BB: WIAC: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[cubs]

Regionals kick off today with both Stevens Point and La Crosse playing right away this morning... 

Have to think we'll see Paulsen and Katz get the starting nods for each of their respective teams as they try to get off to a 1-0 start in their quest for a Regional Championship?

Btw-Nice to see La Crosse put out a page dedicated to just the Regional that they are hosting so you can get all the information in one place.  Disappointing to see Stevens Point didn't do the same thing on their end... 

https://uwlathletics.com/sports/2023/5/17/BASEBALL_0423131617.aspx

[tomt4525]

Pickering gets the nod against Augustana's ace.  It's a tough draw against Boushele for the Pointers.  I listened to some podcasts and most people following D3 baseball are picking Augustana this morning.  Throw a gem Pickering!!

[cubs]

Pickering gets the nod against Augustana's ace.  It's a tough draw against Boushele for the Pointers.  I listened to some podcasts and most people following D3 baseball are picking Augustana this morning.  Throw a gem Pickering!!

I can see why they'd pick the team with the guy on the mound that has an 8-2 record and a 1.37 ERA....  I'm sure seeing Stevens Point go "two & BBQ" at the WIAC Tournament makes that pick a bit easier as well, despite being the Regional host.

[mwunder]

Regionals kick off today with both Stevens Point and La Crosse playing right away this morning... 

Have to think we'll see Paulsen and Katz get the starting nods for each of their respective teams as they try to get off to a 1-0 start in their quest for a Regional Championship?

Btw-Nice to see La Crosse put out a page dedicated to just the Regional that they are hosting so you can get all the information in one place.  Disappointing to see Stevens Point didn't do the same thing on their end... 

https://uwlathletics.com/sports/2023/5/17/BASEBALL_0423131617.aspx

Point sparing no expense with the video feed as well...no play by play or anything.

[mr_b]

Regionals kick off today with both Stevens Point and La Crosse playing right away this morning... 

Have to think we'll see Paulsen and Katz get the starting nods for each of their respective teams as they try to get off to a 1-0 start in their quest for a Regional Championship?

Btw-Nice to see La Crosse put out a page dedicated to just the Regional that they are hosting so you can get all the information in one place.  Disappointing to see Stevens Point didn't do the same thing on their end... 

https://uwlathletics.com/sports/2023/5/17/BASEBALL_0423131617.aspx

Point sparing no expense with the video feed as well...no play by play or anything.

I guess the powers that be are satisfied with the background crowd noise and the PA announcer.

[cubs]

Pickering gets the nod against Augustana's ace.  Throw a gem Pickering!!

If you're Point, you you can't really complain with the outing Pickering gave you! Five innings of one-run baseball, and then ran into some traffic on the bases in the sixth but still left with a 6-3 lead.

The question now is, can the bullpen can finish it out and get the last six outs for the victory?

[cubs]

Have to think we'll see Paulsen and Katz get the starting nods for each of their respective teams as they try to get off to a 1-0 start in their quest for a Regional Championship?

Katz does indeed get the start for La Crosse and they are out to an early 4-0 lead after three innings...

[cubs]

The question now is, can the bullpen can finish it out and get the last six outs for the victory?

They sure can!  Syvertson and Ferry combine to go six up-six down and the Pointers win 6-4 to advance to the Winner's Bracket Final tomorrow!

[ShineTime]

Have to give Richter a ton of credit for throwing Pickering after what Whitewater did to him last week.  His decision to throw him most likely will be the reason they advanced if they indeed can make it out.  I did not expect them to score that many runs off of their Ace especially given his ERA and strikeout to walk ratio it's incredible.  Still are going to need the bats to come alive even more to beat Webster I'm guessing.

[cubs]

Have to think we'll see Paulsen and Katz get the starting nods for each of their respective teams as they try to get off to a 1-0 start in their quest for a Regional Championship?

Katz does indeed get the start for La Crosse and they are out to an early 4-0 lead after three innings...

WIAC Pitcher of the Year Katz shoves for seven innings (12 K's, 1 BB, 3 hits allowed) as La Crosse cruises to a 10-0 victory and puts the WIAC at 2-0 after the opening day of Regionals...

[cubs]

Have to give Richter a ton of credit for throwing Pickering after what Whitewater did to him last week.  His decision to throw him most likely will be the reason they advanced if they indeed can make it out. I did not expect them to score that many runs off of their Ace especially given his ERA and strikeout to walk ratio it's incredible. Still are going to need the bats to come alive even more to beat Webster I'm guessing.

Don't forget Boushele didn't pitch at all in the CCIW Tournament last weekend, so I don't doubt he was on a bit of a pitch count today, especially since he's just a junior....

[cubs]

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

Based on how things have played out with teams from conferences in the Region, I have no doubt that La Crosse and Stevens Point aren't too disappointed seeing Whitewater left out of the bracket.  It's made each of their respective paths to the Super Regional easier in my opinion!  Between Buena Vista's 1-2 showing and Stevens Point's 20-1 thrashing of Webster today, I truly feel Whitewater would've made for a tougher road to a Regional Championship had they been awarded a Pool C bid over either of those schools.

If La Crosse can win one out of two games against Bethel and Stevens Point can defeat Webster once in two tries tomorrow, it will be an all WIAC Super Regional again (just like last year) for a trip to the D3 College World Series next weekend!

[ShineTime]

Point at La Crosse best of 3 I'd have to say La Crosse would be the heavy favorite with their top 2 starters although Points staff is really doing well also. It actually may benefit Point playing away from home also as La Crosse can surely hit home runs and I think Points staff has better chance of keeping ball in the park away from home. Both teams are probably top 10 in the nation more so La Crosse and Points probably 9th or 10th which is still great. I'll never bet against Pointers especially with the way Comer is hitting and they can match up with the best hitting wise I'm just concerned about the errors lately and that comes with trying to have 9 great hitters in lineup.

[cubs]

Point at La Crosse best of 3 I'd have to say La Crosse would be the heavy favorite with their top 2 starters although Points staff is really doing well also. It actually may benefit Point playing away from home also as La Crosse can surely hit home runs and I think Points staff has better chance of keeping ball in the park away from home. Both teams are probably top 10 in the nation more so La Crosse and Points probably 9th or 10th which is still great. I'll never bet against Pointers especially with the way Comer is hitting and they can match up with the best hitting wise I'm just concerned about the errors lately and that comes with trying to have 9 great hitters in lineup.

So which is it? 

Weren't you just lamenting the fact after the WIAC Tournament that "playing SS was affecting Comer's bat" despite the fact that the numbers didn't support your claim?  Talk about being "wishy-washy" when it comes his play as of late.... 

[cubs]

Day #1 of Super Regionals kicks off in La Crosse today...

Would expect we'll see Katz vs Pickering in a rematch from their match-up back at the beginning of April, when Pickering left with a 5-4 lead only to see the bullpen squander the lead in a 6-5 win for the Eagles...

I'll be curious to see how Weckler is used this weekend...  Does Richter go to him out of the bullpen, or line him up to start Game #3 should the series go the full length?  La Crosse beat up on Schultz during the regular season, so that might have an impact on the decision as well?

Excited to tune in today for a battle between WIAC powers for a berth in the College World Series!