaedt and Rob Coe each had a pair of hits.  Dan Putnam, Eichstaedt, Coe, Donovan, Matt Beyer and David Cladis all scored runs.  Donovan had 4 RBI.  Coe and Dylan Friend each had a single RBI.

Delorit took the loss going 6.2 innings allowing 6 earned runs with 3 walks and striking out 5.  Dan Douglas and Sean Gerber had the Pointer RBI.  

[ShineTime]

Point takes 2 this afternoon by scores of 8-1 and 11-7.  Cody Koback picked up the win in game 1.  Cam Seidl started game 2 and lasted around 2 innings and freshman Tyler Flood came in and pitched very well for a freshman.  My observations from this great series are Point has far better pitching depth than Whitewater but Whitewater's top 2 can beat anyone.  I'm expecting Williams and Delorit to pick it up as they always seem to do later in the season.  Putnam and Donovan are definitely 2 of the top 25 players in D3 as are Koback and Jirschele.  It was a lot of fun watching these two teams battle and lots of balls were pummeled and still didn't leave the yard.  Whitewater is definitely going to miss Leitner as their #3 and #4 are average.  Hopefully Point can establish a consistent #4 pitcher in the rotation that can consistently throw strikes.  Lots of tremendous freshman arms.  I really like the freshman left hander Wendorf he's going to be a force the next few years.  Can we start a recall on these bats and go back to the old ones?  I like being at the diamond for 8-9 hrs for two games.  More for your money.

[cubs]

Putnam and Donovan are definitely 2 of the top 25 players in D3 as are Koback and Jirschele. 

Can we start a recall on these bats and go back to the old ones?  I like being at the diamond for 8-9 hrs for two games.  More for your money.

Really?  What did Jirschele show you to make you think he's one of the Top 25 player in Division III?  Jirschele was 3x16 for the series, with 0 extra base hits.  That is an average that is below the Mendoza line.  How does that make a guy a Top 25 in the Nation?  (By comparison, Putnam was 8x17, Donovan 6x15, and Koback 7x12.) 

As far as the bats go, I say keep them, but I may be a bit biased, as I played during the season the WIAC played with wood bats.  It seperated the pretenders from the contenders.  It puts an emphasis on every pitch and play in the field that much more, as it's hard to make it up with a 3-run HR the next inning.

[cubs]

WIAC Standings Through April 10th
Whitewater 6-2
La Crosse 5-3
Oshkosh 5-3
Stevens Point 2-2
Platteville 3-5
Stout 3-5
Superior 0-4

The big match-ups coming up this week pit Oshkosh at Stevens Point on Wednesday and Stevens Point at La Crosse on Saturday and Sunday.  These two series could go a long way in determining who qualifies for the WIAC Tournament this weekend.

[ShineTime]

I knew Jirschele didn't have a ton of hits in the series but for the most part just had bad luck.  He hit the cover off the ball nearly every at bat and the hits he had were clutch hits.  I guess my putting him in top 25 wasn't based on just this weekend.  He's a gold glove infielder and one of the toughest outs in the nation.  I hate the new bats with a passion.  I'm guessing 10-15 HR'S with the old bats Koback and Donovan each would've had a minimum of 3.

[badgerwarhawk]

Damn, we missed a golden opportunity.  I was hoping for at least a split on Sunday. 

[MIACLUV]

I think someone hit the head of the nail in an earlier post about the pitching depth of WW. UWSP is set up for tournament play with the depth of that staff. Oshkosh certainly didn't take advantage with 2 splits over the weekend. Does anyone want to burst the Leitner bubble? Why is this kid not taking the mound? Injury, grades, discipline? He is a huge piece come tourny time.

[ShineTime]

I was told Leitner is done for season with shoulder surgery and a few other pitchers for Whitewater are having Tommy John.

[ShineTime]

Predictions for Oshkosh-Point series on Wednesday.  This is going to be big time but I have Point winning game 1 2-1.  Jirschele hits 2 run HR to seal the victory.  Game 2 I see Point winning 1-0 in a pitchers dual between Schreiber and Delorit.  Delorit k's 12 and Jirschele hits a solo HR to win it.  Should be great pitching and very little offense especially with the crappy weather that's being predicted.

[Just Bill]

Platteville and Edgewood College live stats this afternoon:

http://www.uwplatt.edu/athletics/baseball/livestats/xlive.htm

EC leads 3-0 in the first.

[cubs]

Predictions for Oshkosh-Point series on Wednesday.  This is going to be big time but I have Point winning game 1 2-1.  Jirschele hits 2 run HR to seal the victory.  Game 2 I see Point winning 1-0 in a pitchers dual between Schreiber and Delorit.  Delorit k's 12 and Jirschele hits a solo HR to win it.  Should be great pitching and very little offense especially with the crappy weather that's being predicted.

So does this mean you are off the Koback bandwagon and on the Jirschele Express now? 

You do realize Point has hit 3 home runs total and Oshkosh has yet to allow a home run this year don't you?

[badgerwarhawk]

Or how about the fact that Jirschele hit four home runs in over 200 at bats last year with the old bats.  So he's going to hit half as many in two games with the new bat.  I suppose anything is possible but I don't but I don't like the odds of this happening.

Platteville rallies for a 10-6 win. 

[ShineTime]

No Koback is still by far my favorite player but I decided to tone it down this year because I obviously think he's a lot better than most others on here.  He has a legit shot of getting drafted but I'm hoping it's after next year.  I want to see him another year.  Those games tomorrow are going to be pretty quick with the quality of pitching you have going.  I don't see Williams and Delorit struggling 2 games in a row.