BB: WIAC: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[cubs]

Seems like there wasn't much talk about the release of the All-WIAC team?  Well, in what should come as little surprise, Whitewater pretty much had a clean sweep of things!

Position Player of the Year- Matt Scolan (Whitewater)
Pitcher of the Year- Michael Hilker Jr. (Whitewater)
Newcomer of the Year- Jack Hagen (Whitewater)
Coach of the Year- John Vodenlich (Whitewater)

Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete- Jake Surane (Oshkosh)

Here is the list of the full team:
https://wiacsports.com/news/2024/5/14/all-wiac-baseball-awards-announced.aspx

When looking at the list of players honored, it's interesting to think that Whitewater loses just ONE All WIAC player to graduation this year, pitcher Cade Berendt.  Theoretically, they could return the rest of their All Conference honorees, however we all know with how things are in the Transfer portal these days, that's not always the case.  La Crosse is in a similar situation, as they had just one senior earn All WIAC honors this year as well, relief pitcher Caleb Matl. 

The team that loses the most All WIAC players to graduation?  Stevens Point, as Bradley Comer, Matt Baumann, Jakob Boos, and Sidney Ferry were all seniors this season.

[108 Stitches]

For what it is worth the WSP 2014 team was one of the most physically impressive DIII baseball teams I have ever seen. Wisconsin teams are always D3 powerhouse teams and well represented. Baseball playoffs can be cruel. as most of us who have followed the sport know.

[badgerwarhawk]

Six WIAC players have been named to D3Baseball.com's All American Teams.  The Warhawks lead the way with four.  Matt Scolon and Michael Hilker were both named to the first team.  Eli Frank and Andy Theis were named to the third and fourth team respectively.  Also named from the conference were LaCrosse's Mac Born (second team) and Stevens Point's Bradley Comer (fourth team).

Congratulations to all.

[cubs]

Congrats to all those who made the d3baseball All American team!

With that said, I'd love to know when the last time a single team had three players make the All American team yet not even qualify for Regionals!?!

[cubs]

Whitewater starts off the College World Series strong, as they score in each of their first three at-bats and jump out to a 10-3 lead.  Cade Berendt settles in after a shaky first inning that saw Randolph Macon push across three runs after two outs for a quick 3-0 lead.  Berendt (7 IP) and Max Huseboe (2 IP) combine to go the distance in the 11-3 victory in Ohio.  Matt Scolan and Danny Hopper each homer to lead the Warhawks offense as they take advantage of a pair of errors in the second inning to score six unearned runs.

Whitewater will now face Salve Regina at 7:00 PM tomorrow evening.

[ShineTime]

They took the correct approach not throwing Hilker even though they have 3 1s in my opinion unfortunately Hilker struggled to settle in again and gave up 2 early and they've only squared up on 1 ball threw 4 and Cootway hit it right at right fielder

[cubs]

Hilker gives up just a pair of second inning runs, however Salve Regina makes it hold up as they shut out Whitewater 2-0. This was the first time all season Whitewater failed to score, and unfortunately the Warhawks will now need to win three straight in order to advance to the Championship Series.

They'll have Hagen ready for one game, and possibly Huseboe for another (he threw two innings in relief on Friday) but it will likely be "Johnny Wholestaff" after that!

[ShineTime]

Hagen is clutch I expect hawks to win first game could Berendt pitch game 1 vs Selve Regina on Monday or not enough rest? Selves pitcher was awesome so was Hilker and as much as I feel the Hawks started pressing and being way to aggressive and swinging at first pitches his breaking ball was devastating so had to attack fastball.

On a side note I know it's only 1 season but since 2003 for starting pitchers I believe Hilker is the 3rd best behind Jordan Zimmerman and Greg Reinhard. Whitewaters top 3 pitchers are best the WIAC has seen since Whitewaters national championship team in 2003-2004.

[badgerwarhawk]

Hilker gives up just a pair of second inning runs,

Walks kill

[ShineTime]

Walks do kill and it absolutely sucks his overall pitching performance was wasted because he was awesome outside of that inning. I get it's the World Series where there's a ton of elite pitchers but Whitewater averaged 10 runs per game this season and giving up 2 runs should've been good enough for their offense.

Regarding the transfer portal I'd say Whitewater has at least 4 kids who could if they wanted play D1. Hilker without question could be in the rotation on majority of top 25 teams. Hagen also belongs on a D1 team and Matt Scolan is good enough to play professionally he and former Pointer outfielder; Aaron Simmons, were equally as dominant at D3 level. Some kids know they're not making a living playing baseball after college eligibility is up so they'll actually stay put. I was surprised Comer didn't enter the portal and try to play at LSU or Wofford! I'm against any WIAC team when playing the Pointers, but 100% behind any WIAC teams that's still alive when Pointers are sitting home.

[cubs]

What a comeback by the Warhawks today! L8ve to fight another day!

[cubs]

Berendt returns on two days rest today to try and get the Warhawks to the "if necessary" game later this evening...  Part of me thinks that might be why Whitewater went with him in Game #1 over Hilker, thinking he could recover the quickest of all their starting pitcher options?

[cubs]

Berendt is able to give the Warhawks four solid innings and gives way to Cade Hansen in the 5th with Whitewater holding a 4-2 lead, thanks in large part to a 3-run triple from Adam Cootway.

[cubs]

Whitewater has gotten 2.1 innings of scoreless relief from freshman Ethan Wickman (who replaced Cade Hansen) after Salve Regina got a 2-run HR to cut the Whitewater lead to 5-4 in the 6th inning.  Interestingly enough, Wickman had pitched just 11.2 innings entering today!

Whitewater has tacked on a pair of runs and takes a 7-4 lead into the bottom of the 9th inning, so the Warhawks are three outs away from forcing the "if necessary" game for a berth in the "best of three" Championship Series.

[cubs]

Eisenbarth relieves Wickman and goes 1-2-3 in the 9th inning and Whitewater stays alive!

The same two teams will meet later tonight in a "winner take all" to advance to the Championship Series!