BB: WIAC: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[cubs]

Despite not hitting on either pitching match-up yesterday, I 'll say we see Schultz vs Berendt in the elimination game this morning at 10:00 AM between Stevens Point and Whitewater and then Anderson vs Walters (assuming Waco is unavailable) in the Winner's Bracket game that sees La Crosse taking on UWO...

Should be a fun filled day of WIAC baseball with three games on the schedule for today!

Make it 0x3....

Pickering vs Berendt in the opener at Stevens Point this morning...

[cubs]

Pickering isn't fooling anyone thus far... Whitewater with six hits the first time through the order including HR's by Cootway and Korman to jump out to an early lead....

[PauldingLightUP]

Point bows out, losing to Whitewater 9-1. Point goes to Pool C. I think they should be in, but seed might not be great after an 0-2 weekend.

Looking forward to Oshkosh and La Crosse. 1-0 game in four team double elimination is so so so huge.

[cubs]

Pickering isn't fooling anyone thus far... Whitewater with six hits the first time through the order including HR's by Cootway and Korman to jump out to an early lead....

Comparatively, Berendt was dominant for Whitewater throwing a complete game gem on 120 pitches....  He gave up just three hits and walked two while striking out 8 in the 9-1 Warhawk victory.

[ShineTime]

What seemed to be a strength recently for the Pointers didn't look good the last two days In pitching and their bats were silent also. I'm very concerned about the fact they don't have their normal short stop and it's affecting Comers bat playing short. The Pointers most likely played themselves out of home games next week is my thought but in all honesty I've seen this before where a team was not going into the tournament went 1-2 or 0-2 and still made regionals and did well so I'm not losing hope yet.

[cubs]

Despite not hitting on either pitching match-up yesterday, I 'll say we see Schultz vs Berendt in the elimination game this morning at 10:00 AM between Stevens Point and Whitewater and then Anderson vs Walters (assuming Waco is unavailable) in the Winner's Bracket game that sees La Crosse taking on UWO...

Should be a fun filled day of WIAC baseball with three games on the schedule for today!

Can't say I'm not consistent!   

Make it 0x4, as La Crosse goes with the freshman Deprez, while UWO counters with Walters in the Winner's Bracket game....

[cubs]

What seemed to be a strength recently for the Pointers didn't look good the last two days In pitching and their bats were silent also. I'm very concerned about the fact they don't have their normal short stop and it's affecting Comers bat playing short. The Pointers most likely played themselves out of home games next week is my thought but in all honesty I've seen this before where a team was not going into the tournament went 1-2 or 0-2 and still made regionals and did well so I'm not losing hope yet.

I'm not sure the stats back that up though....

Going into the WIAC Tournament, Comer had started seven games at shortstop since Mattson was hit by a pitch.  In those seven games he went 11x28, which comes out to a .357 average.  Comer's season average is .373, so it's a pretty minute difference when comparing his numbers while starting at shortstop or elsewhere.

[cubs]

UWO hits Deprez around early and gets out a an 8-2 lead only to see La Crosse mount a furious comeback in the ninth inning to score four runs and tie things up 8-8....  To extra innings we go!

[cubs]

UWO hits Deprez around early and gets out a an 8-2 lead only to see La Crosse mount a furious comeback in the ninth inning to score four runs and tie things up 8-8....  To extra innings we go!

La Crosse holds UWO scoreless in the Top of the 10th and then scores via single, SAC bunt, single to beat the Titans 9-8 and advance to Saturday....

UWO vs Whitewater in an elimination game in 45 minutes...  I'll say Mulvihill vs Brandl.

[cubs]

Since 2002, when the current format was adopted, the loser of Game #4 (Winner's Bracket Final) has a 13-3*** record in Game #5 where they turn around and play right away.  It's safe to say that playing back-to-back hasn't been much of a disadvantage?

You can make that 13-4 now as Whitewater knocks off UWO 12-7 in the final game today....

Whitewater vs La Crosse for the Pool A bid....  Whitewater will need to win a pair of games while La Crosse will only need to win once.  Brandl vs Anderson in the first game tomorrow?

[cubs]

La Crosse knocks off Whitewater in the "first" championship game on Saturday to finish off a perfect 3-0 weekend and claim the WIAC Tournament Championship, while also earning the Pool A bid for the WIAC. 

D3baseball released their projected bracket last night, and in addition to La Crosse earning the automatic berth, they also have Stevens Point and Whitewater earning Pool C bids.  The part that I found most interesting though was that all three teams were not only in different four-team Regionals, but also three different Super Regionals.  Under that scenario, were La Crosse, Stevens Point and Whitewater all able to put together a solid weekend of baseball, all three teams could qualify for the D3 College World Series. 

I'm not going to lie though, I'd be a bit skeptical that the committee would set up a bracket that makes that even a possibility, knowing that the likelihood of all three teams winning a Regional AND Super Regional would probably be small...

Looking forward to the bracket being released at 11:00 local time this morning!

[cubs]

La Crosse and  maybe surprisingly, Stevens Point, not only make Regional field, but both end up as hosts!

Despite Whitewater being selected in the "Projected Bracket," they are left on the outside and see their season come to an end...

[ShineTime]

I strongly believe Whitewater got screwed and an argument could be made the WIAC should've had 4 teams in. Point may be hosting but I hate they got put up against Augustana not a good matchup in my opinion and from what I was told by an ex player for Point, Logan Mattsons baseball career is most likely over and that's a huge loss. Is Soule the back up short stop? Whitewater in my opinion if not playing La Crosse could've won a lot of games same with Oshkosh it's unfair the WIAC is punished for beating each other and it's really tough to only lose 8-9 games given Platteville and Stout are usually not slouches

[cubs]

FINAL Region 9 Regional Rankings (Week #4)
      
1   Wisconsin-La Crosse 31-9 (Up 2 Spots after winning WIAC Tournament)
2   Wisconsin-Stevens Point 29-11 (Same, despite going 0-2 at WIAC Tournament)
3   Buena Vista 30-9   (Down 2 Spots after going 1-2 at ARC Tournament)
4   Wisconsin-Whitewater 30-13 (Same, after losing in WIAC Tournament Championship)
5   Wisconsin-Oshkosh 25-15 (Up 1 spot after going 1-2 at WIAC Tournament)
6   Bethel (Minnesota) 29-10 (Down 1 spot after winning MIAC Tournament; the two losses to Concordia last Monday definitely impacted their drop)
7   Loras 29-15 (New Entry)

[cubs]

I strongly believe Whitewater got screwed and an argument could be made the WIAC should've had 4 teams in. Point may be hosting but I hate they got put up against Augustana not a good matchup in my opinion and from what I was told by an ex player for Point, Logan Mattsons baseball career is most likely over and that's a huge loss. Is Soule the back up short stop? Whitewater in my opinion if not playing La Crosse could've won a lot of games same with Oshkosh it's unfair the WIAC is punished for beating each other and it's really tough to only lose 8-9 games given Platteville and Stout are usually not slouches

I believe Pat has mentioned this in years past, but I don't doubt that there was some voter "fatigue" with Webster being on the board right from the start as the #2 team in Region #8 with #1 Aurora being an automatic qualifier...  After awhile, when a team has been on the board/table, it's not a surprise that they get selected when their resume has been in consideration for s many as 17 different Pool C votes!

Had Buena Vista won the ARC, is Whitewater in the field?  I guess we'll never know, but the odds would've obviously been better!