BB: WIAC: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

BoBo · May 10, 2012, 06:57:53 PM

Quote from: Babe Truth on May 10, 2012, 04:07:00 PM
So here's the big news from La Crosse. The UWL and the La Crosse Loggers have announced a partnership. The Loggers "have committed to making an annual donation to the University sufficient in size to cover the baseball program's yearly fundraising needs." Though a few details still need to be ironed out, as early as next year the Eagles could be calling the city's Copeland Park their new home. It already would be without question the WIAC's finest facility, and upgrade plans call for an artificial turf infield and a new video board.
This is amazing.
Read all about it:
http://www.uwlathletics.com/news/2012/5/9/BB_0509124122.aspx

The only thing bad about the announcement is that it didn't say they were going to pick up Copeland and drop it on campus!!

As it is, Copeland is probably closer to Onalaska than it is to 1725 State Street.

Copeland Park has really changed since I was going to the Stars of Tomorrow games some 40 years ago. At one time, as a young graduate student, I worked on nearby French Island for the Town of Campbell. Ah, the memories...[sigh]

badgerwarhawk · May 10, 2012, 09:06:09 PM

That's great news for LaCrosse and puts the baseball program on solid ground. That's good for the league.

BT is this correct: The field dimensions are 325 ft. to left field, 365 ft. to center, and 315 ft. to right.

If so it's also going to be one of the shortest.

Brian Carroll · May 10, 2012, 10:28:33 PM

BW: I'm not sure of the dimensions, but it hasn't been a launching pad in the Northern League. Too bad it's not ready for the games tomorrow. Safe travel to all fans.

Babe Truth · May 10, 2012, 11:34:44 PM

I'm seeing the same official dimensions listed everywhere that you are. EXCEPT take a look at a satellite photo from a map like Google's and tell me that there is only a 10 ft. difference between the left and right foul poles. So it could even be that 315 is stretching it a bit. It's odd because they apparently weren't constrained by the street back then which by my rule of thumb (literally) now measures roughly the same distance from the fence as a basepath is long. The photo here on the Loggers site showing their overflowing largest crowd ever is hilarious and reminds me of images from 19th century baseball, just missing the guys in top hats.
http://www.lacrosseloggers.com/content/the_lumberyard/facts_figures

Madison area old-timers might remember the year 1982 when the Oakland A's Madison Muskies squeezed their first team into old "historic" Breese Stevens field which is more suited for the soccer venue it is now. The then right field rock wall is built right at the sidewalk on East Washington Ave. and there's no way it was even 300 ft from the plate. Crowds used to chant "Hit the bus!" to Muskies batters when one was about to drive by. I suppose that might be possible at Copeland if a stiff wind was blowing out off the water.

Babe Truth · May 10, 2012, 11:59:00 PM

Quote from: badgerwarhawk on May 10, 2012, 09:06:09 PM
That's great news for LaCrosse and puts the baseball program on solid ground. That's good for the league.

Here's a thought. If the partnership works out, and there's no reason to think it won't, why not somewhere else too? Another city where the Northwoods and WIAC meet is Eau Claire. If I was the EC AD I'd be talking to the Express immediately about resurrecting the Blugolds baseball program and getting the league back to an even number of teams.

cubs · May 11, 2012, 08:22:55 AM

Something that crossed my mind on the drive in this morning....

Any chance Westphal doesn't start for UWO this morning against La Crosse? I can remember UWO not throwing their "ace" on more than one occasion over the past few seasons. Could it happen again today?

MIACLUV · May 11, 2012, 08:57:30 AM

I don't see why you wouldn't run him out there for game 1. Based on the way Coach Lecnir has re-used arms in the past as relievers the chance of him being on the mound more than once in this tournament improves if he throws early. Either that or he works in backwards and limits him to the backend of the game based on LAX end of game heroics.

BigPoppa · May 11, 2012, 09:12:10 AM

Quote from: cubs on May 11, 2012, 08:22:55 AM
Something that crossed my mind on the drive in this morning....

Any chance Westphal doesn't start for UWO this morning against La Crosse? I can remember UWO not throwing their "ace" on more than one occasion over the past few seasons. Could it happen again today?

A few years ago, Jeremy Ruebens(clearly UWO's #1) did not throw in the regional at all... Lechnir plays to win it all, not to win one game. His wildcard tendencies are difficult to predict...

MIACLUV · May 11, 2012, 09:28:19 AM

A few years ago, Jeremy Ruebens(clearly UWO's #1) did not throw in the regional at all... Lechnir plays to win it all, not to win one game. His wildcard tendencies are difficult to predict...
[/quote]

Had Rueben's been able to throw he would have!

MIACLUV · May 11, 2012, 11:16:14 AM

Anyone have an update on what's going on in LaCrosse? No live stats link to game that was to start at 10:00. Rain Possibly?

cubs · May 11, 2012, 11:16:21 AM

Nice to see the La Crosse Live Stats working....

Seriously, how hard is it?

cubs · May 11, 2012, 11:22:14 AM

Quote from: BigPoppa on May 11, 2012, 09:12:10 AM
Quote from: cubs on May 11, 2012, 08:22:55 AM
Something that crossed my mind on the drive in this morning....

Any chance Westphal doesn't start for UWO this morning against La Crosse? I can remember UWO not throwing their "ace" on more than one occasion over the past few seasons. Could it happen again today?

A few years ago, Jeremy Ruebens(clearly UWO's #1) did not throw in the regional at all... Lechnir plays to win it all, not to win one game. His wildcard tendencies are difficult to predict...

I guess it is time to start expecting the unexpected....

Oshkosh starts Lacy, who held the Eagles to two runs in 8.1 innings earlier this season.

Oshkosh loads the bases with one out in the 1st inning, however Verthein induces a ground ball double play to get out of the inning.

Oshkosh 0
La Crosse 0

Top 3rd

cubs · May 11, 2012, 11:33:09 AM

Go buy a $40.00 wireless card and do it right....

The live updates aren't even correct, unless of course they switched to beer league softball rules and each team is batting 10 guys!!!

cubs · May 11, 2012, 11:43:38 AM

Maybe someone is following along.... THey made the changes and took the pitchers out of the batting order.

La Crosse strings together three hits in the Bottom of the third inning after Oshkosh strands a pair of runners in the top half.

La Crosse 2
Oshkosh 0

Top 4th

cubs · May 11, 2012, 02:01:58 PM

La Crosse opens with the WIAC Tournament with a 10-0 victory in 8 innings....

It is La Crosse's first opening-round win since 2006. UW-La Crosse advances to winner's bracket and will play at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday against the Winner of the Whitewater/Stevens Point match-up. UW-Oshkosh will be play in the loser's bracket game at 4:00 p.m. Friday aginst the Loser of Whitewater/Stevens Point.