BB: WIAC: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[badgerwarhawk]

The weather in LaCrosse wasn't god awful bad but it wasn't good either.  It was wet and cold both Friday and Saturday.  The wind blowing in off the river was nasty.  But everybody played in the same conditions.  I wasn't able to stay for Sunday, thank god, but they mentioned how much better conditions were during the radio broadcast. 

It was the first time I've seen LaCrosse this year.  They are frickin' good.  Reminds me a lot of our 2005 National Champions.  There isn't an easy out in the lineup.  Everyone hits the ball and though they had a couple of errors today they were better in the field than the rest of us.  They do what really good teams do.  You make a mistake, they make you pay. 

I hope we make the post season and get another chance.  But truthfully I think the Eagles have a very good shot at a national championship with this group. 

[ShineTime]

I agree with your assessment on la crosse but honestly I thought point could've taken 3 out of 4 from them.  Like u said they do what they need to do and point just couldn't capitalize this year.  Hoping la crosse makes it to Appleton I'd spend the money to see them play boushley and kowley are amazing and both should be first or second team all American.  What's going on with Luke Bachar this year not like he sucks or anything but I had heard before the season that he's going pro.  Guess whitewater is getting an absolute stud from oconto falls next year.  Point will be getting John popham from Waupaca he has shot to play as a freshman.

[tomt4525]

I agree with your assessment on la crosse but honestly I thought point could've taken 3 out of 4 from them.  Like u said they do what they need to do and point just couldn't capitalize this year.  Hoping la crosse makes it to Appleton I'd spend the money to see them play boushley and kowley are amazing and both should be first or second team all American.  What's going on with Luke Bachar this year not like he sucks or anything but I had heard before the season that he's going pro.  Guess whitewater is getting an absolute stud from oconto falls next year.  Point will be getting John popham from Waupaca he has shot to play as a freshman.

Bachar seemed like a lock for going pro before the season, I'm sure that he didn't have the season(atleast not yet) that most thought he would...maybe that plays into his decision.

Popham seems like a solid get for UWSP, if you don't mind me asking...how did you find out about his decision??

[cubs]

Bachar seemed like a lock for going pro before the season, I'm sure that he didn't have the season(atleast not yet) that most thought he would...maybe that plays into his decision.

When you look at his Game Log from this year, the one thing that jumps out to me is there are some instances where he has been asked to come back on pretty short rest, including making two starts and a relief appearance in seven days at the beginning of May.

After getting a full week off, he looked more like the Bachar from the beginning of the season at the WIAC Tournament.  Will be interesting to see how he throws at Regionals.  If his velocity is still in the low 90's, I'm guessing he will still get drafted.  It will just be a matter of whether said club makes it worth his while to sign.  Being only a sophomore eligibility wise for baseball, he still has a bit of "control" in regards to whether he wants to sign or not.

[badgerwarhawk]

Bachar has looked pretty decent in his past two outings against Stout and Oshkosh though he did have a couple of walks in three innings against Stout.  Against Oshkosh he was throwing the ball harder in the 7-9 innings than the first six.  I know the staff has worked with him to correct some mechanics.  Also, and I think this is significant, they've worked on the mental aspects of pitching.  I don't think it's a coincidence that his problems started at the same time the hype started.  At any rate he been clearly better in his last two outings so I'm hoping he getting back to the Bachar we saw earlier in the season. 

I'm not surprised we were moved and I like it.  I was surprised however that we were the 1 seed.  As recently as Friday I wasn't even certain that we'd make the field.   

[ShineTime]

I'm not surprised by the 1 see I think the nation knows that WIAC most years is the best conference in the land.  Whitewater year in and year out is rock solid.  I'm hoping Bachar pitches to potential because with he and Morgan at the top Whitewater could surprise and make a run to Appleton. 

[ShineTime]

I agree with your assessment on la crosse but honestly I thought point could've taken 3 out of 4 from them.  Like u said they do what they need to do and point just couldn't capitalize this year.  Hoping la crosse makes it to Appleton I'd spend the money to see them play boushley and kowley are amazing and both should be first or second team all American.  What's going on with Luke Bachar this year not like he sucks or anything but I had heard before the season that he's going pro.  Guess whitewater is getting an absolute stud from oconto falls next year.  Point will be getting John popham from Waupaca he has shot to play as a freshman.

Bachar seemed like a lock for going pro before the season, I'm sure that he didn't have the season(atleast not yet) that most thought he would...maybe that plays into his decision.

Popham seems like a solid get for UWSP, if you don't mind me asking...how did you find out about his decision??
Popham attends our church and told me he's going to point. 

[cubs]

Bachar has looked pretty decent in his past two outings against Stout and Oshkosh though he did have a couple of walks in three innings against Stout.  Against Oshkosh he was throwing the ball harder in the 7-9 innings than the first six.  I know the staff has worked with him to correct some mechanics.  Also, and I think this is significant, they've worked on the mental aspects of pitching.  I don't think it's a coincidence that his problems started at the same time the hype started.  At any rate he been clearly better in his last two outings so I'm hoping he getting back to the Bachar we saw earlier in the season. 

I'm not surprised we were moved and I like it.  I was surprised however that we were the 1 seed.  As recently as Friday I wasn't even certain that we'd make the field.

I'd argue that other than La Crosse getting to play on it's home field, Whitewater actually has a more favorable Regional than La Crosse. 

In my opinion it's always a little "easier" to win a 6-team Regional than an 8-team Regional.  It might not be, but it just "feels" that way...
EDIT: I see it still takes four straight wins for both, so maybe it is more of a "feel" thing and not actually accurate.

Add in the fact that Whitewater has just one other Top 25 team in their bracket (Wartburg) compared to La Crosse's two (Concordia and North Central) and it's easy to see why Whitewater supporters "like" that they were moved.

[Westside]

I'm not surprised by the 1 see I think the nation knows that WIAC most years is the best conference in the land.  Whitewater year in and year out is rock solid.  I'm hoping Bachar pitches to potential because with he and Morgan at the top Whitewater could surprise and make a run to Appleton.

I am not sure how a #1 seed could make a "surprise" run to Appleton, but I agree they are dangerous. The WIAC is consistently solid, so they will likely make waves this year.

[BigPoppa]

To quote Augie Schmidt, "There is no such thing as an upset in the post-season. Everyone left is good and can beat any other team."

[cubs]

I agree with your assessment on la crosse but honestly I thought point could've taken 3 out of 4 from them.  Like u said they do what they need to do and point just couldn't capitalize this year.  Hoping la crosse makes it to Appleton I'd spend the money to see them play boushley and kowley are amazing and both should be first or second team all American.  What's going on with Luke Bachar this year not like he sucks or anything but I had heard before the season that he's going pro.  Guess whitewater is getting an absolute stud from oconto falls next year. Point will be getting John popham from Waupaca he has shot to play as a freshman.

Evan Sigmund is the name of the kid from Oconto Falls.....  VERY good HS pitcher, who I am sure will improve while at Whitewater.  He just got beat this weekend by FVL, but I would have no problem saying he is the best pitcher in the Northeastern Conference this year.  SOLID pickup for the Warhawks.  Coach Vodenlich seems to have a nice little "pipeline" running from Oconto Falls to Whitewater (Nompleggi, Gruetzmacher, and now Sigmund.)  Sigmund might just be the best of the bunch as far as talent coming out of high school.

As far as Popham goes, if he is indeed going to Point (have heard he is leaning heavily that way but not decided 100%) it would be interesting if he would return to the OF where he played as an underclassman.  With Greco and Rose both returning, one would think that Point has their middle infield pretty well covered for 2017.

[ShineTime]

Popham is 100% committed to Point and as you said planning on playing outfield.  I feel he has a very good shot at any of the three outfield spots as Point is good but not great out there.  How hard does Sigmund throw?  I am wondering if he's the same kid that pitched against Iola Legion last summer when Iola won 2-0 I wasn't there but a friend of mine said they had a kid throwing 90 consistently but he was a little wild.

[cubs]

Popham is 100% committed to Point and as you said planning on playing outfield.  I feel he has a very good shot at any of the three outfield spots as Point is good but not great out there.  How hard does Sigmund throw?  I am wondering if he's the same kid that pitched against Iola Legion last summer when Iola won 2-0 I wasn't there but a friend of mine said they had a kid throwing 90 consistently but he was a little wild.

From my experience, Sigmund doesn't throw 90...  His best pitch is probably his slider.

[badgerwarhawk]

d3baseball.com has the WARHAWKS picked to be the most likely to disappoint.  I can't really argue their logic.  We aren't playing as well as we did earlier in the season obviously.  And I'm the one surprised by the #1 seed.  However the last time D3baseball.com picked us as the most likely to disappoint it was in the 2014 College World Series.  Hard to be disappointed about a national championship. 

[badgerwarhawk]

All Conference Team named:

http://www.wiacsports.com/news/2016/5/17/BB_0517165438.aspx

As expected Kohlwey and Bushley player and pitcher of the year, Schwartz coach of the year.