BB: WIAC: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[badgerwarhawk]

No thanks, I saw the game once and that was enough for me.

[Greek Tragedy]

HERE is some information on the World Series teams, according to a review on the Stevens Point Pointer website.

[titan2000]

Point 9th inning bunt gaffe vs. Marietta was embarrassing. 

[John Gleich]

Not nearly as embarrassing as (fill in a pot shot at either Lawrence or UWO, whichever school Titan2k is supporting this week).

Oh, by the way, Point is up 5-0 on Aurora in the middle of the 4th.  I believe they're in a rain delay.  They've definately got experience with elimination games.

[Greek Tragedy]

Not nearly as embarrassing as (fill in a pot shot at either Lawrence or UWO, whichever school Titan2k is supporting this week).

Come on PointSpecial...no pot shots are possible since neither Lawrence nor UWO are playing.  Be nice. lol. 

After a 35 minute rain delay, Point spanks Aurora 12-3, setting up another elimination game tomorrow at noon.

[Greek Tragedy]

Point finally loses an elimination game, going down to Wheaton 5-4.  Great post season run for the Pointers...now to concentrate on the World Cup! lol.

[badgerwarhawk]

Platteville names new head coach, Eric Frese.  Well, actually Platteville didn't name him Eric Frese, they named him the new head baseball coach.

http://www.uwsa.edu/wiac/baseball/ericfrese.html

[BigPoppa]

What are the thoughts of the WIACers?

Here is how I see it:
1. Stevens Point
2. Whitewater
3. Oshkosh
4. Lacrosse
5. Platteville
6.
7.
8.

Can anybody help me with their thoughts?

[Just Bill]

I like:

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

Big Poppa, unfortunately if you are looking for an 8th place team you'll have to go back in time a few years.  *sigh*

[BigPoppa]

I like:

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

Big Poppa, unfortunately if you are looking for an 8th place team you'll have to go back in time a few years.  *sigh*

Thanks... I forgot that they are only a seven team conference. I sure do miss those Bluegolds!

[janesvilleflash]

I pretty much agree with you guys. I never count Oshkosh out, and I'm thinking Platteville may fool some people this year with their new field ready to go.

[BigPoppa]

The standings will be the same as they always are. Point, Whitewater and Oshkosh, in some order, the top three teams with a wild card thrown in there. I don't think La Crosse will be that team this year. It's too much to replace half of last year's starts with the graduation of Bemis and Zurbriggen, though the soft-tossing combo of Peterson and Benitz was good last year. Totally different Eagles team this year.
Judging solely on returning players, here is how I see it. Once again, Whitewater and Point cleaned up on the top in-state recruits, at least on paper and reputation of the players. Most of the WBCA Classic players who are going to WIAC schools are going to those two.
1. Point
2. Oshkosh
3. Whitewater
4. Stout
5. Platteville
6. La Crosse
7. Superior

--Point just reloaded. Everyone up the middle except Doug Coe is gone, but you know the Pointers will score. The biggest loss is probably Perkins, but that only means Hempstead, Kempf and Thrun get more innings. Nothing wrong with that if your a Pointer fan. They will be tough to beat. This time, even before elimination games.
--Oshkosh, even with Ziegler gone, has a ton of arms. No other team has the quantity of quality pitchers Oshkosh has. They are not Zimmerman, but Roos, Stanke, Hendricks, Bretl, Michaliewicz, Bolton and the rest of the staff are no slouches. Whoever plays shortstop will be vital to any success the Titans have.
--Whitewater is finally without Keller, Teach and Adamson. Seems like they had been around forever. The Warhawks' pitching, while good, is not great. While a very, very good team, I see better teams at Point and Oshkosh. Unless they have at least one stud freshman pitcher, the 'Hawks are down a peg this year.
--Ross Bennett will hit a bunch of bombs, but Platteville loses a lot of familiar names and most of its infield. Aspensen and Slaght are big pitching losses. If Bulaga can anchor the staff and Connelly and Athey become more consistent, Platteville should be OK. The Pioneers will put up a lot of crooked numbers. Whichever team wins the PV/Stout season series is the four-seed.
--The Stout offense should be awesome. Crazy talent with Maier and the rest of the rakers. Its pitching should not be awesome. Anything can happen with that combination. That's why I like the Blue Devils. It's always an oddball as the fourth team, and I was impressed with Stout at the end of last season.
--Superior? Um, no. It's a coin flip whether the Yellowjackets get a WIAC win this season. That program is a mess.

Osh Dude- great preview of the WIAC for us. Thanks! It certainly is a conference of the have and the have-nots! It is one of the nations best conferences, but the weakness of the bottom teams keeps it from being the top dog. The WIAC has multiple national titles, but only among two programs, Oshkosh and Whitewater.

[Just Bill]

Thanks... I forgot that they are only a seven team conference. I sure do miss those Bluegolds!

And the Falcons.

[BigPoppa]

If you had to put together an all-time team for each WIAC school, who makes the cut for each school?

Anybody close to the programs have some thoughts?

[OshDude]

I'll take a stab at Oshkosh's all-time team. Seems like a fun diversion. With rare exception, I'm going with the guys I have seen in person (1987-present). The others just have to be the team.

P Jarrod Washburn (mid 90s)
P Troy Cota (early 80s)
P Craig Glysch (late 90s)
P Andy Kimball (mid 90s)
P Jordan Timm (early 00s)
C Kevin Murdock (mid 80s)
1B Craig Lieder (mid 90s)
2B Jeremy Jirschele (mid 00s)
3B Aaron Richartz (early 90s)
SS Tim Jorgensen (mid 90s -- best position player of all-time?)
OF Jeff Zappa (mid 90s)
OF Terry Jorgensen (mid 80s)
OF Scott Mann (early 90s)
DH Pat McDonald (late 80s)

Honorable Mention: OF Vince Mancuso (early 00s); C Casey Kopitzke (late 90s); UTIL Chris Delarwelle (late 80s); 2B Don Garvey (early 90s); OF Tom Jeremko (early 80s); OF Erik Morrell (late 90s); SS Kevin Reichardt (mid 80s); 2B Brian Bott (mid 90s); SS Jeff Carl (early 80s); P Todd Evers (late 80s); SS Bruce Schreiber (late 80s); 1B Rusty Tiedemann (mid 80s); 3B Lee Wetenkamp (late 70s).