BB: WIAC: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[cubs]

Congratulations to Adam Cootway, Matt Scherrman and Bradley Comer on being named to the d3baseball.com All American squads this week.

Cootway, the WIAC AND Region #9 Position Player of the Year, was selected as the 1st Team second baseman, while Scherrman was selected as the 3rd Team shortstop and Comer the 5th Team third baseman.

Ironically, the last WIAC team standing, La Crosse, didn't have anyone selected to any of the five All American teams.  I thought Katz, the WIAC AND Region #9 Pitcher of the Year, might be able to sneak on with his 7-0 record, but with his ERA being in the mid-3.00 range and low strikeout numbers probably hurt when compared to the other 20 pitchers that were chosen. 

When you look at the numbers though, his teammate Anthony Vivian probably has a better argument, although seeing his batting average be under .400 might have been the deciding factor when you see 13/15 outfielders selected hit over .400 for the season.  That said, his 19 HR's were only eclipsed by two outfielders, both of which were 1st Team All American selections.

[ShineTime]

The WIAC this year had arguably 4 top 25 teams in the nation and Stout, Platteville, and Eau Claire aren't automatic wins any longer. A kid hitting 400 in the WIAC would most likely hit over 500 in any other conference. So many of the guys selected to top 4 teams don't play in conference as good as the WIAC although they're still fantastic players. Just pointing out guys playing in the WIAC especially pitchers, get robbed because their ERA is a tad over 3 but that's unreal in a tough conference

[tomt4525]

UWRF is bringing back baseball for the spring of 2025.

[cubs]

La Crosse drops their opening game at the World Series 8-6 to Lynchburg. The Eagles trailed 2-0 in the 6th inning but plated a run to cut it to 2-1 and still had the bases loaded with nobody out. Unfortunately a groundball double play killed the opportunity for a big inning despite tying the game up 2-2.

They'll look to stay alive against defending champion Salisbury later today.

[ShineTime]

Does anyone know if Canterbury and Comer are eligible to return next season and if so do they plan on returning? I have my fingers crossed that they both can and are because losing Nelson in CF and his lethal bat in the 2 spot won't be easy to replace. If they return everyone but Nelson I think they'll still have a very difficult time winning the WIAC again unless they get a proven player who can step in and pick up Nelson's production. Tommy Drohner I'm assuming could play outfield and is a legit hitter and I know they have some really good options and potential depth still. Tyler Soule needs to somehow be on the field more but when you have Boos and Mattson it's tough plus you'll have either Homolka or the viroqua stud forgot his name already somehow at first and the other DH. I really like Pickering just not at the top of the staff and that's not a knock on him it's just the Pointers have had a top 15-25 team in the nation and if they could land a true #1 like La Crosse has they'd be better suited to make the World Series and then compete once they got there. It's extremely difficult from what I've seen the past couple of seasons to win games in World Series without an elite pitcher and a damn good #2. I still believe in the Pointers top 4 along with the relief pitchers but they definitely could've used another stud arm or two.

Early predictions for 2024:

1. Whitewater
2. La Crosse
3. Point
4. Oshkosh
5. Stout
6. Platteville
7. Eau Claire

[tomt4525]

Does anyone know if Canterbury and Comer are eligible to return next season and if so do they plan on returning? I have my fingers crossed that they both can and are because losing Nelson in CF and his lethal bat in the 2 spot won't be easy to replace. If they return everyone but Nelson I think they'll still have a very difficult time winning the WIAC again unless they get a proven player who can step in and pick up Nelson's production. Tommy Drohner I'm assuming could play outfield and is a legit hitter and I know they have some really good options and potential depth still. Tyler Soule needs to somehow be on the field more but when you have Boos and Mattson it's tough plus you'll have either Homolka or the viroqua stud forgot his name already somehow at first and the other DH. I really like Pickering just not at the top of the staff and that's not a knock on him it's just the Pointers have had a top 15-25 team in the nation and if they could land a true #1 like La Crosse has they'd be better suited to make the World Series and then compete once they got there. It's extremely difficult from what I've seen the past couple of seasons to win games in World Series without an elite pitcher and a damn good #2. I still believe in the Pointers top 4 along with the relief pitchers but they definitely could've used another stud arm or two.

Early predictions for 2024:

1. Whitewater
2. La Crosse
3. Point
4. Oshkosh
5. Stout
6. Platteville
7. Eau Claire

Comer and Canterbury do have an extra covid year available to them, as if they will take it, I don't know the answer at this time. 

Losing Nelson is a huge loss but I am extremely intrigued the way Point has been recruiting the last couple years.  They are building a lot of depth.  As far as the pitching staff goes, I have to finally agree with something Shinetime says.  Point has been missing a legit ace for awhile, they have lot of depth but don't have the legit #1 that you know is getting the ball first game of the series.  Mason Weckler was throwing 89 in a recent Dairyland league start, Troy Knutson was a very highly sought after recruit last season and incoming Freshman Elijah Niemiec might be the most promising incoming Freshman to the WIAC this upcoming season.  Hopefully these guys make some strides and can help the staff next season in Niemiec and Knutson's case, or in Weckler's case can take a couple steps forward.  I've been thinking and hoping for the past couple seasons that UWSP would bring in a transfer pitcher that could take the ace spot and move everyone down a spot in the rotation, I'm still hoping that for this season.

With the position players, you mentioned a couple of the top guys from last year's incoming freshman.  Soule is comfortable with the bat and I would like to see him in the lineup more often.  Drohner was highly regarded and there is atleast one outfield spot open.

I think this year's incoming freshman position player group include a few with a good chance to be special.  Isaac Beeler is the starting CF for one of the best teams in Texas.  Brennan Huber was a 2nd Team All State Outfielder for Wisconsin Rapids as a junior, not many kids that are multi-time all state in baseball end up in the D3 ranks.  Connor Olson is an IF from a power program in Arrowhead who is the highest ranked kid on PBR that is an incoming freshman to the WIAC, not just UWSP.

Last thing I am going to note, is the roster size for UWSP.  I'm not going to go back and count how many players are eligible to return, but it's a lot.  They only have 5-6 Seniors with a roster size of about 50.  I'm sure I don't know of a few commits, but of the ones I know about, UWSP has 20 baseball commits.  That is a huge roster without some attrition happening, so that will be worth watching in the offseason.

[ShineTime]

Thanks for sharing the information I'm extremely excited for what could be an outstanding season next year especially if Comer and Canterbury both return and kids can handle competition and accept the fact they may fall down in the rotation or a kid who played every game this past season is splitting time. There's definitely potential for a lot of power even losing Nelson and potentially Comer and Canterbury although I don't feel the Pointers can be top 15 team in country without those 2. Still can't get over fact Whitewater didn't make regionals and still feel the top 4 teams in the WIAC this year were better than any other conferences top 4 teams and it's not even close

[cubs]

I can fill in half  of the equation for you guys, and that is that Canterbury is not returning for another year at Stevens Point...

[tomt4525]

I can fill in half  of the equation for you guys, and that is that Canterbury is not returning for another year at Stevens Point...

Thanks for the info, that will leave 2 open spots to the Outfield for the Pointers.  Returners Matt Baumann, Colton Martell, Tommy Drohner, Connor Flanagan and incoming freshman Isaac Beeler, Lane Boucher, Jackson Adams, Nick Argersinger and Brennan Huber will fight it out for those spots.  Unless of course, there is a transfer or two brought who can also take those spots.

You would have to think Baumann would have a leg up at the start being that he was a full time starter 2 season ago. 

[PauldingLightUP]

Bolden resigns after just three years. https://blugolds.com/sports/bsb/2022-23/releases/20230612qm08z3

[ShineTime]

Former Amherst All State Pitcher Ben Lee has left UW Milwaukee and plans on playing at Whitewater as his girlfriend attends school there. Huge get for Whitewater IMO as they return their entire offense and I believe their top 2 starters. I'm not sure what's going on with Connor Kurki but I know he's not at Coastal Carolina any longer wouldn't it be a blessing if he went to Point next year?

[badgerwarhawk]

Former Amherst All State Pitcher Ben Lee has left UW Milwaukee and plans on playing at Whitewater as his girlfriend attends school there. Huge get for Whitewater IMO as they return their entire offense and I believe their top 2 starters. I'm not sure what's going on with Connor Kurki but I know he's not at Coastal Carolina any longer wouldn't it be a blessing if he went to Point next year?

Excellent, we needed to add starting pitching.

[ShineTime]

Ben Lee pitched complete game 2 hit shutout Friday night in Scandinavia's 1-0 win over New London. He effortlessly was throwing high 80s and has really good movement on his pitches. Only knock I've heard on him is he can have control issues but I'm sure that's something a good college pitching coach can work on with him.

[cubs]

You would have to think Baumann would have a leg up at the start being that he was a full time starter 2 season ago.

Seeing how Canterbury performed in his one year as a full time starter this year, one can't help but wonder if maybe he should've received more playing time in 2022 as well?

[BigPoppa]

UWRF is bringing back baseball for the spring of 2025.

Their proximity to the Twin Cities should provide a solid base for recruiting as they re-enter the world of college baseball. I am sure it will take a few seasons to get going, but the right coach/recruiter can make an impact pretty quickly... maybe not in the WIAC right away, but surely in the Twin Cities area with the vast amount of D3 schools in the area.

You would assume they'd hire a coach this fall to get a jump on recruiting for the following year as they'll "go live" in spring of 2025. They have a fantastic turfed stadium in town that seems like a natural fit for their team.

Any thoughts on a potential candidate for the position?