BB: WIAC: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[MasterJedi]

Let them find another conference in which to compete in men and women's hockey.  The WIAC already made an exception allowing them to remain in the league after they dropped football and now they expect the league to accomodate them when they aren't interested in competing in any other WIAC sports.  I understand their issues and it certainly makes sense from their perspective but it doesn't sit right with me.  Baseball loses their automatic bid which hurts every other program in the league.  Sports other than football will now have to schedule additional nonconference games which have already proved a challenge to find. In the meantime they pick and chose which sports they want to compete in our league.   

Any way they can be forced not to leave? If so do that and mandate they have to restart football. Throw the book at them.

[Just Bill]

Let them find another conference in which to compete in men and women's hockey.  The WIAC already made an exception allowing them to remain in the league after they dropped football and now they expect the league to accomodate them when they aren't interested in competing in any other WIAC sports.  I understand their issues and it certainly makes sense from their perspective but it doesn't sit right with me.  Baseball loses their automatic bid which hurts every other program in the league.  Sports other than football will now have to schedule additional nonconference games which have already proved a challenge to find. In the meantime they pick and chose which sports they want to compete in our league.   

Any way they can be forced not to leave? If so do that and mandate they have to restart football. Throw the book at them.

What on earth would that accomplish?

[Just Bill]

If they could find an associate member that was willing to join just for baseball, I think the WIAC would do that. Other than that, I don't think it changes much.

So if UWS leaves the UMAC commissioner said the earliest they could join would be 2015-16 and the WIAC drops to six baseball teams. The NCAA allows a two-year grace period on AQs when a conference falls below 7 members. So the WIAC won't lose an AQ in baseball until at least 2018. So they have a solid four years to either find an associate member or see if UWEC or UWRF wants to restart baseball. UWEC is probably closer to doing that since they have a fairly solid club program (as solid as a club program can be anyway). UWEC is also in the middle of an athletics director search so who that person is and what they want to do would have a big effect.

Even if they can't get back to seven members I don't know if it changes the fortunes of the league that much. UWW and UWSP are nearly Pool C locks every year anyway. Now they would be considered in Pool B first, and then Pool C if they didn't get in. Last year there were four Pool B bids. With the addition of six WIAC schools to Pool B, that might raise it to five Pool B bids for the country. For the foreseeable future it's going to be hard to imagine that the top two WIAC schools aren't among the best 4-5 Pool B teams in the country. But again 2018 looks like the earliest that could happen.

Hurts more for the rest of the league who are often playing for the "one good shot" entry through the WIAC Tournament and the AQ. Those schools are now going to have to get in based on an entire season of work which, of course, is much harder.

[ShineTime]

Point gets back on winning track in game 1 vs Oshkosh.  Looks like seidl didn't pitch his best but still gets much needed w.  Where's Kachel?

[Babe Truth]

And the WSJ reporting on Superior's intentions, including speculation of what possibilities might follow, likely or not:

http://host.madison.com/sports/cory-jennerjohn-what-does-the-future-hold-for-the-wiac/article_eeb33522-ca65-11e3-aa25-001a4bcf887a.html

Other than losing the auto tourney bid for a lower seed, I also don't see a big negative impact. No more byes, no brutal April weather along Lake Superior, no dual distant weekday trips to/from Superior for the unlucky few. Just a couple holes in the schedule to deal with, and maybe 6 to 8 fewer wins for the better teams to find elsewhere to pad the record.

I'd been wondering about the longshot chances of UWEC resurrecting their program, maybe following the lead of UWL's partnership with the La Crosse Loggers with a similar cooperative arrangement with the EC Express.  Obviously that's more pressing to accomplish when you have an existing program in place and its future might be in jeopardy, than if you're starting over.

[cubs]

Oshkosh could surprise this year I think they have best pitching staff they've had in many years.  As many know I'm high on messenger and see him as a solid number 1 on most staffs.

About the only surprise would be is if UWO finishes in last place for the first time in WIAC history.....

[ShineTime]

How are they so terrible all of a sudden did Kachel quit or get hurt?  Messenger is certainly not like he was last year.  Either way point got two wins and really needs to finish season unbeaten to lock up at large bid sorry but no one in nation is beating whitewater this year most loaded team I've seen in Wiac in long time.

[badgerwarhawk]

Do you mean with the exception of the three teams which already have?

[ShineTime]

I meant come regionals when it matters it just seems to me that whitewater is coasting along with ease through conference and will shift to different gear come playoffs.  The Wiac is typically the best conference in country but I don't know this year whitewater is making it look too easy.  If fon is not available ill change my mind though he's a first team all America talent.

[cubs]

How are they so terrible all of a sudden did Kachel quit or get hurt? Messenger is certainly not like he was last year.  Either way point got two wins and really needs to finish season unbeaten to lock up at large bid sorry but no one in nation is beating whitewater this year most loaded team I've seen in Wiac in long time.

All of a sudden? 

I think it's safe to say the victory over St. Thomas made for some unreal expectations.  If anything, I think that was the exception, rather than the norm.

As far as Kachel, supposedly be broke his ankle in practice the day before the Whitewater DH.

[badgerwarhawk]

WARHAWKS: 9
Platteville: 3

After three scoreless innings the WARHAWKS got on the board with four runs in the fourth.  Casey Power's RBI single, a throwing error on a pickoff attempt, Mike Mierow's sacrifice bunt and a groundout by Steve Chamberlain accounted for the scoring.  The WARHAWKS added a run in the fifth when Mikole Pierce hit a sacrifice fly.  Platteville responded with all three runs of their runs in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly and Zach Iverson's single.  Adam Gregory's RBI single along with an RBI single by Nic Kuhlmann and a sacrifice fly from Dylan Friend rounded out the scoring for the WARHAWKS.  Justin Mortenson started giving up 3 earned runs on 6 hits with a pair of walks and 3 strikeouts in 4.2 innings.  Austin Jones (1-1) picked up the win allowing a single hit with a pair of walks and a strikeout in three innings.  Connor Hurst finished the final 1.1 innings allowing a pair of hits.  Casey Power led the offense going 4x5 with 2 runs scored and 1 RBI.  Friend 2x4 and Pierce 2x4 had multiple hits and each drove in a run.   Mierow, Chamberlain and Gregory all had an RBI.


WARHAWKS: 7
Platteville: 0

Casey Power's RBI double in the first opened the scoring.  Michael Gonzalez's RBI double in the third and Adam Gregory's RBI double in the fourth added a pair of runs.  Mikole Pierce's solo home run fifth increased the lead to 4-0 and Mike Mierow's bases loaded double in the ninth brought all three baserunners home finishing the scoring for the WARHAWKS.  Curtis Morgan (5-0) surrendered three hits and struck out three in seven innings for the win.  Colin Grove allowed a single hit and struck out a pair in two innings of relief.  Mierow led the offense going 3x5.  Pierce followed with 2 hits in 4 at bats scoring 3 times.  Mierow (3), Pierce (1), Gonzalez (1), Power (1) and Gregory (1) all had RBI.   

   

[Just Bill]

First NCAA regional rankings: http://www.d3baseball.com/notables/2014/04/regional-rankings-week-one

Midwest Region
1.   Wisconsin-Whitewater   21-4   21-4   
2.   Concordia Chicago   21-2   23-2   
3.   St. Thomas (Minnesota)   23-5   23-5   
4.   Wisconsin-Stevens Point   18-7   18-7   
5.   Bethel (Minnesota)   17-5   17-6   
6.   St. Scholastica   15-10   15-10

[badgerwarhawk]

I was wondering if St Scholastica would be included.  Ten losses is quite a few though they'll probably get an automatic bid when they win their league.  The St Scholastica team I saw play us wasn't anything like the Saint teams I've been accustomed to seeing. 

[ShineTime]

I'm somewhat surprised point is 4 they haven't been playing very good ball the past month.

[biggio34]

I was wondering if St Scholastica would be included.  Ten losses is quite a few though they'll probably get an automatic bid when they win their league.  The St Scholastica team I saw play us wasn't anything like the Saint teams I've been accustomed to seeing.

You are correct in your assessment that this years saints team has not played the type of baseball their teams have played in the last few years.  They have had their best schedule SOS wise in years though playing uww, Webster, conc c, st. Thomas... But have not really beaten anyone good.  I have not seen them play yet this year (4 more inches of snow in Duluth today) but word on the street is that they are young and missing some offense compared to the last few seasons.

With all that said... My guess is they would love to be the associate member of the wiac baseball conference... Playing against the best makes you better.