Voices Eye on Warhawk Baseball

Hawks can't escape the Twilight Zone in season ending loss

2011-05-29T21:33:00.000-07:00

Most people refer to Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton as the “home of the NCAA Division III World Series. For “Warhawk nation” it is being called the “twilight zone” on the heels of the UW-Whitewater baseball team’s strange 4-2 loss to Chapman University (California) Sunday.

How strange was the loss? Three of the four UW-Whitewater base runners were picked off by Chapman pitcher Christian Maietta. Also, a normally solid Warhawk defense committed four errors in the game.

"I can't sugarcoat it," UWW head coach John Vodenlich said following the game. "We played poorly. We had four errors. We got three guys picked off. And we got five hits.

Maietta picked shortstop Andrew Eichstaedt off second in the first inning. He got Donovan at first in the second inning and caught senior rightfielder Daniel Putnam napping at first in the fourth inning.

(In the adjacent photo the scoreboard tells the story - Tom Pattison photo)

Incredibly, following the laundry list of miscues, Whitewater was in position to win the game.

Trailing 3-0 in the seventh inning, Jeff Donovan got the Hawks back in the game on one swing. The senior drilled a two-run homer to left field to draw his team within one run.

On the mound for the final time in his Warhawk baseball career, Riley Tincher deserved a better fate. Two of the three runs allowed by the big lefthander in were unearned. The senior pitched his way out of trouble three times keep the game close.

"He was not the reason we lost today," Vodenlich said. "Again, it's four errors and three picked off players. When you play that type of baseball, sometimes you can't overcome it."

His team tried by getting the tying run to second base with one out in the 8th inning with one out. Pinch hitter Sam Keller his a rocket line drive off Maietta – but right at Chapman 1st baseman Mark Saatzer.

In the ninth inning, Donovan drew a two out walk, but was stranded on 1st base when Brent “Aussie” Young gounded to 2nd base to bring a curtain down on the season for the Warhawks.

Whitewater finishes the year with an outstanding 37-13 record.

Much more reaction and analysis will be posted Monday morning here on voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com.

CLICK HERE for UWW-Chapman box score

PROGRAMMING NOTE: Sunday's UWW vs Chapman game has been moved to 940 WFAW

2011-05-29T06:09:00.000-07:00

ATTENTION WARHAWK BASEBALL FANS...

Sunday's (today's) UW-Whitewater Division III World Series game broadcast WILL HE HEARD ON AM-940 WFAW.

Due to a conflict with the Indianapolis 500 Sunday's (today's) UW-Whitewater Baseball game at the College World Series will be heard on 940 WFAW starting at 11:50.

CLICK HERE to listen to game via audio stream

Warhawks to face Chapman (CA) Sunday at 12-noon at DIII World Series

2011-05-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

The UW-Whitewater baseball team is set to play Chapman University (CA) Sunday in 2011 Division III World Series action at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton.

Chapman drew No. 1 ranked Marietta (Ohio) in Saturday’s winner’s bracket action.

Austin Blaski was dominant on the mound as the Pioneers defeated Chapman 9-4 in Day 2 of the Division III Baseball Championship. Blaski had eight strikeouts and overcame two errors of his own to advance Marietta to the winner’s bracket final

Meanwhile, the team that beat UW-Whitewater on Friday night - Buena Vista, unranked entering the NCAA Tournament, will play in the winner’s bracket championship after the Beavers defeated Keystone 8-5 in a winner's bracket game at the 2011 Division III Baseball Championships.

Buena Vista, following the path blazed by Central Regional champion Illinois Wesleyan in 2010, will play Marietta on Sunday night in a game scheduled for 6 p.m.

Future Warhawks too much for current Warhawks

2011-05-28T22:09:00.000-07:00

The UW-Whitewater was fresh off staying alive in the 2011 NCAA Division III World Series with an 8-3 victory over Western New England College Saturday afternoon at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton.

Following the game the Hawks were quick to jump on the Van Galder Warhawk Express motor coach back to the team hotel – right?

Wrong! Less than 24 hours after its emotional 5-4 loss to Buena Vista in opening round action, the UW-Whitewater baseball team hung around the stadium to enjoy the elimination bracket win with family and friends.

Jefferson County Daily Union sports editor Jeff Seisser called me to say there was a postgame wiffle ball game going on out in the parking lot.

For about an hour, some Warhawk players and friends played a wiffle ball game with some "future Warhawks," including Sam Vodenlich, son of Warhawk baseball coach John Vodenlich; Tyler Seisser, son of Daily Jefferson County Union sports editor/photographer Jeff Seisser; and Landon and Lindsay Leipold, children of Warhawk head football coach Lance Leipold.

You think the kids will have memories of playing wiffle ball against the Warhawks in years to come?

Final score: Future Warhawks 75, Current Warhawks 0!

Seniors played key role in the Hawks 8-3 win over Western New England College

2011-05-28T21:34:00.000-07:00

The one thing I have discovered over my many years of blogging here on voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com and over on warhawkfootball.com is the importance of senior leadership.

The senior leadership has been outstanding on this 2011 Warhawk team. Dan Putnam, Rob Coe, Riley Tincher and Jeff Donovan have played plenty of “championship caliber” baseball wearing a Warhawk baseball uniform. That leadership has stood out as brightly as Kim Kardashian’s $2 million engagement ring leading up to and during Saturday’s 8-3 elimination bracket victory over Western New England College (MA).

Less than 24 hours after suffering an emotional, bottom of the ninth inning loss to Buena Vista (IA) in 1st round NCAA Division III World Series action, the Hawks arrived back at Fox Cities Stadium Saturday morning relaxed and looking forward to exorcizing the “demons” from the previous day.

Prior to the game, as the Hawks were standing in front of the dugout waiting for the NCAA to send them out for pregame infield. I look down from the press box and there is Rob Coe and Jeff Donovan dancing to the music out of the Fox Cities Stadium public address system.

“It’s our senior year and we didn’t want to go into the game too tight,” Coe said following the game. “Jeff and I have had fun all year. It wasn’t our first dance. You gotta do what you’ve been doing all year because we still have a chance to win this thing (D III title)."

For Donovan, it is making sure everything is left out on the field win or lose this weekend.

“We went into the game realizing how great a season we’ve had and it could end today (Saturday), Donovan tells voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com. “We’ve talked about from here on out, everyone’s going to continue to lay it on the line. You are going to see some great baseball from us.”

Now back to the senior leadership aspect to this story. The seniors took the challenge of elimination bracket baseball from the “get-go” vs. WNEC.

Senior Dan Putnam opened the bottom of the first inning with a walk. Senior Rob Coe hit a grounder through the left side to put runners on the corners, and senior Jeff Donovan drilled a triple to the wall in right center for a 2-0 lead. One pitch later Donovan came home on a wild pitch to make it 3-0.

How’s that for the UWW seniors leading the way?

The seniors were back at it again in the sixth. Coe walked, and Donovan hit his school record twenty-second double of the season to plate Coe. Kevin Jeffries came on to replace WNEC starter Zach Cloft, and Warhawk third baseman Jared Fon greeted him with a double to score Donovan and build the Whitewater lead to 5-2.

It was Putnam again in the seventh, hitting a sharp single back up the box and taking second on a ball that got tangled in the catcher's legs. Andrew Eichstaedt walked. Putnam then took off for third and the catcher's attempt to throw him out sailed into left field. Putnam scored and Eichstaedt moved to second. Coe knocked in Eichstaedt with a single. Coe moved to second on a ground out, and scored on Brent Young's single to increase Whitewater's lead to 8-2.

You’re final senior scorecard reads: Donovan and Coe with two hits. Donovan's were both extra base hits, and he drove in three and scored twice. Coe scored three times, and Putnam scored twice and was on base twice.

Another of the UWW seniors is expected to get his opportunity in Sunday’s elimination bracket game vs. Chapman (CA). Riley Tincher will likely be on the mound for the Warhawks for the 12-noon start at Fox Cities Stadium.

CLICK HERE for 5/28 Warhawk postgame press conference

Hawks bounce back in big way with win over Western New England College

2011-05-28T15:59:00.000-07:00

The UW-Whitewater baseball team fought off the disappointment of Friday night’s loss to Buena Vista (Iowa) with a stress-free, 8-3 victory over Western New England (Mass) Saturday in second day action at the NCAA Division III World Series at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton.

The Hawks played error-free baseball while pounding out nine hits, including three for extra bases, a left just six runners on base vs. WNEC compared to the 12 left on base Friday night.

The top of the batting order was outstanding, as the top four in the order combined to go 6-for-14 with eight runs scored and four RBI. Danny Putnam went 1-for-4 with two runs scored, Andrew Eichstaedt went 1-for-3 with a run scored and Rob Coe was 2-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI.

(In the adjacent photo - UWW's Rob Coe catches a glance back at his dugout after lacing one of his two hits in Saturday's 8-3 Warhawk win over Western New England College at the NCAA Division III World Series in Appleton - photo courtesy of Jeff Seisser, Daily Jefferson County Union)

Jeff Donovan, less than 24 hours after seeing his team fall short vs. Buena Vista, let his bat talk Saturday afternoon.

The senior out of Wauwatosa East High School wasted little time putting Whitewater on the board. The Warhawk first baseman crushed a triple that bounced just in front of the 405-foot marker on the right-center field wall. Danny Putnam and Rob Coe scored on the play.

Donovan scored one pitch later on a passed ball to put UW-W up, 3-0.

In the sixth inning “J-Doe” did it again, lacing a double to nearly the exact same spot as his first inning triple. Coe scored from first base on the play.

Putnam stole third in the bottom of the seventh and scored a throwing error by the Golden Bear catcher. Later in the frame, Andrew Eichstaedt scored on Coe's RBI single. Coe came home on Brent Young's RBI base hit two batters later.

Coe, an Appleton North High School graduate, was 2-for-3 in front of his home-town crowd. Jared Fon added a 2-for-4 effort on the day as well.

UW-Whitewater stating pitcher, Justin Lamber,t turned in a gem, pitching seven innings of two-run ball.

"He's really pitched well down the stretch," Vodenlich said of the right-hander, starter who ate up seven innings. "(No. 1 starter Riley) Tincher's going to be in the mix for us, and we're going to need them all."

Mathew Roberts took care of the eighth inning, setting down Western New England in order. Jack Larsen closed out the game in the ninth after surrendering one run.

According to veteran Warhawk coach John Vodenlich, when you are in the “elimination bracket” of a double-elimination tournament the task at hand is simple – to survive and advance.

"Hopefully, we're here for a while," Vodenlich said. "It's an elimination game from this point on. Our guys know that our back is against the wall."

Next up for Whitewater is a 12-noon game Sunday vs. the loser of Saturday night’s Marrietta (Ohio) vs. Chapman (California) game.

CLICK HERE for Whitewater - Western New England Box Score

More coming up following prime rib at Texas Roadhouse

- Voice

Hawks roll to 8-3 win over Western New England University at D III World Series

2011-05-28T13:16:00.000-07:00

Whitewater bounces back big Saturday afternoon to defeat Western New England University 8-3. More to come following postgame media conference.

Voice

Violent emotion changes late in Friday night's 5-4 loss to BV

2011-05-28T01:31:00.000-07:00

The range of emotions for UW-Whitewater players, coaches and fans changed dramatically in just a few short minutes Friday evening.

Down 4-2 heading into the top of the ninth inning, it appeared that the Warhawk baseball team was just minutes away from a very frustrating loss to upstart Buena Vista (Iowa) in first round action at the NCAA Division III World Series Friday evening in Appleton.

The frustration suddenly turned to incredible elation as the Hawks staged a scintillating come-from-behind rally in its last at bat. The Hawks scored two runs highlighted by Jared Fon’s dramatic two-out single driving in Rob Coe to tie the game at 4-all.

(In the adjacent photo - UWW pitcher Jeff Donovan explodes with emotion following Jared Fons' dramatic RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning to keep his team alive at 2-2 heading into bottom on ninth - photo courtesy of Jeff Seisser, Daily Jefferson County Union)

The come-back meant that the Hawks needed just three BV outs to send the game into extra-innings.

It didn’t happen.

With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Tyler Case walked and Blum singled to put men at first and second. Brock Yossi hit a long foul down the first base line that Warhawk first baseman Brent Young caught going away and up against the stands. Case tagged and went to third on the play.

The Hawks brought in senior lefthander Riley Tincher, in relief of Eric Schmitz, to face BV first baseman Michael Hoffman with two outs and just one out from heading to extra innings. It was not going to happen as Hoffman lined a single up the middle scoring Case with the dramatic winning run and send the mood of Warhawk nation into a tailspin.

While the magical tournament run for Buena Vista continues in a Saturday winners bracket game vs. Keystone (PA), the Hawks now must play Western New England (MA), a 2-1 loser to Keystone, in an elimination bracket game at 1 p.m. Saturday.

CLICK HERE for UWW/BV Box Score

CLICK HERE for 5/27 UWW postgame press conference

Hawks drop heartbreaker in the bottom of 9th

2011-05-27T18:43:00.000-07:00

It has been said before and it will be said again – a game is never over till its over.

Buena Vista University appeared on the way to a first round win by forging out to a 4-2 lead heading into the UW-Whitewater ninth inning. In Friday’s opening round NCAA Division III

The Hawks would not say die.

UWW loaded the bases with nobody out. Brent Young grounded into a double play that scored Drew Eichstaedt to pull the Warhawks within one at 4-3. That set up Jared Fon’s dramatic two-out RBI single to center field to score Rob Coe with the game-tying score to send the game to the bottom of the ninth.

The Whitewater momentum would not last long.

Buena Vista left fielder Michael Hoffman broke UW-Whitewater hearts by lining a two-out single to center to score Tyler Case and give the Beavers a 5-4, bottom of the ninth inning victory.

(In the adjacent photo – UWW centerfielder walks dejectedly off the field Friday night while Buena Vista players celebrate in the background follow the Beavers’ 5-4, bottom of the 9th victory in the first round of the NCAA Division III World Series at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton – photo courtesy of Jeff Siesser, Daily Jefferson County Union)

The Beavers excelled at playing “small-ball” by executing numerous bunt situations flawlessly. BVU also put its leadoff batter on base in six of the nine innings.

Whitewater left 12 runners on base including the bases loaded twice.

Final Line Score
Buena Vista: 5 runs, 9 hits, 2 errors, 9 LOB
UW-Whitwater: 4 runs, 13 hits, 2 errors, 13 LOB

Much more on today’s game will be coming up this evening here on Voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com including quotes from the postgame press conference.

I’ll be talking to you later tonight here on the blog.

- Voice

Hawks lose opener at D III World Series

2011-05-27T17:55:00.000-07:00

Hawks lose 5-4 to Buena Vista in the bottom of the ninth inning.e

Much more to come

Voic

Game 2: Marietta (OH) 6, Salisbury (NJ) 0 (Final)

2011-05-27T14:55:00.000-07:00

D3baseball.com Pitcher of the Year Brian Gasser threw six shutout innings and Mark Williams and Kyle Lindquist finished it up as No. 1 ranked Marietta improved to 43-3.

The game was a 0-0 pitcher's duel throught the first five innings.

Marietta put three runs on the scoreboard in the sixth inning followed by two in the seventh and three more in the Pioneer eighth inning.

With the win, Gasser is now 14-0 on the season.

Chris Greiner took the loss for Salisbury and is now 10-4 in 2011

CLICK HERE FOR MARIETTA Vs SALISBURY BOXSCORE

Coming up next: Buena Vista vs UW-Whitewater (First pitch is set for 5:{25 p.m.)

Voice's blog: Friday afternoon at the DIII World Series

2011-05-27T13:27:00.000-07:00

• A steady stream of UW-Whitewater baseball fans have been arriving at Fox Valley Stadium for the past 45 minutes.

• The early arrivers didn’t wait for the official Warhawk World Series tailgate to get underway. The non-official tailgates have been going on since 1:45! (see adjacent photo)

• The UW-Whitewater tailgate tent has been erected on the right field line area of the FVS parking lot. The tailgate, just getting underway, is sponsored by the UW-Whitewater Alumni Association and the athletic department. If you are a Warhawk fan, make sure you stop by the tailgate which runs right up to game-time a 4:30 p.m.

• No. 1 ranked Marietta (OH) and Salisbury (MD) are in an old fashioned pitcher’s duel. Each team with just one hit through 4 innings. The Score: Salisbury 0, Marietta 0. Division III Player of the Year. Brian Gasser is on the mound for Marietta. The big righthander’s statistics are awesome with a 13 & 0 record and 1.09 ERA entering today’s game.

• The UW-Whitewater coaching staff was in the stands for much of this morning’s first game. The team has been spending the last couple of hours at nearby baseball fields for NCAA sponsored batting practice.

• My sources are telling me that Jeff Donovan will get today’s starting pitching assignment. At this point that information is not official. Donovan 10 & 0 in 2011.

• I’ve been blogging a great deal about the seniors on this year’s Warhawk baseball team. Last weekend it was the underclassmen down in the batting order. If Jared Fon, Matt Beyer, Dylan Friend and Travis Wessels can even come close to having a weekend, like last weekend, the Hawks’ offense will be in good shape.

• Jared Fon, just a freshman, became the Warhawks’ everyday 3rd baseman earlier this month. His defensive play has been anything but freshman-like.

• The UWW offense has been “off and on” over the past couple of weeks. A big key this weekend will be the ability of Danny Putnam to get on base in the lead-off position, and Andrew Eichstaedt to get “Putty” into scoring position for the “big bats” in the lineup.

• With the Buena Vista Beavers being in its first NCAA Division III World Series – for UWW to get off to a quick lead would definitely advantageous.

• Despite being in a national championship baseball tournament for the first time since 1968 (NAIA) BV insists there is no pressure on the upstarts from the IIAC -There are a lot of teams there that are predicted to win it. We don't have that on our shoulders. We have nothing to lose so I think that makes us a little bit dangerous. (Buena Vista coach Steve Eddie)

• Hawks and Beavers coming up. You can listen to the game on KOOL 106.5 with Gary Douglas and Dick Haven.

CLICK HERE for audio stream of today’s game

I'll be blogging after today's Warhawk game

Voice -

Game One: Chapman 9, Kean 4 (Final)

2011-05-27T12:09:00.000-07:00

Chapman University (CA) broke a tight 3-2 game open by scoring seven runs in the final four innings to defeat Kean University (NJ) 9-4 in first round action at the 2011 NCAA Division III World Series at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton.

Kean 42-10) entered the game ranked No. 3 in the nation by d3baseball.com. Chapman is now 34-11 and ranked No. 9 in the nation.

CLICK HERE FOR CHAPMAN vs, KEAN BOX SCORE

Voice’s Eye on D III World Series Weekend from Appleton

2011-05-27T11:07:00.000-07:00

• What an opening day for the D III World Series. Filtered sunshine with temperatures in the lower 60’s – OUTSTANDING!

• Game one has just finished – final score: Chapman 9, Kean 4. Marrietta and Salisbury first pitch is now scheduled for 1:55 p.m.

• I was planning on getting to Fox Cities Stadium in time for the 10 a.m. start of the World Series opener between Kean (NJ) and Chapman (CA). Since I am now semi-retired I slept-in and arrived at 11 a.m.

• I ran into UW-Stevens Point coach Pat Bloom in the stands during the Kean-Chapman game. He wished the Hawks good luck but said he and the team would rather be between the lines here in Appleton this weekend.

• Bloom also told me that UWSP center fielder/pitcher Cody Koback is expected to be drafted in one of the top 10 rounds in next months MLB Draft.

• Taking a look into the parking lot off the 1st base side of Fox Cities Stadium and the UW-Whitewater tailgate tent has just started going up under the direction of “Mills” and Bob Lanza.

• The tailgate will run from 2:30 to 4:30 – make sure you wear your “purple” and I’ll see you at the U-Dub-Dub tailgate.

I’LL BE CHECKING BACK ON THE BLOG AT 3 P.M.

GO WARHAWKS!!

- Voice

D III World Series underway in Appleton

2011-05-27T10:21:00.000-07:00

The 2011 NCAA Division III World Series is underway at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton. Partly cloudy skies and 59 degrees at noon according to the National Weather Service.

Today's first game has No. 3 Kean(New Jersey) and No. 9 Chapman (California) squaring off.

(In the adjacent photo - a look at Fox Cities Stadium from the press box early in today's first game of the 2011 NCAA Division III World Series - Tom Pattison)

Game two set for 1::15 p.m. will have No. 1 ranked Marietta (Ohio) vs. Salisbury (Maryland)

More to come
-Voice

Listen to Warhawk World Series games LIVE on KOOL 106.5

2011-05-26T21:32:00.000-07:00

The UW-Whitewater baseball team opens play at 4:30 Friday (5/27) afternoon in the 2011 NCAA Division III World Series at Fox Cities Stadium adjacent to U.S. Highway 41 in Appleton

If you for some reason can’t make to Appleton this weekend you will be able to listen to all the UWW World Series action exclusively in southern Wisconsin on KOOL 106.5.

Join veteran sportscaster Gary Douglas for all the play-by-play action on your official radio home for UW-Whitewater athletics since 1963.

The Warhawk World Series broadcasts will begin with Warhawk Baseball Today voiced by Tom Pattison. Gary Douglas follows with an interview with U-Dub-Dub head coach John Vodenlich followed by the first pitch.

CLICK HERE to listen to the audio stream of the game

CLICK HERE to download podcasts of all Warhawk tournament broacasts

Nixon was President and the Vietnam War was raging last time BVU was in a national baseball tournament

2011-05-26T20:46:00.000-07:00

The last time Buena Vista went to a national baseball tournament was in 1968 - 43 years ago, when they were an NAIA school. This season, the Beavers have qualified for the NCAA Division III World Series for the very first time. But they almost didn't make it.

BV closed the regular season with 7 straight wins, but were knocked out of the Iowa Conference tournament, and thought their season was over. But the Beavers got a surprising spot in the NCAA regionals, which they won, earning a trip to the World Series.

Even though they were in the top ten in the region in 13 different statistical categories, BV will again play the underdog role in the World Series. Coach Eddie says if their pitching and defense is good, they can play with anyone, as long as they keep smiling.

"We made a commitment to each other that we were going to be the loosest team there. We're going to have just an absolute great time no matter what happens. There are a lot of teams there that are predicted to win it. We don't have that on our shoulders. We have nothing to lose so I think that makes us a little bit dangerous."

BV's first game at the World Series is Friday at 4:30 against UW-Whitewater, in Appleton, Wisconsin. The Warhawks are ranked 12th in the nation and won the national title in 2005.

CLICK HERE for a preview of the Beavers from KTVI News Channel 4 in Sioux City, Iowa

Hawks senior leadership key to return to Fox Cities Stadium

2011-05-26T17:09:00.000-07:00

(Adjacent photo and display courtesy of Tim Gumz and UWW athletic department)

Can the UW-Whitewater baseball team capture the 2011 NCAA Division III Baseball Title this weekend at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton?

You bet!

In the Warhawks three previous trips to the Division III World Series, 2005 (Championship), 2004 (3rd Place) and 2008 (3rd Place) senior leadership played a huge role in UWW’s success on the field. This weekend will be no different.

"One thing we've talked about is we're playing for a championship," Vodenlich told the Daily Jefferson County Union. "We're not going to win a national championship by going out there and playing an average game. Each of our individuals should understand that 1-for-3 and making routine plays is no longer acceptable - it's no longer what we need to win the big games. The challenge is out there for each of our individuals to step up their game.

Jeff Donovan, Rob Coe, Riley Tincher, Dan Putnam, and Lee Kimbell make up this year’s senior class.

• Putnam enters the World Series hitting a team-high .411, 59 runs scored and 28 stolen bases. The Ashland native was leading the nation, hitting over .500 into the third week of April.

• Donovan is ending his career this weekend among a handful of the top UW-Whitewater players in school history.

The Wauwatosa native is the school record-holder in at bats, runs, hits, runs batted in, and doubles. He ranks 3rd in career home runs behind only Pat Tobiasz (1995-98) and Brady Endl (2001-2004).

The former UW-Whitewater starting quarterback was named the 2009 WIAC Football Player of the Year and followed that up by leading Warhawk football team to the 2009 NCAA Division III National Championship.

• Coe is the “quarterback” of the UWW defense and pitching staff. The Appleton native possesses a rifle arm behind the plate. In the Hawks’ regional championship victory over St. Scholastica, Coe threw out SCC centerfielder Joe Link on first inning steal attempt of third base. It was the first “throw-out” of Link in 45 stolen base attempts this season.

The senior, who had not pitched at all in his career, was installed into the Warhawks’ closer role late in the season.

Coe, who throws in excess of 90 miles per hour on a regular basis - enters the weekend with nine appearances – all in relief – he sports a 1 and 1 record with 2 saves and a team-best 0.78 earned run average.

• Brent Allen and Lee Kimbell transferred to Whitewater this season as seniors from the now defunct Lambuth University in Jackson, Tennessee.

• Allen is a native of Brisbane, Australia and is among the most popular players on the team. The energetic “Aussie” has been an important utility player for much of the season. His dramatic, game-winning three-run homer last Saturday propelled the Warhawks past St. Scholastica and into the team’s fourth D III World Series for the fourth time in the last eight years.

The Warhawks' pitching rotation is anchored by left-hander Riley Tincher (10-3, 3.02 ERA) and righty Jeff Donovan (10-0, 3.38). The talented duo has been the No. 1 and No. 2 pitchers each weekend for Whitewater. “Tinch and J-Doe” have been one of the top one-two pitching combinations in the WIAC for the past two seasons. They are entering the final weekend of outstanding Warhawk baseball careers.

Earlier this month, Tincher was named the recipient of the 2011 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Max Sparger Baseball Scholar-Athlete Award.

A senior from Oregon, Wis., Tincher is majoring in health, human performance and recreation with a minor in coaching and maintains a 3.32 grade point average. He is a two-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and been recognized on UW-Whitewater’s Dean’s List.

A two-year team captain, Tincher is a two-time All-WIAC first team selection and secured WIAC Pitcher of the Year honors a season ago.

As you can see, the senior class has stepped up all season on the way to a 36 & 11 record.

Tincher and Donovan speak for the five seniors when talking about playing for the final weekend in a UW-Whitewater baseball uniform.

“For us seniors it is all or nothing,” Tincher said. “It is just keeping that mentality of leaving it all on the field, doing your best at all times, and not really regretting anything."

“We have everything we need,” Donovan said. “Coach (Vodenlich). Following Saturday’s Midwest Region championship game told us – guys, I’ve seen a lot of teams and we have everything we need – now we just have to go out and play good baseball.”

Vodenlich's coaching staff has done an "awesome job"

2011-05-26T08:24:00.000-07:00

(Editor's Note: The following story witten by Josh Smith on the Warhawk baseball team's coaching staff was published Thursday, May 26 by the Daily Jefferson County Union.)

As a back-up catcher on the 1989 UW-W World Series team, Vodenlich has been a part of every team that has qualified for the Division III national tournament. However, he explained his role on the 1989 team was a minor one.

"I played a back-up role. I was a back-up catcher and I carried the starting catcher's equipment. I got in only to give him a rest," he said. "I was very proud to be a part of that team, but by no means was I a big part of that success. I had a very behind-the-scenes kind of role."

Vodenlich then coached Whitewater to World Series appearances in 2004, 2005, 2008 and now in 2011.

The Whitewater head coach, who has a career record of 289-93-1, credits a lot of his success to his assistant coaches, who also have had success as UW-W players.

"Look at my current staff. You look at coach (Armando) Hernandez, who was a standout Warhawk. You look at coach (Justin) Stewart, who captained the teams that had more championships than ever," Vodenlich said, noting Stewart played in 2004 and 2005 before working as a coach for the 2008 squad. "You look at coach (Ben) Prather, who was on the 2008 team. You look at coach (Ryan) Callahan, who was the captain on the 2004 team.

(In the adjacent photo is a look at the Warhawk baseball coaching staff with the exception of Ben Prather who was not available at the time of the photo - Tom Pattison Photo)

"Success breeds success. When you have people that lead that have been there and know what it takes. That matters."

Vodenlich said while he has been a part of five World Series team, his staff has a lot of experience themselves.

"I'm not alone by any means in that type of circumstance," he said. "I'm very pleased to say I have an awesome staff that has been there as a Warhawk in many ways."

The coaching staff has earned the current players' success.

"(Dave Perchinsky) is always a motivator. He's always getting on you about doing things right," Coe said. "Prather's always helping with hitting with Vo, and Armando is always doing the ground balls. It's a great coaching staff."

"Coach Vo is a winner. That's what he does. He knows how to win," Donovan said. "He knows what it takes, and his resumé shows that."

"Vo shaped me into the catcher that I am today," Coe said. "He called games with me my first year, but I learned from him, and now I haven't had to look in for a pitch the last two years."

Even players like Young, who have been with the team for a short time have high praise for the coaches.

"They can finely tune athletes here with great facilities and a great staff," Young said. "I'm really happy and lucky that I came here."

CLICK HERE to read Josh Smith's entire Daily Union article

Buena Vista Beavers Set for Opener with UW-Whitewater

2011-05-26T07:21:00.000-07:00

(Editor's Note: Portions of the following story include information originally published in the Storm Lake Times)

Buena Vista University of Storm Lake, Iowa looks to continue its magical postseason run on NCAA Division III’s biggest stage over Memorial Day weekend.

The Beavers (32-16) earned a spot into this year's World Series after going 4-1 during the Central Regional Tournament, including a thrilling 7-6 triumph over Carthage College on Saturday afternoon.

The trip to Appleton, Wis., and a chance to contend for a national championship is the first by an Iowa Conference school since Wartburg in 2005. You have to go back to the late 1960s to find a Buena Vista baseball team (then NAIA) that made it this deep in the postseason.

“We played about as well as anyone those first three games,” BVU coach Steve Eddie said of the Central Regional tournament leading up to the World Series. “We could’ve beat anybody. Everyone was saying this is how we should’ve played all year, but it was nice to see it come out when it mattered most.”

Buena Vista (32-16) will face UW-Whitewater (36-11) Friday at 4:30 p.m. in its College World Series opener. “They (Whitewater) have a couple good pitchers, but they don’t strike you out a lot,” Eddie said. “You’re going to get hits and we should be able to play our game. It’s one of those things where you get on first and then go from there.”

Senior right-hander Luke Probasco (9-3, 2.98 ERA) who was named Most Valuable Player of the Central Regional tournament is expected to get the start against Whitewater. Eddie said Probasco needs to pitch deep into the game and his team will need to be sharp defensively to get a win.

BVU is led by seniors Kevin Kloewer, Brad Blum and Luke Probasco who were named to the All-Region First Team this week.

Senior catcher Kevin Kloewer has been hot at the plate. He has seen his average raise from .307 to .322 following Regionals. He also leads the team in doubles (18), home runs (12) and slugging percentage (.649) and is second in RBI (46).
Blum the Beavers’ shortstop is the team's lead-off man and is leading the team in average at .378 and also posts an on-base percentage of .507. He leads the team with 20 stolen bases.

“It’s going to be an incredible atmosphere,” Eddie said of Appleton. “We made a promise that we’ll be the loosest team there because that’s what we’ve been through this whole process. Nobody gave us a shot to make it here.”

“I think it’s great way to cap off the career,” senior catcher Kevin Kloewer said. “Four years ago we were a .500 team and not real good. We worked hard with this in mind the entire time.”

“We’re going to go up there and play our game. Whatever happens, happens,” senior shortstop Brad Blum said. “We’ll give them our best shot, have some fun and hope it’s good enough to get a win.”

Will UW-Whitewater take advantage of "home field advantage"

2011-05-25T17:14:00.000-07:00

Beginning Friday, Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute (Appleton) will be home to a 12th consecutive NCAA Division III World Series.

UW-Whitewater is making its fourth trip to Appleton – winning the 2005 national title and finishing 3rd in 2008 and 2004. The Warhawks have posted a 13 and 12 record in its three previous World Series trips to Fox Cities Stadium.

Originally UW-Oshkosh and Lawrence University were hosts to the Wisconsin-based D III World Series. Beginning last year, Lawrence University along with the Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau are the hosts.

UW-Oshkosh was the most dominant Division III team in the nation during the 1980’s and 1990’s. The Titans earned the trip to the D III World Series 16 of 17 consecutive seasons.

The success prompted UW-Oshkosh and community leaders in the Fox Valley region to seek to have Fox Cities Stadium as the annual venue for the NCAA Division III World Series

Much like Salem, Virginia and the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl NCAA Division III Football Championship, Appleton has been a popular destination for Division III teams seeking to win the D III national baseball title.

Ironically, since 2000 when Fox Cities Stadium became the venue for the Division III World Series UW-Oshkosh has made it the 20 miles north on Highway 41 just once – in 2003 – and it was “two and out” for the hometown team.

As I previously indicated, UW-Whitewater has made it Fox Cities Stadium three times previous to this year. UW-Stevens Point has been able to make the trip east on Highway 10 three times – in 2010, 2007 and 2006.

Entering this year’s World Series WIAC teams have posted a 14 win – 12 loss record in games at Fox Cities Stadium.

Both Whitewater and Stevens Point fans have flocked to Appleton during there team’s run to a National Championship.

Look for Warhawk fans make the 145 mile trek up Highway 26 en masse beginning with Friday afternoon’s 4:30 p.m. game vs. Buena Vista University (Iowa).

For U-Dub-Dub fans heading to Appleton on Friday, plan to get to the stadium early.

The UW-Whitewater Alumni Association and the athletic department invite you to join them for a World Series tailgate party on Friday, May 27 at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton, Wisconsin. The tailgate will begin at 2:30 and end at 4:30. Food and beverage will be provided and all alumni, family, friends and supporters of Warhawk baseball are welcome. The tailgate will take place in the parking lot on the first base side of the stadium.

GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!

CLICK HERE to view WIAC Baseball NCAA Championship History

Tincher provides that grinder mentality needed to win championships

2011-05-25T08:28:00.000-07:00

The UW-Whitewater baseball team has been known for having some very good pitching staffs over the years. The one constant with each pitching staff has been to have at least one “innings eater” capable of pitching quality baseball on short rest.
Riley Tincher has been “that man” for the past two years. In 2010, the former Oregon High School athlete put together a monster year. “Tinch” was a major cog in leading the Warhawks to the WIAC title with a 13 & 1 record while pitching 102.1 innings.
Those statistics led the Riley being named the 2010 WIAC Pitcher of the Year.

(Adjacent photo courtesy of Jeff Seisser, Daily Jefferson County Union)

Fast-forward one year. Tincher got off to a great start this season by winning five of his first six starts. Known for his control, Riley lost that control midway through the season.

On April 17th on a very cold day (29 degree wind chill) in Menomonie vs. UW-Stout, Tincher’s control issue became a big concern. The big lefthander gave up 9 runs and 12 hits in six innings of work. The Hawks, unbeaten in the conference going into the game, lost 14-8.

Riley talks about his struggles at the time.

“I had a little bit of a dead arm during that cold weather,” Tincher told voiceseyeonbaseball.com. “I just lost all my confidence.”

The confidence problem didn’t fester long. The feeling was back during Riley’s regular season outing at Oshkosh.

“I got that will to win back,” Tincher explained. “Every pitch I threw, it was, I’m going to win this pitch, you are not going to beat me. I finally got that mentality back.”

A couple weeks later, Tincher hooked up with soon-to-be named conference pitcher of the year, Luke Westphall, in a WIAC tournament game that turned out to be the classic pitcher’s duel.

The two 1st team All-WIAC pitchers dueled it out, matching pitch for pitch for nine innings. Oshkosh won the game 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth on a suicide squeeze bunt.

For Tincher (10 wins & 3 losses/1 save), the focus remained “look forward and not back” as the Warhawks would be awarded an “at large” berth into the NCAA Division III Playoffs. The Hawks proceeded to grind its way through the incredibly tough Midwest Region and stamp its ticket back to the Division III World Series for the first time since 2008 – the year before Riley arrived on campus.

The “grinder” mentality will be very important as the Warhawks enter play this weekend back in Appleton and the NCAA Division III World Series.
Tincher is part of a senior class that has been the “rudder” for keeping this year’s team focused on its goals.

“For us seniors it is all or nothing,” Tincher said. “It is just keeping that mentality of leaving it all on the field, doing your best at all times, and not really regretting anything."

For Ticher and the other seniors, that is really all that can be done.

“If we can go out on top that way, that’s a perfect way to complete a career.”

Putnam, Donovan earn All-American recognition

2011-05-25T07:09:00.000-07:00

UW-Whitewater’s Dan Putnam and Jeff Donovan have been named to the 2011 D3baseball.com All-America team. Putnam has been named to the 2nd team, Donovan to the 3rd team All-American squad.

Putnam, a senior from Ashland, Wisconsin, has been the “igniter” of the UW-Whitewater offense from his lead-off position in the batting order. Putnam enters the NCAA Division III World Series hitting .411. He led the nation in hitting through mid-April and was hitting .500 entering the month of May. “Putt” tops the WIAC in hits (76) and walks (33) – proof-positive of his value as UWW’s lead-off hitter.

Donovan, a senior out of Wauwatosa East High School, has been named to D3baseball.com’s 3rd Team as a “utility” player. Translated, that means as both a first baseman and as a pitcher. Donovan enters play at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton Friday with a .390 batting average. His 50 RBI and 21 doubles is No. 1 in the WIAC. His 8 home runs are tied for first in the conference.

Donovan’s pitching statistics are equally as impressive. J-Doe will take a 10 & 0 and 1 save record into the World Series. His 82.2 inning pitched is second only to Riley Tincher on the Warhawks’ pitching staff.

Click here to view the entire D3baseball.com All-America team

Voice's random thoughts on a Tuesday night

2011-05-24T20:36:00.000-07:00

• The Warhawk baseball team held a practice under the lights on Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium Tuesday evening. Why under the lights? The Hawks are playing a 4:30 p.m. in the opener vs. Buena Vista (Iowa). A win Friday means Whitewater would play a 7:45 p.m. game Saturday. UW-Whitewater has not played a night game this season.

• A first look at the 2011 D III World Series brackets one would think the Warhawks are in the “easier” lower bracket. Buena Vista and Western New England are making each school’s first trip to the World Series.

• The ultimate “cardinal sin” of teams in NCAA playoff competition is underestimating your opponent. Want proof? Christopher Newport entered last week’s South Regional ranked No. 2 in the country and the No. 1 seed in the region. CNU season ended quickly, losing two straight in the regional, including an 11-3 loss to Wabash College who was 22 & 22 entering the game. NOTE: All teams are good if they have made it to the NCAA Division III World Series!

• Hey, let’s have a big crowd of Warhawk fans make the trip up to Appleton to root on the Warhawk baseball team. UWW fans have been the best in the WIAC all year – there were road games where Whitewater had as many, or more fans than the home team.

• For those of you that will be at Fox Cities Stadium for Friday’s 4:30 p.m. first round game vs. Buena Vista. Plan on getting to the stadium early.

• The UW-Whitewater Alumni Association and the athletic department invite you to join them for a World Series tailgate party on Friday, May 27 at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton, Wisconsin. The tailgate will begin at 2:30 and end at 4:30. Food and beverage will be provided and all alumni, family, friends and supporters of Warhawk baseball are welcome. The tailgate will take place in the parking lot on the first base side of the stadium.

• On a personal note – thanks to all of you that have either posted, or contacted me, following my announcement that I have retired after 34 years of broadcasting games on the radio – the last 23 involving UW-Whitewater games.

• I have been very fortunate in my radio career having the opportunity to broadcast UWW men’s basketball 1989 NCAA Division III National Championship. It was my first year at WFAW/KOOL 106.5. National championship broadcasts for the UWW baseball team, women’s volleyball team, and six consecutive broadcasts from the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl and helping call the 2007 & 2009 national championship broadcasts along side Gary Douglas.

• As I indicated yesterday – while I will not actually be doing the “color analysis” on KOOL 106.5’s Hawk radio broadcasts, I’ll still be part of the radio station’s “game-day” package.

• During the upcoming KOOL 106.5 Division III World Series broadcasts, I’ll actually be kicking off each Warhawk broadcast with WARHAWK BASEBALL TODAY. It is five minutes of pregame programming featuring highlights and sound bites from the previous day’s game.

GO WARHAWKS!!

D III World Series teams arrive in Appleton Wednesday

2011-05-24T17:11:00.000-07:00

UW-Whitewater will take a 36 & 11 record into its first round game against Buena Vista University (Iowa) 31-16 Friday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. in the 2011 NCAA Division III World Series in Appleton.

In the other game in the tournament’s lower bracket, Western New England (Mass) 41-9 will play Keystone College (Penn) 35-10 at 7:45 p.m. Friday evening

The winners of the two games will play Saturday evening at 7:45. The losers will play in an elimination bracket game at 4:30 p.m.

The World Series opens Friday morning with two outstanding “upper bracket” games.

Chapman 33-11 and Kean 42-9 will open play Friday morning at 10:00 a.m. followed by Marietta 42-3 vs. Salisbury 33-12 at 1:45 p.m.

In a D3baseball.com reader’s poll conducted this week on the popular Division III Website, Whitewater trails only No. 1 ranked Marietta, Ohio as the fan favorite to capture this season’s World Series.

Click here to upload the complete World Series bracket

(Special Note to Warhawk baseball fans)
The UW-Whitewater Alumni Association and the athletic department invite you to join them for a World Series tailgate party on Friday, May 27 at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton, Wisconsin. The tailgate will begin at 2:30 and end at 4:30. Food and beverage will be provided and all alumni, family, friends and supporters of Warhawk baseball are welcome. The tailgate will take place in the parking lot on the first base side of the stadium.

Tom Voice Pattison retiring from Warhawk radio broadcasts

2011-05-23T15:03:00.001-07:00

If you haven’t heard, I have made the decision to retire following being a “radio voice” of UW-Whitewater sports on KOOL 106.5 and 940-WFAW.

The time is right. I will turn 60 years old on November 8th and it is time to turn over my microphone to younger and more talented broadcasters.

I’ve been broadcasting sports on the radio for the past 34 years.

It wasn’t until I was considering retirement that I realized just how many games I have been part of - I have averaged 50 games a year since I began back in 1974 – that means I have been part of 1,700 game broadcasts!

I also spent six years driving to and from Lambeau Field in Green Bay as producer and “voice” of Goetz Broadcasting’s Titletown Report.

I would like to say huge “thank you” to Jim Vriezen, Shane Sparks and Gary Douglas, and before that to Scott Trentadue and Jim Klug and the late Bob Bass at KOOL 106.5 and 940 WFAW for allowing me the opportunity to do what I love for the past 23 years – to be a sportscaster here in southern Wisconsin.

I also want to thank Daily Jefferson County Union sports editor Jeff Seisser for his assistance on getting the UWW story out to the readers and listeners over the years.

While stepping away from “calling games,” I am still going to be extremely involved in “covering” UW-Whitewater athletics.

I will continue my two Websites – Warhawkfootball.com and Voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com.

I also have a season-long project that I intend to focus on during the Warhawk football team’s 2011 season.

Since arriving in Fort Atkinson & Whitewater on July 11, 2008 I have made it my No. 1 goal of being able to put a “face” on the UW-Whitewater athletes who are among the very best in the country.

Division III athletes are no different than the Division I athletes at the University of Wisconsin.

When Whitewater athletes are featured in the newspaper, on the radio, and on TV sports fans in Wisconsin take notice.

Ask ESPN about UW-Whitewater having a high “Q” rating after televising the last six Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowls (NCAA Division III National Championship Football Games).

I have been a sports broadcaster for nearly two-thirds of my life and I’m going to miss being behind the microphone on “game-day” - but as long as the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater will let me continue to post stories on my Websites I will be a very happy camper.

GO WARHAWKS!

D III World Series: First look at Buena Vista Beavers

2011-05-23T10:18:00.000-07:00

UW-Whitewater's first round opponent in Appleton will be Buena Vista University who will be making the school's first appearnce in the NCAA Division III World Series.

Buena Vista scored four times in the seventh inning and overcame a 5-0 first inning deficit to win the Central Regional Championship with a thrilling 7-6 victory over Carthage College on Saturday afternoon here at Jack Horenberger Field. The win moves BVU into the Division III College World Series which begins next Friday in Appleton, Wis. vs. Midwest Region champion, UW-Whitewater

BVU was forced into the elimination championship game after Carthage used a big five-run eighth inning to win 12-7 in the opener.

Buena Vista improves to 32-16 overall, while tying a school record for wins in a season set last year. The team hadn't made it past regional play since qualifying to the NAIA World Series back in 1968. The Beavers also become the Iowa Conference's first team to advance since Wartburg did so back in 2005.

Click here for Sioux City (Iowa) Journal BVU game story

Vodenlich talks about his team in the D III World Series for a 4th time

2011-05-22T20:10:00.000-07:00

UW-Whitewater head coach John Vodenlich fully understands the impact of having the Warhawks in the NCAA Division III World Series.

As a player, Vo was a catcher on the 1989 squad – the first team in school history to be a participant in the Division III World Series.

Since returning to his Alma Mater to take over the UWW baseball program from his mentor and iconic head coach Jim “Mills” Miller, the Hawks have made the 1 hour 25 minute drive up Highway 26 to Fox Cities Stadium.

This will be the third UW-Whitewater team under Vodenlich – the first since 2008.

“You know we were there in 2004, 2005 and 2008,” Vodenlich indicated during his postgame interview following the Hawks regional championship victory Saturday afternoon. “It is great to get back there.”

Vodenlich and his team had possessed bad memories for a full year after UW-Stevens Point defeated the Warhawks on the final day of the 2010 Division III Midwest Regional to block UWW’s bid to make last year’s NCAA Division III World Series.

“Last year (2010), I think was an important part of this year’s story,” Vodenlich said. “I can’t say this for sure, but maybe if we won here (’10 regional final) last year. Then maybe we would have had a little less drive this year. That loss to Stevens Point was part of everybody who was on that team.”

Coach Vo told his team on the field following its 6-3 regional championship victory that the Hawks aren’t just going to Appleton to be there.

“This was a tough (UW-Whitewater) regional where there were a number of quality individuals and quality programs.” Vodenlich said. “To come out of here (Midwest Region) should make us feel pretty good about our chances up there (NCAA Division III World Series at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton).”

The Warhawks will open play on Friday at 4:30 p.m. vs Central Region champion, Buena Vista University of Storm Lake, Iowa.

For Jeff Donovan it will be one last time under the national spotlight

2011-05-22T17:17:00.000-07:00

Jeff Donovan is no stranger to having the national spotlight on him in NCAA championship competition.

This will be the second NCAA Division III World Series for the senior from Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. He played a major role in the UW-Whitewater baseball team’s run to third place in the 2008 World Series.

As a member of the UW-Whitewater football team Donovan and his teammates played in four consecutive Division III championship (Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl) games. The 2007 UWW football team earned the school’s first national championship. Donovan was a major factor as the team’s quarterback to lead the Warhawks to a second national title in 2009. Donovan was coming off a senior season (in football) where he was named the 2009 WIAC Player of the Year.

J-Doe has been no less a team leader on John Vodenlich’s U-Dub-Dub baseball team. He is in a rare club of being named All-Conference in 2010 and 2011 as both a 1st baseman and as a pitcher.

(In the adjacent photo - Jeff Donovan is a very "happy camper" during the Warhawk baseball team's celebration after winning a berth in the 2011 NCAA Division World Series Sunday afternoon at James B. Miller Stadium - photo courtesy of Jeff Seisser, Daily Jefferson County Union)

Following the game, Donovan’s voice cracked when talking about making one more trip into the national limelight.

“Its very special, I’m very blessed” Donovan told voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com just minutes after his team defeated Saint Scholastic to punch the Hawks ticket back the D III World Series. “We have to take advantage of it. This is my last my, and the rest of the seniors, last chance (to win a title). We are going to do everything we can to win a title but we’re going to enjoy the experience too.”

Donovan and his teammates will open play Friday afternoon at 4:30 by taking on Buena Vista (Iowa) at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton.

Are the Warhawks capable of attaining a second national championship this season?

“We have everything we need,” Donovan said. “Coach (Vodenlich). Following today’s (Saturday’s) game told us – guys, I’ve seen a lot of teams and we have everything we need – now we just have to go out and play good baseball.”

Division III World Series Pairings Set

2011-05-22T16:05:00.000-07:00

The pairings are set for the 2011 NCAA Division III World Series to be played at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton, Wisconsin).

Here is the Friday (May 27th) First Round Schedule

#1 - 10:00 a.m. - Chapman University (Calif) (33-11) vs. Kean University (NJ) (42-9),

#2 - 1:15 p.m. - Salisbury University (Maryland) (33-12) vs. Marietta University (Ohio)(42-3)

#3 - 4:30 p.m. - UW-Whitewater (36-11) vs. Buena Vista University (Iowa) (32-16)

#4 - 7:45 p.m. - Western New England (Mass) (41-9) vs. Keystone Coll. (PA) 5 (36-10)

UWW is no stranger to Division III World Series

2011-05-22T10:56:00.000-07:00

UW-Whitewater Warhawk baseball teams are no strangers to playing in the NCAA Division III World Series.

The Warhawks will be making its fifth appearance in the Division III World series later this week.

Under head coach John Vodenlich, UWW captured its only NCAA Division III baseball title in 2005. His 2004 and 2008 teams finished 3rd in Appleton.

UW-Whitewater’s first trip to the World Series sent them to Bristol, Connecticut in 1989, where the team tied for fifth place under head coach Jim Miller.

(Adjacent NCAA baseball logo courtesy of NCAA and WIAC)

NCAA Division III Championship (at Grand Chute)

2008 (3rd Place)
5/23--Linfield (OR) 5, UW-Whitewater 1
5/24--UW-Whitewater 10, SUNY-Cortland 2
5/25--UW-Whitewater 7, Chapman (CA) 4
5/26--UW-Whitewater 13, Adrian (MI) 11
5/26--Johns Hopkins (MD) 12, UW-Whitewater 11

2005 (National Champions)
5/27--UW-Whitewater 8, Trinity (CT) 3
5/28--UW-Whitewater 7, Chapman (CA) 6
5/29--UW-Whitewater 10, Wooster (OH) 7
5/31--UW-Whitewater 10, SUNY-Cortland 4

2004 (3rd Place)
5/28--Rowan (NJ) 8, UW-Whitewater 2
5/29--UW-Whitewater 8, Salisbury (MD) 1
5/30--UW-Whitewater 4, SUNY-Brockport 3
5/31--Eastern Connecticut State 2, UW-Whitewater 1

NCAA Division III Championship (Bristol, Connecticut)

1989 (tied for 5th Place)
5/1--California State-Stanislaus 3, UW-Whitewater 2
5/1--John Hopkins (MD) 5, UW-Whitewater 2

The Warhawks will take a 36 & 11 record into its first round game vs. (32-16) Buena Vista University of Storm Lake, Iowa. The Hawks and BVU game is set for Friday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute (Appleton)

Donovan Midwest Region Most Outstanding Player - Rob Coe, Matt Beyer and Dylan Friend also named to All-Tournament Team

2011-05-22T03:29:00.000-07:00

The Warhawks placed four players on the NCAA Division III Midwest Region all-tournament team.

Jeff Donovan was voted the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.

The senior pitcher/first baseman was joined on the squad by teammates Rob Coe, Matt Beyer and Dylan Friend.

• Donovan pitched 12.0 innings in two appearances on the way to the regional title. The senior out of Wauwatosa East High School held opponents to a 1.50 earned run average, walking just one batter while striking out nine. “J-Doe” led the tournament with four runs scored along with one home run and three runs batted in.

• Coe, another of the team’s senior team leaders, hit a solid .357 with one home run, three runs scored and three RBI. The senior from Appleton North High School also flashed some outstanding catching in the tournament including throwing out St. Scholastic’s Joe Link in the championship game.. It was Links first and only time Link was caught stealing after 44 consecutive stolen bases in 2011 – tops in the nation in Division III statistics.

• Beyer, in the No. 7 spot in the UWW batting order was a key cog in getting the Warhawks to the championship game. The junior from Janesville Parker High School hit .462 including a triple and two runs batted and was 2 for 2 in stolen base attempts. Beyer’s tournament resume included driving in the winning run with a sacrifice fly in UWW’s 3-2 opening round victory over St. Thomas on Wednesday. He was 4 for 5 in Thursday’s extra inning win setting up the victory by tripling to in the 10th and scoring on Dylan Friend’s game-winning double. Beyer was not done with his heroics. In Friday’s critical 2-1 win over rival UW-Stevens Point, Beyer had his second game-winning RBI, singling home Jared Fon who had doubled earlier in the 6th inning.

• Friend matched Beyer by hitting .462 in regional action. The freshman center fielder hit three doubles, including the game-winner vs. St. Thomas. His six hits tied with Beyer for the team-lead in regional play. Beyer also excelled out in center field making several impressive catches by getting to the ball with his speed in the outfield.

The Hawks open play on Friday vs. Buena Vista University (Iowa) at the 2011 NCAA Division III World Series in Appleton.

CLICK Here to view Midwest Region Tournament Statistics

Lambert slams door on St. Scholastica

2011-05-22T03:12:00.000-07:00

Justin Lambert showed again Saturday afternoon that the UW-Whitewater pitching staff in much deeper than just Jeff Donovan and Riley Tincher.

The sophomore out of Mount Horeb High School was outstanding in relief of Riley Tincher in the NCAA Division III Midwest Region championship game vs. St. Scholastica (Minn).

The right-hander shut down the Saints on just 3 hits over the final four innings. The sophomore out of Mount Horeb High School ended the game by getting CSS one-two-three in the ninth inning to earn his fifth win of the season.

“The adrenaline was flowing, how could it not be” Lambert tells voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com. “Ready to go to the World Series – three outs to go – its an incredible feeling!”

Pitching “ahead in the count” is a big key to being successful as a pitcher.

“Especially when you get to the level of talent of the teams that are here (NCAA tournament teams), you fall behind, it doesn’t matter how hard you throw, they will be sitting fastballs and they’ll hit you,” Lambert explains.

For Justin, UWW catcher Rob Coe is a huge factor in his success on the mound.

“The big reason we get the batters in the hole is because we have such a smart kid behind the plate,” Lambert said. “I don’t know if he does but I think he “calls” the game all by himself. I haven’t shaken him off one time this year. It didn’t take me long to understand to just trust him and throw the pitch he calls.”

(In the adjacent photo - Justin Lambert (left) and Rob Coe (right) show the emotion of just winning the Midwest Regional title and berth in this week's NCAA Division III World Series in Appleton - photo courtesy of Jeff Seisser, Daily Jefferson County Union)

As for his team earning a berth in this year’s NCAA Division III World Series that begins Friday at Time Warner Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton (Grand Chute)?

“I wouldn’t trade it for the world – it is an incredible feeling.”

UW-Whitewater will play Buena Vista College (Iowa) in first round action at 4:30 p.m. Friday.

Wahawks to play Buena Vista (Iowa) on Friday in 1st round World Series action

2011-05-21T18:29:00.000-07:00

The UW-Whitewater baseball team will open NCAA Division III World Series play Friday afternoon vs. Buena Vista College in the 4:30 p.m. 1st round game at Warner Cable Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Th Beavers scored four times in the seventh inning and overcame a 5-0 first inning deficit to win the Central Regional Championship with a thrilling 7-6 victory over Carthage College on Saturday afternoon at Jack Horenberger Field in Bloomington, Illinois.

Earlier in the day Saturday, Carthage College forced a second championship game with a 12-7 win in the double elimination tournament.

(In the adjacent photo - BVU players celebrate moments after defeating Carthage College to advance to the 2011 Division III World Series. The last time the Beavers qualified for the "World Series" was in 1968 in the NAIA - photo courtesy of Buena Vista University athletics)

Buena Vista, located in Storm Lake, Iowa, improves to 32-16 overall, while tying a school record for wins in a season set last year. The team hadn't made it past regional play since qualifying to the NAIA World Series back in 1968. The Beavers also become the Iowa Conference's first team to advance since Wartburg did so back in 2005.

Aussie aussie aussie, oye oye oye

2011-05-21T14:26:00.000-07:00

The UW-Whitewater baseball team is heading back to the NCAA Division III World Series for the first time since 2008. The Warhawks came from behind to defeat St. Scholastica (Minn) 6-3 in Sunday’s Midwest Regional championship game on Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium

The Hawks trailed CSS 3-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning.

Jeff Donovan got UWW on the scoreboard with a one-out double to score Rob Coe who had gotten on base via a base-on-balls. Dylan Friend drew a bases-loaded walk to score Donovan, cutting the Saints lead to 3-2.

In the seventh, Danny Putnam lead the inning off with a walk. Drew Eichstaedt followed with a solid hit to right field getting past rightfielder Tom Juberian’s glove allowing Putnam to score and putting Eichstaedt at second base. Jeff Donovan followed with a walk. UW-Whitewater designated hitter Brent Young, a native of Brisbane, Australia, hammered the Hawks on to Appleton by blasting a game-winning, three-run homer to make it a 6-3 game.

(In the adjacent photo - Brent "Aussie" Young (left) is greeted at home plate by Drew Eichstaedt (26) and Jeff Donovan (34) following his dramatic three-run homer to lift UWW past St. Scholastica in Sunday's NCAA Division III Midwest Region championship game. The victory sends the Warhawks to the Division III World Series that opens next Friday at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton - photo courtesy of Jeff Seisser, Daily Jefferson County Union)

Tincher, who had already appeared in three games in relief, started Sunday’s regional championship game. The senior from Oregon, Wisconsin allowed three runs on seven hits in five innings on the mound. UWW pitching did not walk a batter.

Justin Lambert, who came into the game in relief of Tincher in the 6th inning, shut down the St. Scholastica on just 3 hits over the final four innings. The sophomore out of Mount Horeb High School ended the game by getting CSS one-two-three in the ninth inning to earn his fifth win of the season.

UW-Whitewater is heading back to Fox City Stadium in Appleton (Grand Chute) to the NCAA III World Series for the fourth time in eight years.

The Warhawks (36-11) will open play on Friday (5/27) at 4:30 p.m. vs. the Central Region champion. Carthage College (Wis) forced a second championship game Sunday afternoon in Bloomington, Illinois by handing Buena Vista (Iowa) a 12-7 loss in Sunday’s first championship game of the double elimination tournament.

Welcome to Championship Saturday: Whitewater vs St. Scholastica

2011-05-21T08:40:00.000-07:00

St. Scholastica (37-6) advances for the second time in school history to the regional championship game, where it will play the host school, UW-Whitewater.

The only other time the Saints were in the regional final was in 2008, where Whitewater shelled them 21-13 as St. Scholastica was tapped out on pitching. This time CSS head coach Corey Kemp feels the Saints have the arms to win it.

Following Friday’s postgame media conference following his team’s 2-1, elimination game victory over St. Thomas (Minn) he wouldn’t rule out having ace Matt Lewis (9-1, 1.62 ERA) as his starting pitcher vs. the Warhawks.

Lewis pitched 12 innings in the Saints’ opening round loss to Hamline on Wednesday.

Today won’t be this first time CSS and Whitewater have met on the diamond this season.

On May 3rd St. Scholastic travelled to Whitewater for a pair of seven-inning games.
The Warhawks won the opener with UWW’s Jack Larson and Eric Fritz combining on a 4-hit, 2-1 victory. Larsen earned his first career victory for the Whitewater.
Matt Lewis got the loss, his first of the season, despite giving up just five hits in going the distance.

In game-two, UW-Whitewater started another freshman pitcher – Justin Mortenson – who pitched well, giving up five hits and two walks with three strikeouts.
A two-run 6th inning was the difference for CSS as Saints’ pitcher got out of a jam in the final inning to get the win.

CSS will need to beat the Warhawks twice to advance to their first College World Series, to be held May 27-31 at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton, Wis.

Whitewater head coach John Vodenlich will have plenty of options for his pitching strategy.

Riley Tincher, who has had two appearances already in this week’s Midwest Regional, is ready to go nine innings today if needed.

UWW’s No. four starter, Jack Larsen, has yet to pitch this week.

No. 3 starter, Justin Lambert, is also available after 4-point-1 innings on the mound in Thursday’s 7-6, 10 inning win over Hamlin University (Minn).

Despite rain showers in the region at 10:15 a.m. (but no rain in Whitewater) today’s first championship game is set to begin at 12-Noon.

Another one-run win - How about those Warhawks?!

2011-05-21T01:06:00.000-07:00

This week’s NCAA Division III Baseball Regional has featured some incredible baseball on Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium on the campus of UW-Whitewater.

For the Warhawks it has meant three, one-run wins to advance to today’s championship round.

• 3-2 over St. Thomas in the Wednesday’s opener
• 7-6 in 10 innings over Hamline on Thursday
• 2-1 over WIAC rival and No. 1 seed UW-Stevens Point on Friday

In all three victories, Warhawk leftfielder Matt Beyer has either scored the game-winning run or recorded the game-winning RBI.

On Friday vs. Stevens Point, the Janesville native delivered the game winning hit – an RBI single in the 6th inning moments after freshman 3rd baseman Jared Fon had doubled with two out.

“When you have players stepping up, like Beyer delivering big hits all week, along with two freshmen - Dylan Friend yesterday (Thursday) and Jared Fon today (Friday) - you have to feel good about the future."

Sunday the UW-Whitewater baseball team will seek its first berth in the NCAA Division III World Series since finishing third at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton in 2008.

The Warhawks (35-11) will meet College of St. Scholastica (Minn.) (37-6) in the championship game of the double-elimination regional at noon today at James B. Miller Stadium. If the Hawks lose, a second bout will be held at 3 p.m.

UWW "gets one back" against Stevens Point

2011-05-21T01:00:00.000-07:00

The UW-Whitewater baseball erased a year of misery with Friday’s 2-1 victory to knock UW-Stevens Point out of the NCAA Division III Midwest Region at James B. Miller Stadium Friday afternoon on Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium.

Last year the Pointers scored on a suicide squeeze play to beat the Hawks and earn a trip to the 2010 NCAA Division III World Series in Appleton.

Wahawk relief pitcher Eric Schmitz has had the photo of the Pointers celebrating that victory on Whitewater’s field on his computer’s screen saver.

Jeff Donovan, who pitched his first complete game victory of his career, was asked after the game if memories of that Regional championship game loss to the Pointers in 2010 still lingered for his team.

“It lingered until today,” Donovan told reporters. “We remembered what happened last year. It just added to our hunger today.”

It was definitely one of those “red letter” wins, especially after last year’s result.

“It was a big game for a number of reasons,” UWW head coach John Vodenlich said following Friday’s Warhawk victory. “They (Stevens Point) was the No. 1 seed, they’re in our league, they’ve been a big opponent of ours for years. I don’t know if would have been bigger or smaller if it hadn’t been Point – the fact is it was Point and we beat ‘em - This was a huge game and we have to feel proud about it.”

As big of a win as it was for Whitewater there is still plenty of work needed to earn a berth in next week’s NCAA Division III World Series in Appleton.

UW-Whitewater heads into today’s 12-Noon game vs. St. Scholastica unbeaten in this week’s Midwest Regional. A UWW win in the 12-Noon contest punches the UWW ticket to the “World Series.” A CSS victory sets up a second game at 3 p.m. for “all the marbles.”

CLICK HERE to view WKOW TV-Channel 27’s video story of Friday’s win over UW-Stevens Point

UWW 2, UWSP 1: Warhawks move on to Midwest Region championship game

2011-05-20T14:01:00.000-07:00

The UW-Whitewater baseball team is heading to Saturday’s championship game of the NCAA Division III Midwest Region on the heels of Friday’s thrilling 2-1 win over WIAC rival UW-Stevens Point.

Jeff Donovan went the distance on the mound on just two day’s rest to run his season record to 10 & 0 on the season.

The senior from Wauwatosa East High School scattered 9 hits, struck out four without giving up a walk in “willing” his team past the Pointers.

The game didn’t start that well for Donovan.

The Pointers got on the board first. Cody Koback, the winning pitcher and provider of the game winning home run in the win over Saint Scholastica earlier Friday, doubled with one out in the first and scored on Justin Jirschele's single.

Whitewater had its chances in the early innings stranding five runners through two innings.

In the bottom of the sixth Rob Coe was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and moved to second on a ground ball. UWSP head coach quickly was out to the mound to lift his freshman starting pitcher Zach Wendorf in favor of the Pointer’s top reliever, Ryan Iverson.

Coe greeted Iverson by attempting to steal third base. The throw from Point catcher Steve Considine short hopped third baseman Justin Jirschele ending up in short left field allowing Coe to score the game tying run. The Hawks weren’t finished in the inning. With two outs UW-W freshman Jared Fon doubled, advanced to third on a passed ball, and scored the what proved to be the game-winning run on Matt Beyer's single to right.

With the help of a couple sensational plays by 3rd baseman Jared Fon, Donovan allowed only two hits over the final three innings in shutting down a very potent UWSP offense.

The Hawks are now just one win from earning its first trip to
Iverson,’s record falls to 4 and 1, suffering his first loss of the season in relief.

UW-Whitewater, 35-11 and 3-0 in the regional, will play Saint Scholastica, 37-6 and 2-1 in the regional, at 12:00 Saturday.

If the Saints win the 12:00 game the teams would play again at 3:00 in the double elimination format.

The winner will advance to the NCAA III World Series at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton, Wisconsin May 27-31.

Much more will be posted here on voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com later on this evening.
- Voice

Eichstaedt has made his mark after transferring from UW-Oshkosh

2011-05-20T11:13:00.000-07:00

Andrew Eichstaedt changed colors this season at UW-Whitewater. The junior from Appleton North High School played his freshman year at UW-Oshkosh prior to transferring to Whitewater.

Eichstaedt has batted in the No. 2 slot in the batting order for most of the season, starting all 44 games for the Hawks.

Hitting a solid .355, Drew has scored 50 runs in 2011 behind only Danny Putnam’s 58 runs. Eicher is tied for second on the team with 20 doubles and 3 home runs. His 32 runs batted in is third most for the Hawks this season.

Despite starting every game Eichstaedt was a bit of a “nomad” early in the year playing several postions.

Just after returning back to Wisconsin from 2011 spring training Drew told voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com that he was hoping to find regular spot on the infield.

A little past midway through the year head coach John Vodinlich switched up his infield with Eichstaedt moving from third to short stop. Travis Wessels making the jump from short to second, and Jared Fon made the everyday third baseman.

Eichstaedt, who had played mainly second base at Oshkosh, gives UWW a fundamentally sound shortstop with a very accurate arm.

(In the adjacent photo - UWW shotstop Andrew eichstaedt turns a doubleplay at second vs. Hamline on Thursday - phto courtesy of Jeff Seisser, Daily Jefferson County Union)

With freshman Dylan Friend in center field, Eichstaedt and Wessels manning the middle of the infield and Rob Coe catching the Warhawks became a very solid defense up the middle It made Whitewater a better team overall defensively.

When Putnam and Eichstaedt are in a rhythm hitting the baseball the UW-Whitewater offense turns very potent.

They’ll get there opportunity later this afternoon when the Warhawks play rival UW-Stevens Point at 4 p.m. A Warhawk win would propel UWW into tomorrow regioinal title game with an unbeaten record in the double-elimination tournament.

UWSP beats Hamline to set up a UWW-UWSP 4 p.m. game today

2011-05-20T11:07:00.000-07:00

UW-Stevens Point will be next up for the UW-Whitewater baseball team. The Pointers scored three runs in the final two innings this morning to pull away from Hamline University 5-1 in the opener of day-three NCAA Division III Regional action on Prucha Field at James B. Miler Stadium.

Future MLB draft choice Coback went the first 7 2/3 innings, scattering 10 hits, giving up just the one run to earn his 12th win of the season against just 2 losses.

Line score in the game:
UW-Stevens Point – 5 runs, 9 hits, 1 error, 7 left on base
Hamline University – 1 run, 10 hits, 1 error, 11 left on base

Hamline concludes its season with a 29 & 15 record
UWSP will take a 34-9 mark into this afternoon’s 4 p.m. game vs. WIAC rival UW-Whitewater. UWW enters the game as the regional’s lone unbeaten team.

Day 3 underway in NCAA Division III Midwest Regional at the Mills

2011-05-20T08:22:00.000-07:00

Day 3 action is underway in NCAA Division III Midwest Regional. 70 degress and mostly sunny skies at the first pitch to today's first game - and elimination game between UW=Stevens Point and Hamiline University.

Today's 1 p.m. game will have St. Scholastica playing St. Thomas in another elimination contest.

The Wahawks will play the winner of this morning's Stevens Point-Hamine game at 4 O'Clock this afternoon.

Winning in NCAA tournament play is often accomplished on a tightrope

2011-05-20T06:52:00.000-07:00

To make a run in the NCAA Division III Baseball Tournament the goal is very simple – survive and advance.

UW-Whitewater has done exactly that in the first two rounds of the 2011 NCAA Division III Regional in Whitewater.

The Warhawks remain the only unbeaten team remaining in the double-elimination tournament that will send the winner to Appleton next week as the region’s representative in the 2011 Division III World Series.

The Hawks slipped by St. Thomas 3-2 in the tournament opener. On Thursday UWW needed 10 innings for its 7-6 win over Hamline University.

Take a look at any team, any season, and the successful teams are able to win the close game by simply grinding it out.

“You look at any team’s “run,” whether winning a national championship in football – baseball – or any sport – each of those teams has those “turning point” wins,” Hawk head coach John Vodenlich explains. In this tournament we have two turning point game victories so far.

Whitewater is five and four in one-run games this season. A-matter-of-fact the Hawks last four games have been one-run games. The Hawks lost 5-4 to Stevens Point and 2-1 to Oshkosh in last week’s WIAC postseason tournament. They have come back with the two one-run games this week.

With your ultimate goal of winning a second NCAA Division III championship the margin for error is extremely small you must approach each hurdle inning by inning. If you are successful you get a good night’s rest and strive to do it again the next day.

Next up for the UW-Whitewater baseball team a 4 p.m. game today against the winner of this morning's Hamline vs UW-Stevens Point elimination game.

That is tournament baseball and that is what it is all about.

Beyer and Friend key cogs in UWW's early tournament run

2011-05-20T05:39:00.000-07:00

A recurring theme of the currently UW-Whitewater run in the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional at Whitewater has been players “stepping up” one through nine in the batting order.

While the seniors like Danny Putnam, Rob Coe and Jeff Donovan have had big hits including home runs by Donovan and Coe in Thursday’s 7-6, ten-inning victory over Hamline.

It has been the plate appearances by a couple players deep in the order that has had a huge impact on the Warhawks offensive attack.

Matt Beyer (No. 7 in the order) and Dylan Friend (No. 8 in the order) have executed brilliantly at the plate in both regional wins for the Warhawks.

Beyer, a junior out of Janesville Parker High School, is 5 for 7 at the plate through two games in this week’s Midwest Regional play. The Hawks leftfielder has scored two runs and drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly in UWW’s 3-2 opening round victory over St. Thomas. Beyer was 4 for 5 in Thursday’s extra inning win setting up the victory by tripling to in the 10th and scoring on Dylan Friend’s game-winning double. Matt has also stole two bases in the tournament.

“I’m just seeing the ball really well at the plate,” Beyer said following Thursday’s 7-6 win over Hamline.

Success can be equated with confidence according to Hawk head coach John Vodenlich.

“Confidence is high right now,” Vodenlich indicated during his post-game press conference Thursday. “With a continued confidence and strong play we are capable of going a long way in this tournament.”

Dylan Friend continues to impress in the No. 8 spot in the UWW batting order. The freshman centerfielder is 3 for 7 in regional play. Dylan has driven in three runs included his dramatic two-out, 10th inning double to score Matt Beyer with the game-winning run vs. Hamline.

Not often does a “raw” freshman spend his first season as a starter. Friend has been penciled in the starting line-up as the Hawks centerfielder in 39 of the 40 games he has played in.

The Burlington native tells voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com that he is a much better hitter now than he was early in the season.

“As a hitter I’ve gotten a lot smarter,” Friend said. “I credit Coach Vodenlich for teaching me to be smarter and more aggressive at the plate. I’m able to anticipate at the plate much better than I did early in the season.

Friend, Beyer and the rest of the Warhawks will take on the winner of Friday’s 10 a.m. UW-Stevens Point vs. Hamline elimination game.

First pitch for Friday’s Warhawk action is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium on the campus of UW-Whitewater.

Wahawk pitching in good shape heading into Friday's Regional action

2011-05-19T21:26:00.000-07:00

One of the aspects of postseason tournament runs is the momentum a team can put together will a couple of wins.

On the field following Thursday’s 7-6, 10 inning win over Hamline University there was no doubt that the UW-Whitewater baseball team is “riding high” as the only unbeaten team left in the double-elimination NCAA Division III Midwest Regional at James B. Miller Stadium.

“If you can’t feel good and positive about what’s going on right now then your in the wrong place,” Warhawk head coach told voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com. “Confidence is high right now and we hope to ride the positive momentum to a win tomorrow (Friday).”

Despite using five pitchers in Friday’s 10 inning win, the Hawks still haven’t used several key pitchers out of the bullpen and Donovan, Tincher and Lambert can be used.

Remember, Jeff Donovan only pitched three innings in the Warhawks’ “pitch by committee” approach in its 3-2 game-one win over St. Thomas.

Donovan says he looks forward to taking the mound again.

“This is what its all about,” the senior indicated after Thursday’s win. “I’m ready to go nine innings if they ask me.”

Whitewater remains unbeaten and in a favorable position heading into the final two day’s of this week’s Division III regional.

Click here for Midwest Region brackets, box scores and game recaps

Rob Coe pitches final three innings to slam door on Hamline

2011-05-19T18:43:00.000-07:00

Rob Coe has only been pitching for the Warhawks since mid-season. With the limited experience the senior from Appleton has been given the ball in a closer's role and asked to seal the deal by getting the final three outs of the game.

Coe rose to the occasion in Wednesday’s 3-2 victory over St. Thomas by retiring the Tommies one-two-three to earn his second save of the season.

Coe was asked to extend his mound-time Thursday afternoon as head coach John Vodenlich replaced Riley Tincher with nobody out and the bases loaded in the 8th inning.

“I was trying to get out of there with minimal damage,” Coe tells voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com.

“I struck out the first guy out on a strikeout and I felt pretty good. On the next guy we had a bit of a defensive lapse resulted in all three Piper runners to score to tie the game.”

It was at that point of the game when the talented senior said to himself, “self it is time to step up and get out of this inning. I want to get out of this inning and be able to keep playing baseball.”

Coe eventually would get out of the jam by getting a two-out come-backer to the mound to end the inning and stranded the go-ahead runner at third base.

(In the adjacent photo - Rob Coe took his catchers gear off for the second straight day for a walk to the mound in the closers roll. Coe pitched a career-high three innings to earn his second save in two days. UW-Whitewater defeated Hamline University (Minn) 7-6 in 10 innings - photo courtesy of Jeff Seisser, Daily Jefferson County Union)Coe gave up a lead-off single in the ninth but retired the next three batters to force extra-innings tied at six-all.

The Hawks took the lead on Dylan Friends two-out double to drive in Matt Beyer who tripled with two out in the 10th.

Coe slammed the door on Hamline retiring the Pipers one-two-three in the 10th to keep UW-Whitewater unbeaten in the double-elimination Midwest Regional.

The feeling of momentum was distinctly palatable for UW-Whitewater players, coaches and fans following the extra inning victory to stay unbeaten in the tournament.

“I really feel good about tomorrow,” Coe said.

Th Warhawks need two wins to advance to the Division III World Series next week in Grand Chute.

Remember, if it was easy to accomplish the feat everybody would be doing it!”

Whitewater will play either UW-Stevens Point or Hamline in Friday’s final game set for 4 p.m. at James B. Miller Stadium.

Click here for UWW vs Hamline box score

Dylan Friend propels UWW past Hamline 7-6 in 10 innings

2011-05-19T17:49:00.000-07:00

Over the last couple of days the buzz out of the UW-Whitewater clubhouse has been for the UWW bats get hot and one through nine in the batting order must be able to “step up” in key situations.

Matt Beyer and Dylan Friend stood up BIG in the 10th inning of Thursday’s second round game vs. Hamline University on Pucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium.

Beyer rifled a two-out triple to center field. Dylan Friend then reached out a slapped a double just inside the right field line to score Beyer with what turned out to be the game-winning run.

The Hawks “got the bats going” against the MIAC postseason champions pounding out 16 hits on the way to the win.

UWW got home runs from Jeff Donovan and Rob Coe.

Matt Beyer continued his torrid hitting by going 4 for 5 and scoring two of the Warhawks’ seven runs.

Rob Coe finished 3 for 5 including the home run and 2 RBI.

Donovan finished 2 for 4 including the home run and 2 RBI.

Dan Putnam, Andrew Eichstaedt and Jared Fon also scored a run for the Warhawks.

Justin Lambert went the first 4.1 innings on the mound for UWW giving up three runs on five hits.

Matt Roberts, Eric Fritz and Riley Tincher combined to pitch the next 2.2 innings with Tincher giving up 3 runs allowing Hamline tie the score 6-6 in the 8th inning.

Rob Coe pitched the final two innings to earn his second save in as many days.

UW-Whitewater, now 33 & 11 on the season will play the winner of Friday's 10 a.m. elimination game pitting UW-Stevens Point and Hamline University.

The winner of that game will play the Warhawks at 4 p.m. Friday afternoon.

Much more to come
- Voice

Hamlne 2. Whitewater 1 (in the 5th inning)

2011-05-19T14:54:00.000-07:00

UW-Whitewater 1st baseman Jeff Donovan's long home run to right field (see photo) gave the Wahawks a short-lived 1-0 lead in the top of the 4th inning. Hamline immediately comes back to score two in the bottom of the 4th inning. Through four innings at James B. Miller Stadium

Hamline 2, UW-Whitewater 1

St. Scholastica a 3-2 winner over Stevens Point at the Mills

2011-05-19T12:54:00.000-07:00

Th College of St. Scholastica got itself out of several jams Thursday afternoon to hold on for a 3-2 win over UW-Stevens Point in round-two of the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional.

Warhawks vs. Hamiline coming up at 4 p.m.

Much more to come

Voice

St. Thmas wins, Stevens Point down 3-1 in the 9th inning

2011-05-19T12:42:00.000-07:00

One game has been complete and game two is nearing an end in Day 2 of the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional baseball tournament being played on Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium on the campus of UW-Whitewater.

St. Thomas scored early in today’s first game and cruised to an 8-3 win over Aurora University (Ill).

The loss eliminates the Spartans from regional competition. St. Thomas advances to day-three action on Friday.

Meanwhile, St. Scholastica is just three outs from knocking off No. 1 seed UW-Stevens Point. The Saints lead the Pointers 3-1 with UWSP coming to bat in the top of the ninth inning.

More to Come
- Voice

NCAA Division III Midwest Regional Day-2 play underway

2011-05-19T09:53:00.000-07:00

Day 2 of the NCAA Division III Midwest Baseball Regional is underway at overcast James B. Miller Stadium in Whitewater.

St. Thomas (Minn) scored three runs in the top of the 1st inning and currently leads Aurora (Ill) 5-1 in the 6th inning in the tournaments first “elimination” game.

Coming up at 1 p.m. No. 1 seed UW-Stevens Point (33-8) will challenge St. Scholastica (35-6) in day-two action.

The Warhawks (33-1) will play in today’s final game at 4 p.m. vs. Hamline University (29-13) of St. Paul, Minnesota.

UW-Whitewater edged by St. Thomas Wednesday afternoon 3-2 to advance to today’s winner’s bracket contest. Hamline scored a run in the 13th inning for a 3-2 extra-inning win over St. Scholastica (Minn).

UW-Whitewater and Hamline have played several common opponents this season.

• On March 26th the Pipers split a doubleheader vs. UW-Superior winning 17-0 in the opener, dropping game two 8-7.

• On May 3rd Hamline swept a doubleheader in St. Paul vs. UW-Stout – 11-8 in game-one and 1-0 in game-two.

• MIAC rivals Hamline and St. Thomas have played five games so far in 2011. The Pipers are 4 & 1 vs. the Tommies.

April 12th @ Hamllne: W 4-2
April 13th @ Hamline: W 8-7
May 14th (MIAC Tournament) W 4-3
May 15th (MIAC Tournament) L 1-5
May 15th (MIAC Tournament) L 7-5

UW-Whitewater has played St. Thomas three times this year including two games during spring training in Florida.

March 20th vs UST (Leesburg, FL) UWW 7, UST 6
March 21st vs UST (Leesburg, FL) UST 6, UWW 4
May 18th vs UST UWW 3, UST 2

Whitewater and Hamline at 4 p.m. in winner's bracket action

2011-05-19T06:58:00.000-07:00

The UW-Whitewater baseball team has the opportunity to sleep in Thursday morning in advance of its 4 p.m. game vs. Hamline University of St. Paul, Minn.

Both teams are coming off 3-2 first round wins Wednesday on Prucha Field at James B Miller Stadium.

Whitewater made the most of its four hits to upend St. Thomas (Minn) 3-2. Matt Beyer scored a run and drove in the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly to lead the UWW offense. Dan Putnam ignited the Hawk offense by walking to lead off the bottom of the 1st inning. Putnam stole second and eventually scored the game’s first run on a ground-out.

Whitewater used a “committee approach” in its opening round pitching with Jeff Donovan pitching the first three innings, Riley Tincher the next four, followed by Eric Fritz and Rob Coe combining to pitch the 8th and 9th innings.

Click here to view WKOW-Channel 27 video story

Hamline and St. Scholastica battled for 13 innings prior to the Pipers emerging with a 3-2 extra inning victory.

Hamline junior righthander Cass Kreitlow and St. Scholastica senior righthander Matt Lewis put their “ace” status on the line, and came through with flying colors.

Kreitlow, 9-1 on the season, went 12 innings for Hamline, giving up six hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Lewis matched him with 12 innings, giving up nine hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

Ben Richardson paced the Piper offense with a 4 for 5 game while driving in one of Hamline’s three runs. Dan Ellefson, 3 for 6 at the plate, was the only other Piper with more than one hit.

Hamline will take a 29-13 record into Thursday’s 4 p.m. winner’s bracket game against UW-Whitewater (33-11).

The game will be broadcast live on KOOL 106.5 on the radio and via audio stream.

Click here for Whitewater-Hamline radio broadcast

Jared Fon gets off the mat to make UWW's defensive play of the game

2011-05-18T20:53:00.001-07:00

John Vodenlich tinkered with his line-up over the first half of the season. About three weeks ago Coach Vodenlich moved Drew Eichstaedt from 3rd base to shortstop and inserted Jared Fon into the line-up as UWW's everyday 3rd baseman.

The freshman from Germantown has not disappointed.

Early in Wednesday's Division III Regional game vs. St. Thomas (Minn) Fon and UST first baseman Nicholas Reichert had a najor collision just a "tick" after Fon had crossed 1st base by way of a throwing error by UST 3rd baseman J.B. Korte.

Both players needed attention from UWW trainer Chad Kelsey. Fon stayed on the ground for several minutes but did stay in the game.

(In the adjacent photo - UWW trainer Chad Kelsey attends to UWW 3rd baseman Jared Fon who was injured in a collision with UST 1st baseman Nicholas Reichert. Fon stayed in the game - Tom Pattison photo)

Later in the game Fon perhaps the play of the game in an extremely clutch situation.

With the Hawks clinging to a 3-2 lead in the UST 8th inning, the Tommies put runners at first and second with no one out. The Tommies attempted to advance the runners but Fon pounced on a good bunt down the 3rd base line and threw to third to get a critical force out. UWW relief pitcher then got two St. Thomas fly outs to get out of the inning unscathed.

Whitewater talked about "bunt defense" being critical to UWW's bid to advance on the tournament trail.

Again, much like Matt Beyer in the previous story, it was another example of great execution and another player stepping up bigtime in a key situation.

Beyer big in UWW's 3-2 win over St. Thomas

2011-05-18T20:43:00.001-07:00

A quick look at the box score and Matt Beyer’s 1 for 2 day at the plate looks a bit pedestrian. The junior leftfielder was anything but pedestrian, especially in a low scoring pitcher’s duel.

Trailing 2-1 in the UWW fourth inning Beyer delivered a two-out single – stole second base – and scored on Dylan Friend’s infield single to tie the game at 2-all. The play showed incredible hustle with Friend sliding head-first ahead of the throw and Beyer scoring from 2nd base on the infield single.

The Janesville native wasn’t done. Jeff Donovan led off the Whitewater sixth inning with a double. Brent Young’s sacrifice bunt moved Donovan to 3rd base. Jared Fon walked. With the go-ahead run at third base, Beyer put together what proved to be the game-winning swing by launching a sacrifice fly to allow Donovan to glide home to put UWW on top – 3-2.

Taking to seniors Rob Coe, Riley Tincher and Jeff Donovan on Tuesday the one thing that all three indicated was that to be successful this week Hawks throughout the batting order needed to “step up and make a play” when called upon.

Beyer nearly made a “sports center” kind of play on the 4th inning home run hit by Tayler Rahm to give the Tommies a 2-1 lead.

The UWW leftfielder climbed the Prucha Field fence and nearly got his glove on the ball (see adjacent photo courtesy of Josh Smith, Daily Jefferson County Union.)

While the story of the Hawks’ 3-2 win on Wednesday was pitching, it was players like Matt Beyer who executed in key moments to help send Whitewater to second round action in the winner’s bracket.

Warhawks part of outstanding pitching on Day 1 of NCAA Division III Midwest Regional

2011-05-18T18:33:00.000-07:00

There were some outstanding pitching performances in day-one of NCAA Division III Midwest Regional action Wednesday.

For UW-Whitewater head coach John Vodenlich, the choice was to pitch by committee in its game-one battle against St. Thomas (Minn).

Jeff Donovan went the first three innings giving up just one run on three hits while striking out five Tommie batters.

Riley Tincher was next, going four innings giving up just one run (home run to the first batter he faced)

Eric Schmitz pitched a scoreless 8th inning and Rob Coe came in to retire three straight in the 9th inning to pick up his second save of the season.

Why the “pitch by committee” approach?

“No. 1, our idea was that we put seniors on the mound today,” Vodenlich indicated during his postgame press conference. “We want to keep all our pitchers in the mix this weekend. Donovan is now set for bullpen duty tomorrow (Thursday) as is Tincher. Riley could also start on Friday.”

Winning your opening game in a six-team, double-elimination format is highly advantageous and Vodenlich used that senior experience on the mound to accomplish the goal.

Wednesday’s other two games also featured outstanding pitching.

In the opener, UW-Stevens Point ace, Scott Williams, pitched all ten innings in the Pointers’ 3-2 10 inning win over Aurora University. The Spartans Drew Gay also went the distance for Aurora giving up just the three runs.

In Hamline’s 3-2, 13 inning win over St. Scholastica, both starters, Cass Kreitlow (Hamline) and Matt Lewis (CSS) pitched the first 12 innings of the game.

For a look at Thursday’s games, box scores, game recaps and more, CLICK HERE

Hamline wins in 13 innings, Day 2 pairings are set

2011-05-18T17:34:00.000-07:00

We certainly aren’t in Iowa but what a first day of action at the 2011 Division III Midwest Regional on Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium on the campus of UW-Whitewater was a “field of dreams” for baseball fans..

The final game is now over and in 13 innings, Hamline University (Minn) slips by St. Scholastica (Minn) by a score of 3 to 2.

The other two first round games were equally as exciting.

In game 1: Stevens Point beats Aurora 3-2 on UWSP’s Scott Considine’s suicide squeeze bunt in the bottom of the 10th inning scored Travis Tuschen on a bang-bang play at home plate.

In game 2: UW-Whitewater’s Jeff Donovan scores the game-winning run on a Matt Beyer sacrifice fly in the 6th inning and the Warhawks hold on for a 3-2 win over St. Thomas (Minn).

If you didn’t notice all three games ended with a 3-2 score!

Here is Thursday’s schedule in day-two of the regional…

• 10 a.m. - Aurora University (30-13) vs. St. Thomas (27-17)
• 1 p.m. - UW-Stevens Point (33-8) vs. St. Scholastica (35-6)
• 4 p.m. - UW-Whitewater (33-11) vs. Hamline (29-13)

For a complete look at the bracket, box scores, and game recaps, click here

**Note: This is a double-elimination tournament with Stevens Point, Whitewater, and Hamline entering day-two action without a loss

More to come later tonight!
- Voice

Riley Tincher had a VERY GOOD Wednesday!

2011-05-18T17:25:00.000-07:00

So you think you had a good day? I bet it wasn’t as good as Riley Tincher had.

The senior lefthanded pitcher was credited with the win after pitching four innings in UW-Whitewater’s 3-2 victory over St. Thomas (Minn) in first round action of the NCAA Division III Midwest Region being played on Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium.

About 15 minutes after the conclusion of the game the senior from Oregon, Wisconsin had one more task to complete – to receive his degree from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in a very special commencement ceremony.

The event was conducted immediately behind Miller Stadium’s third base dugout in front of nearly 100 family, friends, teammates and classmates.

(In the adjacent photo - Riley Tincher is congratulated by UW-Whitewater Chancellor Richard Telfer after being bestowed is degree during a special commencement ceremony at James B. Miller Stadium - photo courtesy of Josh Smith, Daily Jefferson County Union)

Still “coming down” from his team’s key first round playoff victory, Tincher was very excited about having his diploma presented to him on the very baseball field that he has spent so many hours playing and practicing during his UW-Whitewater college career.

“Obviously being able to celebrate this with my Mom (Brenda) at my side is awesome,” Tincher told voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com shortly after receiving his degree.

Tincher has been much more than “just” a baseball player at UW-Whitewater. Last weekend he was awarded the 2011 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Baseball Scholar-Athlete Award. Meanwhile, with his 3.32 grade point average Riley has also received the Universities’ President's Honor, and been a regular on the Dean's List.

Over the past several years the “special edition” graduation exercises are conducted due to the fact that a number of senior scholar-athletes have been unable to attend commencement due being a member of a Warhawk athletic team involved in NCAA tournament play at the same time graduation is taking place.

Riley Tincher is the latest. Congratulations Riley on a job well done!

Warhawks edge St. Thomas 3-2 in first round NCAA Regional action

2011-05-18T15:43:00.000-07:00

The UW-Whitewater Warhawk baseball team defeated the University of Saint Thomas 3-2 in the second game of the Whitewater Regional of the NCAA III Baseball Championship Tournament Wednesday afternoon on Prucha Field at Jim Miller Stadium in Whitewater.

The Warhawks took an early 1-nothing lead on Rob Coe’s RBI single in the bottom of the first. The Tommies quickly tied the game combining two hits and a walk with a fielder's choice in the second.

UWW head coach decided he was going to pitch game-one by committee. Jeff Donovan went the first three innings giving up the one run on three hits while striking out five UST batters in just three innings on the mound.

Riley Tincher came on in the fourth for the Hawks. The senior lefthander from Oregon, Wisconsin was going to go on to have a big day but it didn’t start that way. Taylor Rahm, the first UST to face Tincher, drilled a lead-off home run to left just over the outstretched glove of Matt Beyer at the fence.

The resilient Warhawks got the run back in the bottom of the fourth inning on Dylan Friend’s RBI single to knot the game up again at 2-2.

UW-W's Jeff Donovan led off the bottom of the sixth with a double, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored the winning run on Matt Beyer's sacrifice fly to left.

(In the adjacent photo - Jeff Donovan is greeted at home plate by teammate Dylan Friend after scoring what proved to be the game-winning run in the UWW 6th inning. The senior scored on Matt Beyer's sac fly to left field - Tom Pattison photo)

Tincher worked four innings to pick up his 10th win of the season against 4 losses.

Eric Schmitz pitched a scoreless 8th and Rob Coe earned the save by pitching a 1-2-3 9th inning for his second save of the season.
Zach Frank, 3-1, started and went six innings to take the loss for UST. Frank and reliever Mark Ulrich combined to allow just four hits and two walks.

UW-W, 33-11, will play at 4:00 Thursday, and St. Thomas, 27-17, will face Aurora University, 30-13, at 10:00 Thursday.

- Much more to come
Voice

First cracked windshield at Miller Stadium is on Mills SUV!

2011-05-18T12:34:00.000-07:00

At most baseball stadiums the start of the game is celebrated by a famous figure throwing out the first pitch prior to the start of the game. At James B. Miller Stadium, instead of ceremonial first pitch, there is the ceremonial first cracked windshield.

Wednesday morning the ceremonial first cracked windshield in Jim Miller Stadium history just happened to be the windshield of stadium namesake, Jim "Mills" Miller (see adjacent photo).

Mills tells voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com that his wife Carol had just cancelled an 11 a.m. meeting for the Mill's at Heyer Hall. The cancellation caused "mills" to remain at the stadium with vehicle at risk.

The windshield was broken at 11:01 a.m.

(Game 1) Point beats Aurora 3-2 in 10 innings

2011-05-18T10:45:00.001-07:00

UW-Stevens squeezed out a 3-2 extra inning victory in game one of NCAA Division III Midwest Region baseball play Wednesday morning on Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium in Whitewater.

Point catcher Scott Considine’s suicide squeeze bunt in the bottom of the ninth inning scored Travis Tuschen on a bang-bang play at home plate to advance the Pointers to winner’s bracket action at 1 p.m. Thursday.

Aurora jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning. The Pointers tied the game with two in the fifth inning.

Scott Williams went the distance for UWSP giving up the two runs on just six hits. Williams struck out 12 while walking just two.

Gay Drew was the tough luck loser pitching all 10 innings for the Spartans, scattering eight hits, striking out four while not giving up a walk.

Next up for Aurora will be a losers bracket game at 10 a.m. Thursday vs. the loser of Wednesday’s second game between UW-Whitewater and St. Thomas.

- More to come
- Voice

NCAA Division III Region play underway on time

2011-05-18T09:16:00.000-07:00

They are underway on Prucha Field at James Miller Stadium on the campus of UW-Whitewater. Despite ligh rain overnight and early this morning today's first game -

UW-Stevens Point (32-8) vs Aurora University (29-11) DID get underway on time at 10 AM.

Game 2 @ 1 PM - UW-Whitewater (32-11) vs. St. Thomas ((27-16)

Game 3 @ 4 PM - St. Scholastica (35-5) vs. Hamline (28-13)

- more to come
Voice

Dylan Friend putting together a solid freshman season in center field

2011-05-17T21:22:00.000-07:00

Dylan Friend had some pretty big shoes to fill in center field for the UW-Whitewater baseball team. The freshman out of Burlington High School saw spot duty early in the season but has been the every game starting center fielder since the team arrived back in Whitewater following its early season southern swing to St. Louis and Florida.

The everyday centerfielder for UWW baseball for four of the past five previous seasons was Jordan Stine who was named to the WIAC first team four times in his illustrious Warhawk career. The Merrill, Wisconsin native won the award in 2006, 2007 and 2008, sitting out the entire 2009 season due to injury.

Not a lot of freshman plays an everyday role as a season-long starter in the UW-Whitewater baseball program.

What was the line in the Patrick Swayze movie Roadhouse said to Swayze’s character in the movie? “I thought you were bigger.”

Dylan stands just 5-8 weighing 180 pounds but possesses surprising “pop” in his bat. The freshman has hit three of his four home runs over the past two weeks including one in Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Oshkosh at the WIAC Tournament in Stevens Point.

Dylan told voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com that he just looks to drive the ball each at bat.

“I’m just looking to hit line drives and if the ball ‘goes out’ that’s great.”

While suffering some “bumps” along the way, Friend has been very efficient manning center field. With excellent quickness, the freshman possesses a solid .978 fielding percentage and committed just two errors during the regular season.

With his outfield mates Matt Beyer in left and Dan Putnam in right the Warhawks feature perhaps the fastest outfield in the WIAC.

The freshman centerfielder was named UW-Whitewater’s representative on the All-WIAC Sportsmanship team announced Monday by the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference office.

Hawks NCAA Regional games to be broadcast LIVE on KOOL 106.5

2011-05-17T20:52:00.000-07:00

For Warhawk baseball fans unable to make it to the Mills for NCAA Division III Midwest Regional action are reminded that all UW-Whitewater games will be broadcast live with veteran sportscaster Gary Douglas mike-side.

For those that live in the Whitewater, Fort Atkinson, Janesville and Jefferson area you will be able to listen to all the action on KOOL 106.5.

To listen to a live, audio stream of the broadcast CLICK HERE

NCAA Division III Midwest Region action opens Wednesday morning

2011-05-17T20:33:00.000-07:00

The UW-Whitewater Warhawks will take on the St. Thomas (Minn) Tommies in NCAA Division III Midwest Regional first round action on Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium on the campus of UW-Whitewater.

The Hawks and Tommies will play game two of the six-team regional's first day of action. Gametime is scheduled for 1 p.m.

UWW (no. 2 sees) brings a 32-11 mark into regional play. St. Thomas (No. 5 sed) is 27-16.

Game 1 on Wednesday will start at 10 a.m. and feature No. 1 seed UW-Stevens Point (32-8) vs. No. 6 seed Aurora University (Ill) (30-12).

The final game of day one is set for 4 p.m. as St. Scholastica (Minn) (No. 3 seed) plays Hamline University (Minn) (No. 4 seed).

CSS brings a 35 & 5 record into the NCAA Division III playoffs. Hamline making the school's first trip ever into the postseason captured the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conferences automatic bid last Sunday with a 7-5 win over St. Thomas in the MIAC championship game.

For a complete look at the Midwest Region Bracket and more click here

Wahawks and Tommies are no stranger on the diamond

2011-05-17T14:31:00.000-07:00

The UW-Whitewater and St. Thomas baseball teams are no strangers on the diamond.

The Warhawks and Tommies split a pair of games in early March this year down in Florida.

GAME ONE: UW-Whitewater 7, St. Thomas 6
The Hawks met UST on March 20th in Leesburg, Florida. UWW won a tight game, 7-6. Jack Larsen got his first career start on the mound for Whitewater. The junior from Menomonee Falls High School was roughed up for four runs pitching getting just two outs in the first inning. Veteran reliever Kyle Lee came in and pitched eight inning of quality relief, giving up just 2 runs to get the victory. Colin Grove came in to get the final out to record his first career save.

Drew Eichstaedt led the way at the plate for UWW by going 2 for 3 including a double. Matt Beyer and Travis Wessels also ripped two-base hits with Beyers knocking in 3 runs in the 7-6 victory.

UST out hit the Warhawks 10-7. Tim Kuzman, Drew Cremisino, and Charles Bruchu each had two hits in the game for the Tommies. Six of the seven runs scored by St. Thomas in the game were by the top six in the batting order.

Mark Dominik went the first three innings on the mound for UST giving up six runs and taking the loss. Much like UWW’s Kyle Lee, pitched the final six innings giving up just one run and two hits but did not get a decision.

GAME TWO: St. Thomas 6, UW-Whitewater 4
UWW and UST met again the following day.

A five-run fourth inning for St. Thomas proved to be the difference maker on Monday in a 6-4 UW-Whitewater loss in Leesburg, Florida.
St. Thomas took a 1-0 lead in the first but the Warhawks answered back in the third to take a 3-1 lead. A Jeff Donovan (Wauwautosa/East) triple with the bases loaded scored Rob Coe, Andrew Eichstaedt, and Daniel Putnam.

UW-W relinquished their lead in the top of the fourth serving up five runs to go down 6-3. The Tommies led off with a homerun, scored two more on a double, and scored two more on a costly error.

UW-W fought back tallying one run in the bottom of the eighth when Putnam singled in Travis Wessels (Tomah/Tomah), but UW-W was unable to complete the comeback and fell to St. Thomas 6-4.

Donovan recorded three hits in the game to go along with his three RBIs while Wessels also notched three hits. Putnam recorded two hits and one RBI and extends his hitting streak to seven games.

Matthew Roberts pitched four innings for UW-W and got the loss after surrendering six runs, 4 earned. Colin Grove came on to finish the game and only surrendered two hits to the 17 batters he faced while striking out three and walking one.

Since 2004, John Vodenlich’s first year as UW-Whitewater head coach the Warhawks are 6 & 2 vs. the Tommies.

UW-Whitewater is 3 & 0 vs. St. Thomas in NCAA Divisional Region action since 2004…
• 2010: UWW 5, UST 4
• 2005: UWW 7, UST 4
• 2004: UWW 7, UST 4

The Wahawks lead the regular season series (all spring training games)
• 2009: UWW 5, UST 4 and UST 9, UWW 2 (DH)
• 2005: UWW 3, UST 2
• 2004: UWW 7, UST 5 and UST 7, UWW 2 (DH)

More to come
Voice

Coe, Donovan, Putnam & Tincher named 1st Team All-Conference

2011-05-17T13:09:00.000-07:00

The 2011 All-WIAC Baseball Team was announced Tuesday afternoon. UW-Whitewater’s Rob Coe, Jeff Donovan, Dan Putnam and Riley Tincher earn First Team honors.

For the second straight year Donovan earns first team recognition both as a pitcher and as a first baseman. He also ends his UW-Whitewater baseball career being named 1st Team All-WIAC all four years.

Rob Coe and Riley Tincher are 1st Team All-WIAC selections for the second consecutive year.

Dan Putnam earns 1st Team All-WIAC honors for the first time after earning honorable mention recognition in 2010.

Warhawk shortstop, Andrew Eichstaedt, who transferred to UW-Whitewater from UW-Oshkosh, is named an honorable mention selection this season.

Meanwhile, freshman centerfielder Dylan Friend has been named the UWW representative on the WIAC’s 2011 All-Sportsmanship Team.

UW-Whitewater and UW-Stevens Point open NCAA Division III Midwest Region action Wednesday on Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium in Whitewater.

To view the entire 2011 All-WIAC Team click here

Rob Coe among the top gunslingers from his catching post

2011-05-17T09:30:00.000-07:00

I blogged earlier this season that Rob Coe is among the top catchers in NCAA Division III baseball. The statistics are a good barometer of my statement.

The senior out of Appleton has been a workhorse behind the plate starting all 42 games this season.

Penciled in at No. 3 in the batting order all season, Coe is hitting .351 including 12 doubles, 3 home runs and 44 RBI just three less than team leader Jeff Donovan’s 47 RBI.
He leads the team with 5 sacrifice flies and finished the regular season 7 for 7 stealing bases.

It is Rob’s defensive abilities that jump out at you.

The WIAC possesses some excellent catchers however when looking at a catcher defensively Rob Coe tops the list.

“I seem to gotten better every year,” Coe told voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com. “I’ve had a good season throwing runners out and throwing behind runners to pick them off.”

Coe is the very best in gunning down would-be base stealers. Opponents have only attempted 23 stolen base attempts this season and only ten of those attempts were successful.

On top of that, opponents were just 10 of 21 on stolen base attempts last year. Coe also has lead WIAC catchers in “picking off” base runners the past two seasons.

The Warhawks’ senior catcher takes great pride in his throwing ability.

“Whenever we get in a bind I always am surveying the field to see what I can do to help us get out of an inning,” Coe said. “I’ve really been working on my pick-off move, my arm is strong and I have a sign with Jeff (Donovan) and we’ll have a pick-off play on. It feels good when we pull it off.”

How strong is Rob Coe’s arm? Pitching for the first time in his career Coe routinely tops the 90 mph mark in his closer’s role.

The seniors on this year’s Warhawk baseball team all agree that this year’s team has what it takes to winning NCAA tournament games and make a run at another title.

“Everyone on our team needs to be able to hit and our pitchers need to throw strikes,” Coe said. “We’ve been playing much better defense and have been making plays. We have to take it just one game at a time.”

Cliché or not, that is what it will take for John Vodenlich’s club to get to the next level on the road to Appleton in 2011.

New Readers Poll asks which team in this year's Midwest Regional has been in the NCAA Tournament the MOST years?

2011-05-16T19:22:00.000-07:00

As we get ready for this week’s NCAA Division III Baseball Midwest Regional at James B. Miller Stadium lets have a quick voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com Reader’s Poll over the next 36 hours.

Five of the six teams that will be playing in Whitewater are no strangers to being part of the NCAA Division III Playoffs.

The poll question asks “which team has earned a berth in the NCAA Division III baseball playoffs the most years?

The Reader's Poll is listed on the upper right hand side of the blog.

Good luck!

Jeff Donovan primed for one more title run

2011-05-16T18:38:00.000-07:00

Jeff Donovan has been part of many titles as a UW-Whitewater student-athlete. He told voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com Monday afternoon that he is primed for one more drive for a championship.

Entering this week’s NCAA Division III Baseball Midwest Region in Whitewater I asked Donovan what is on the mind of one the most successful two-sport athletes in school history?

“I have to say it is a feeling that I’ve never had before,” Donovan said. “It is the ultimate sense of urgency knowing that my college career could be over just like that. You want to enjoy it (the experience) but never want it to end. We’re wear we want to be, in the regional and the goal is to win four games this week and head to the next level (D III World Series in Appleton).”

The senior out of Wauwatosa East High School started his career as a two-sport athlete.

As the Warhawk football team’s starting quarterback in 2008 & 2009 Donovan helped lead the Hawks to the NCAA Division III championship game in Salem, Virginia both years. In his final collegiate football game, Donovan set the school record for passing accuracy (percentage) completed 26-40 for 323 yards in leading the Warhawks to its second Division III title in three years.

Donovan was named the 2009 WIAC Football Player of the Year.

One of the primary reasons for Donovan to select Whitewater as his college choice was because he was able to play football AND baseball at UW-Whitewater.

In his first two years at Whitewater Donovan played both football in the fall and baseball in the spring. The last two years the focus centered on UW-Whitewater baseball and as the sole sport for Jeff his baseball bloomed like a tulip in early May.

In 2010 Jeff was named 1st Team All-WIAC as both a pitcher and a 1st baseman. He led the conference in both home runs (13) and RBI (68) and hit .349 helping lead the Hawks to the 2010 WIAC title.

An outstanding pitcher in high school, but not pitching his first two seasons on the Warhawk baseball team, Donovan was asked to climb the mound again last season. He finished the year with a 4 & 1 record in his starting role.

This year, as a senior, Donovan again leads the WIAC with 47 RBI entering the NCAA playoffs. He is also second in home runs not to mention an outstanding .393 batting average batting clean-up for UWW.

(In the photo above - Jeff Donovan waits for a pitch at UW-Stevens Point his season. In the WIAC Tournament this past weekend the senior power hitter lauched a mammoth home run that hit the adjacent residence hall (under construction) on the fly. The Oshkosh rightfielder never moved his hands off his knees on the J-Doe home run - photo by Tom Pattison)

Meanwhile, on the mound Donovan enters the playoffs with a 9 & 0 season record, best in the WIAC.

What is it going to take for the 33 & 11 Warhawk baseball team to make a run at the regional championship this weekend?

“It is going to take everyone to play up to or even beyond our capabilities,” Donovan said. Everyone – 1 through 9 in the batting order – pitchers coming in and pitching – are going to have to play top level baseball. It will take total focus and every one of us to be willing to ‘put it on our own shoulders’ to be successful.”

Throughout his career Donovan has been one of those players that want the ball in pressure situations.

“I’m just tying to enjoy this (NCAA tournament run) as much as possible,” Donovan said knowing his college career is almost over. “I’m not worrying about my career being over. I just want us to keep playing as long as we can.”

UW-Whitewater will face St. Thomas (Minn) at 1 p.m. Wednesday afternoon in first round NCAA Midwest Region play on Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium.

Midwest Region Wednesday (1st Day) Schedule

2011-05-16T09:30:00.000-07:00

The following is the opening day (Wednesday) schedule of games for this week’s NCAA Division III baseball regional on Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium.

10 a.m. (Game 1) UW-Stevens Point vs. Aurora University (Ill)

1 p.m. (Game 2) University of St. Thomas (Minn) vs. UW-Whitewater

4 p.m. (Game 3) College of St. Scholastica (Minn) vs Hamline University (Minn)

Early week NCAA Division III Midwest Region notes and throughts

2011-05-16T06:47:00.000-07:00

• As expected, the UW-Whitewater baseball team has been awarded an at large bid into the 2011 NCAA field. In last night’s D3baseball.com playoff projection, they had the Warhawks (32-11) third off the board behind Shenandoah (34-5) and Heidelberg (33-11). The Hawks will be the No. 2 seed behind rival UW-Stevens Point.

• Two teams from WIAC and two teams from MIAC will make up two-third’s of the Midwest Regional field. Hamline (28-13) came from behind to beat St. Thomas (27-16) in the MIAC championship game Sunday.

• The College of St. Scholastica (Minn) will bring the best record in the region to Whitewater this week. The Saints enter NCAA play with a 38 & 5 record. UWW split a twinbill with CSS (L 1-3, W 2-1) at Whitewater on May 3rd. CSS defeated St. Thomas twice during the regular season. The Saints beat the Tommies 10-6 (3/6 in St. Louis) and 4-2 in Duluth (4/25).

• I thought Concordia (Chicago) (35-10) would be in the mix for strong consideration for Pool C/at Large bid. The Cougars lost 11-3 to Aurora (29-11) in the NAC championship game Sunday. Concordia passed the “eye test” when they came to Whitewater and dropped a bottom of the 9th inning, 7-6 loss to the Warhawks.

• The weather forecast is looking really good for this week’s regional action at Jim Miller Stadium. 62 (mostly cloudy) on Wednesday, 68 (mostly cloudy) on Thursday, 70 (partly sunny) on Friday, and 73 (30% chance of storms) on Saturday.

• We hope to see you at the Mills this week! If you are working and can’t make it to Pucha Field you will be able to listen to all the action with KOOL 106.5’s Gary Douglas via audio stream or on the radio.

NCAA Field Set: Wahawks In

2011-05-16T05:46:00.000-07:00

Th pairings are out and UW-Whitewater has earned a Pool C, At Large bid and will be the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional to be played on Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Midwest Regional in Whitewater, Wis.
1. UW-Stevens Point (32-8)
2. UW-Whitewater (32-11)
3. St. Scholastica (35-5)
4. Hamline (28-13)
5. St. Thomas (27-16)
6. Aurora (29-11)

More to come
Voice

Voice's random thoughts for Sunday

2011-05-15T16:07:00.000-07:00

I’m back from a weekend in Stevens Point. I’ve been chastised from several for failing to take my cell phone on the trip.

• I watched the MIAC championship game on my computer this afternoon. Hamline comes from behind to shock St. Thomas 7-5 to gain the conference’s automatic NCAA bid.

• I can’t wait for the NCAA Division III playoff participants to be announced Monday. The prevailing opinion is the Warhawks will join UWSP as part of the Midwest Region field to be played at the Mills.

• If you haven’t voted yet – please do. The voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com Reader’s Poll is asking if UWW will get an at-large NCAA Division III playoff bid.

• I got an email from UWW SID Tom Fick today on the NCAA’s rules and regulations when it comes to blogging in the tournament. There are restrictions that I must follow – the NCAA indicates they will be viewing all blogs throughout the tournament. I appreciate the “hits”

• Weather this week appears to be pretty good, at least for the couple days of the tournament. I’m Hoping for a HUGE Whitewater fan base at Miller Stadium.

• If you can’t make it to the Mills you’ll be able to listen to all UW-Whitewater action with Gary Douglas on KOOL 106.5 and streamed live. I’ll have the Web URL’s for you on Tuesday.

• My daughter Kimberlee helped me set up my facebook so I can post my Voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com posts to my facebook “friends”. I am in the process for setting up Warhawkfootball.com for posting on facebook.

• As far as the Stevens Point Holiday Inn Express is concerned, I think I was the only non-hockey player or coach at the hotel. Try-outs for Team-Wisconsin were taking place with try-outees from all over the state in Point for the weekend.

• Why are Illinois drivers in SUV’s such idiots on I-90-94-39 from Portage to Newville?

• Doing these Voices Random Thought posts are from the inspiration of reading Tom Coe’s column each week in the Whitewater Register. I MISS THAT COLUMN!

• I’ll have plenty posted on the blog over the next few days including feature articles on several UW-Whitewater baseball players and coaches.

GO WARHAWKS!!!

Field filling up for NCAA Division III Midwest Regional this week in Whitewater

2011-05-15T14:55:00.000-07:00

The playoff field for this week's NCAA Division III Midwest Regional that opens on Wednesday on Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is filling up.

WIAC
- UW-Stevens Point (32-8) is the WIAC's automatic qualifer
- UW-Whitewater (32-11) will be a strong candidate for a Pool C at-large bid

MIAC
- Hamline College (28-13) is the MIAC's automatic qualifer (beat UST 7-5 in MIAC championship game).
- St. Thomas (27-15) and Macalester (26-14) will be considered for a Pool C at-large bid.

Upper Midwest Athletic Conference
- The College of St. Scholastica (35-5) is the automatic qualifier
The Saints captured it's 15th straight UMAC Tournament title, defeating Bethany Lutheran by a 26-2 final at Wade Stadium on Friday.

Midwest Conference
- Ripon College (20-18) earns the MWC automatic NCAA bid (defeated Beloit College 11-9 in Sunday's MWC championship game)
-Beloit College (27-12) will earn consideration for a Pool C at-large bid.

Northern Athletics Conference
- Aurora College (29-12) is currenly playing Concordia-Chicago (35-9) for the NAC's automatic bid.

- Whichever team wins, the other will be considered for a Pool C at-large bid.

The NCAA Division III field will be announced on Monday.

More to come - Voice

Readers Poll: Will the Warhawks recieve an at-large bid into the NCAA playoff field

2011-05-14T17:18:00.000-07:00

I have posted another Voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com Readers Poll asking if the Warhawks will recieve an at-large bid into the Division III Playoffs based on its 32-11 season record.

You have two choices: YES or NO.

The poll is located at the top of the right side of the blog.

VOTE NOW!

-Voice-

Will UW-Whitewater be part of the 2011 NCAA tournament field?

2011-05-14T17:00:00.000-07:00

The NCAA will announce the pairings for the 2011 NCAA Division III Baseball Championship on Sunday. Will the UW-Whitewater Warhawks be included in this year’s field?

WIAC rival UW-Stevens Point did UWW a favor Saturday afternoon with its 10-0 seven-inning run rule win over UW-Oshkosh to give the Pointer’s the WIAC’s automatic bid into the Division III playoff field.

Had Oshkosh gone on to defeat UWSP twice after the Titans’ 2-1 bottom on the ninth inning win over UWW Saturday morning UWO would have earned the automatic bid and both Point and Whitewater would have needed to gain an at-large berth.

History is on UW-Whitewater’s side as far as gaining a Pool C bid is concerned. The Hawks resume in front of the NCAA Division III selection committee shows a very solid 32 & 11 to consider.

As I blogged earlier this week the Hawks have fared well when reaching the 30-plus win plateau.

If the Warhawks DO NOT earn the WIAC automatic berth what are the chances of earning an at large (Pool C) bid into this year’s NCAA tournament?

Following the Warhawks loss Saturday morning the talk around the stadium was that UWW is in good shape to earn a berth in the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional that will be played on Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium beginning Wednesday morning.

Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and I interviewed Coach Vodenlich following Saturday’s game. The No. 1 question from Potrykus was if Vodenlich was still comfortable that his team will get an at-large bid into this year’s NCAA field.

“Absolutely,” Vodenlich quickly responded.

As far as possibly be moved out of the Midwest to another regional?

“I don’t remember a WIAC team that hosted a regional ever being shipped out to another region,” Vodenlich explained. “For years Oshkosh hosted and never moved. Augustana hosted when they’ve been in it and so have we (UWW).

In Vodenlich’s previous seven seasons at UW-Whitewater the Warhawks have earned NCAA bids in all but two seasons. The only time Whitewater wasn’t issued an at-large berth with 30 or more wins was in 2006. UWW was 30 and 14 that season, just one year after winning the 2005 NCAA Division III Championship.

The Midwest Regional opens play Wednesday morning. As soon as the pairings are released on Monday I’ll have them posted here on Voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com.

UWO squeezes past Warhawks in bottom of ninth

2011-05-14T10:47:00.001-07:00

Moments prior to Saturday morning's UW-Whitewater vs UW-Oshkosh game at the WIAC Tournament in Stevens Point UWW senior pitcher was awarded the 2011 WIAC Baseball Scholar Athlete Award.

The senior from Oregon, Wisconsin then locked up in a classic pitcher's duel against Oshkosh No. 1 starter Luke Westphal

The junior lefthander for the Titans allowed just one run and two hits to raise his season-record to 7 & 0. His league-leading ERA falls to 1.25 on the season.

The Warhawks lone run came on a third inning home run by UWW centerfielder Dylan Friend. Friend was also involved in a key play later in the game, The Burlington native opened the sixth inning with a walk. With two outs and Friend at third, Andrew Eichstaedt walked to put runners and first and third.

Whitewater attempted to steal a second run by way of the double steal.

Eichstaedt took off on an attempt to steal second, drew the throw to second by the catcher, Friend broke for home from third. Eichstaedt properly got in a run-down but was tagged out on a bang-bang play prior to Friend touching home play as the inning ended with the Warhawks still leading 1-nothing.

It didn’t take UW-Oshkosh to respond when Nolan Fadness drilled a run-scoring triple to deep right-center field.

The game stayed one-all until the bottom of the ninth.

Tyler Kamps opened the inning with a single to right and a sacrifice bunt by Bobby Kachel sent Kamps to second base. Derek Layton’s infield hit sent Kamps to third. With the game-winning run just 90 feet away, Derek Hiroskey put down a two-out suicide squeeze bunt up the third base line. UWW third baseman Jared Fon made aput good play however his throw to first was just late allowing Kamps to score the winning run in the bottom of the ninth.

It was the second time this season that UWO beat the Warhawks in its last at bat. The Titans scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth in the fourth game of the Hawks four-game series earlier this season in Oshkosh for a come-from-behind 5-4 victory.

Tincher went the distance and was the tough luck loser for the Warhawks.

Oshkosh now plays UW-Stevens Point and will need to win two-straight against the Pointers to capture the 2011 postseason title and automatic bid into the NCAA tournament.

All signs seem to point to UW-Whitewater's 32 & 11 record being good enough to earn an at large bid to next week's NCAA Midwest Regional that starts on Wednesday on Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium.

More to come - Voice

It is going to be a cold and wet for Saturday at WIAC Tourney

2011-05-14T06:32:00.000-07:00

Those 80 degree temperatures of earlier this week are now just sweet memories.

Today's Stevens Point weather forecast is anything but "sweet."

Here is the Weather Channel Stevens Point Forecast...
Windy with morning showers evolving to a steady, soaking rain for the afternoon hours. High near 50F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 70%.

I guess I'll extend my Holiday Inn Express reservation another day.

No rain right now at 8:45 a.m.

Time to head across the street to Target to fortify my wardrobe.

More to come - Voice

Voices random throughts midway through the WIAC Conference Tournament

2011-05-13T18:36:00.000-07:00

- As I indicated earlier on Friday – voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com was unable to publish posts due to a world-wide Blogger Network technical issue. I wasn’t able to post until about 45 minutes after the Hawks win over Oshkosh.

- I forgot to bring my cell phone on the trip so if anyone has tried to call me EXCUSE ME!!!!

- I love postseason Warhawk baseball. When the goal each year is to get to the Division III World Series the baseball becomes incredibly intense.

- The Hawks’ hitting attack was amazing it the 21-2 win over Oshkosh in Friday’s first game of the 2011 WIAC Tournament. Matt Beyer and Dylan Friend, the Hawks’ No. 7 and No. 8 hitter combined to go 6 for 7, scored a combined 6 runs and 4 RBI.

- I was talking to Linda and Jerry Eichstaedt, Andrew’s mom and dad prior to the Hawks 21-2 win over Oshkosh. I told them I had a feature on Drew that I was going to post later this weekend. About 30 minutes later Drew launched a grand slam home run to give UWW a 6-0 lead in the first inning. After the homer I went over to the Eichstaedts to say that I now need to rework the story.

- The weather for the UWW-UWO game was reminiscent of San Francisco weather. Cool, damp and a light mist for much of the game. Despite the “heavy air” the ball carried well for the Hawks. On top of Eichstaedts grand slam – Rob Coe, Jeff Donovan and Brent “Aussie” Young went “long ball.”

- Jeff Donovan, who leads UWW this year with seven home runs, launched a two-run homer in the fifth inning vs. the Titans. The ball was hit so hard and so far that UWO rightfielder Bobby Kachel (no relation) didn’t move his hands off his knees. It was a bomb KABOOM!

- Speaking of J-Doe, the Warhawks will be Donovan and Tincher ready to take the mound Saturday. The question is if Coach Vodenlich might “roll the dice” and not start either one in Saturday’s first game vs. Oshkosh?

- A reminder for UW-Whitewater baseball fans around the world. Saturday’s Wahawk games will be broadcast by KOOL 106.5 and via audio stream.

click here to listen to UW-Whitewater postseason baseball games

Mistakes costly for UWW in 6-5 loss to Point

2011-05-13T18:23:00.000-07:00

Heading into this weekend’s WIAC Tournament UW-Whitewater head coach John Vodenlich indicated that he wanted to play solid, error-free baseball with a likely berth into next week’s NCAA Division III Midwest Regional at Jim Miller Stadium in Whitewater.

After playing inspired ball in its 21-2 win over UW-Oshkosh earlier in the day, the Wahawks were not error-free in its 6 to 5 round-two loss to No. 1 seed UW-Stevens Point.

UWW scored a run but left the bases loaded in the 1st inning. Then in the 3rd inning the Hawks scored two runs before there was an out and appeared on the way to having a big inning.

It didn’t happen as poor base running resulted in an inning ending double play on a single.

Those two events weren’t the only miscues for the Warhawks early in the game.

“To add to that list you got to get an out when a batter hits a ball to first base and we have to be in a position to cover” Vodenlich told voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com. “The disappointing thing is that our mistakes were the result of being too tentative. We talked about that after the game. We talked about being more aggressive and if you make a mistake it’s going to be one of aggression as opposed to being too tentative and being afraid of making a mistake.”

(In the above photo - the Hawks hold an extended postgame huddle to refocus after 6-5 loss to Stevens Poin - Tom Pattison photo)

On a positive note, Coach Vo liked the way his team battled back after falling behind 6-3 early in the game.

“Our guys battled back and nearly pulled it (the game) out,” Vodenlich said. “After the 3rd inning Justin (Lambert) held them to just two hits and no runs. We played better and that’s good.”

The Warhawks must now win three games Saturday if it is to win the conference’s automatic bid into the NCAA tournament.

“If you ask me what I’d rather have – would I rather play well for the NCAA Regional or would I rather have us come up here and play well for two days, I think you know what the answer is,” Vodenlich explained in his postgame media conference.

The Warhawks will play UW-Oshkosh Saturday at 10 am with the loser bowing out of the tournament.

Hawks fall 6-5 to UWSP for first loss in double elimination WIAC Tournament

2011-05-13T16:29:00.000-07:00

The UW-Whitewater baseball team made early mistakes in its WIAC round-two matchup against No. 1 seed, UW-Stevens Point. The Hawks left the bases loaded after scoring just one run in the first inning.

In the third inning it appeared the UWW was going to have a “big inning” two runs in followed with a Jared Fon single with a runner on base. Instead of the Hawks having two runners on and just one out, a base running guffaw resulted in a disappointing inning-ending double play.

Point and U-Dub-Dub entered the bottom of the third tied at 3-3. Point scored three on five hits in the bottom of the third to take a 6-3 lead.

From that point on the game settled into a superb pitcher’s duel between Stevens Point ace Scott Williams and UWW’s Justin Lambert.

Brent Young cut the lead to 6-4 with a leadoff home run in the sixth inning.

In the ninth, the Warhawks attempted to put together a dramatic come from behind effort but fell just short.

Matt Beyer led off the UWW ninth inning by doubling down the right field line. Following a Dylan Friend strike out and Travis Wessels ground out to second Dan Putnam lined a double to left center to drive in Beyer and cut the deficit to 6-5.

UWSP coach Pat Bloom made a pitching change bringing lefthander Joel Delorit in to face hot-hitting short stop Andrew Eichstaedt. “Eicher” worked Delorit for a walk to put runners a 1st and 2nd with two outs and a hit away from tying the game. Rob Coe hit it hard but a great defensive play on the hard one-hopper was corralled by Delorit who threw over the first to end the game.

A win would have put the Warhawks into the championship round – instead UWW must now win three games Saturday to win the conference tournament and earn the WIAC’s automatic bid into the NCAA Division III regional at Whitewater next week.

UWW will play UW-Oshkosh Saturday morning at 10 a.m. The winner of that game will play Stevens Point at 1 pm.

A reminder you can hear all the UWW action from Stevens Point live on KOOL 106.5. I’ll have a story later tonight that will have the URL address to listen to the audio stream of the game.

Much more will be coming up later tonight including quotes from John Vodenlich as his team gets set for its run at the postseason title.

More to come - Voice

UWW 21, UWO 2 (WIAC Tournament 1st Round)

2011-05-13T14:06:00.000-07:00

(Editor’s note: you have probably noticed that I have not blogged since noon on Thursday. The Blogger Network suffered a world-wide technical problem which would not allow bloggers to publish during the outage. I apologize for the inconvenience – Voice)

The UW-Whitewater baseball team didn’t let a two-hour delay in Friday morning’s WIAC tournament opener slow down the Warhawks’ offense.

Whitewater put six runs on the board in the first inning and cruised to a 21-1, seven inning run rule win over UW-Oshkosh in first-round action at University Field on the campus of UW-Stevens Point.

Andrew Eichstaedt’s grand slam in the first inning was the first of four home runs for Hawk hitters. Jeff Donovan, Rob Coe and Brent Young each “dialed 9” for the Hawks.

Jack Larsen was the surprise starting pitcher for Warhawk head coach John Vodenlich. The junior went the distance, allowing just four hits to improve his record to 3 & 0 on the season.

With Larsen getting the win, UWW now has Riley Tincher, Jeff Donovan and Justin Lambert fresh to start for the remainder of this weekend’s WIAC postseason tournament.

The Hawks now play No. 1 seed UW-Stevens Point at 3 p.m. with the winner advancing to Saturday’s championship bracket.

Much more to come after game-two.

Warhawk baseball to be broadcast live this weekend

2011-05-11T18:59:00.000-07:00

All UW-Whitewater baseball games in this weekend's WIAC Conference Tournament in Stevens Point will be broadcast live with Gary Douglas on KOOL 106.5.

Join 2010 Tom Butler Award winner Gary Douglas for all the play-by-play action of exciting Warhawk baseball from University Field on the campus of UW-Stevens Point.

In the immediate Whitewater, Fort Atkinson, Janesville, and Jefferson area you can listen to the games at 106.5 FM KOOL 106.5.

For all fans out of the immediate UW-Whitewater region simply click on the link below to here the games streamed live on your computer, I-Phone, etc.

Click here to listen LIVE via audio stream

Does UWW need to win WIAC Conference Tournament to gain bid to NCAA?

2011-05-11T12:23:00.000-07:00

The UW-Whitewater baseball team eclipsed the 30-win plateau again this season. The Warhawks sweep of its doubleheader vs. Concordia (Wis) Tuesday to give UWW a 31 & 9 record heading into this weekend’s WIAC Postseason Baseball Tournament in Stevens Point.

Only the winner of the conference tournament earns the WIAC automatic berth into the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III baseball tournament that opens next Wednesday.

If the Warhawks DO NOT earn the WIAC automatic berth what are the chances of earning an at large (Pool C) bid into this year’s NCAA tournament?

Under head coach John Vodenlich’s previous seven seasons at UW-Whitewater the Warhawks have earned NCAA bids in all but two seasons.

2011 (31-9 entering WIAC Championship Tournament)?
2010 (38-5)
2009 (26-17)
2008 (34-7)
2007 (25-15-1), did not make NCAA field
2006 (30-14), did not make NCAA field
2005 (38-6)
2004 (34-7)

The Warhawks finished 2007 with a 25-15 and 1 record and did not get the call from the NCAA.

The most surprising exclusion from the national tournament field was in 2006, a year after the Hawks won its first NCAA Division III national championship, UW-Whitewater was passed over despite putting together a 30-14 regular season mark.

The Warhawks earned a tournament bid in 2009 with a 26 & 17 record. UWW was “shipped out” to the Central Regional in Moline, Illinois and played two “regional championship” games vs. Carthage College winning the first game 3-2 before losing the final game 8-3 ending the 2009 season and sending Carthage to the Division III World Series in Grand Chute, Wisconsin.

Conventional wisdom has both UW-Whitewater (31-9) and UW-Stevens Point (30-8) earning berths in next week’s NCAA Division III Midwest Regional beginning next Wednesday on Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium in Whitewater. UW-Oshkosh enters the weekend as a long-shot to earn a Pool C bid.

Remember, the winner of this weekend’s three-team, WIAC Conference Tournament will earn the automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.

The Warhawks open play vs. UWO Friday at 10 a.m. at University Field located on the far north end of the UW-Whitewater campus.

All UW-Whitewater baseball tournament action will be broadcast live on KOOL 106.5. I’ll be blogging more on the radio coverage coming up this evening here on Voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com.

Reader's Poll: Who from WIAC will be getting NCAA bids out of WIAC?

2011-05-10T20:15:00.000-07:00

VOTE NOW! A Voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com Poll is available on the top of the right side of the blog.

Who do you think will earn NCAA Division III playoff berths following this week's WIAC Postseason Tournament?

This weekend's WIAC Postseason tournament champion will earn the WIAC's automatic berth into next week's NCAA Division III Midwest Regional.

Will more than one WIAC team earn a bid?

Here are the records of the three WIAC teams...
UW-Stevens Point (30-8)
UW-Whitewater (31-9)
UW-Oshkosh (24-12)

The reader's poll is located in the upper right corner of the blog.

The poll is now open - please vote now!

Hawks sweep Concordia 8-6 & 11-0

2011-05-10T19:22:00.000-07:00

For the first time since the UW-Whitewater baseball team arrived back from spring training in Florida in late March the team finally was able to play in Florida weather Tuesday.

The Wahawks made the most of the 82 degree temperature by defeating Concordia University of Mequon on Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium.

The Hawks swept the Falcons 8-6 in the opener and 11-0 (seven innings) in game two.

The two victories allowed UWW to finish out its regular season with an overall record of 31-9 while Concordia falls to 18-21. It marks the fourth consecutive year that the Hawks have won at least 30 games in the regular season.

GAME 1 – UWW 8, CONCORDIA (WI) 6

A quick look at Tuesday’s box scores reminded one of a spring training box score with a large number of Hawk players seeing action along with a number of pitchers getting ah preordained amount of work on the mound.

Jeff Donovan got the starting assignment in game one and retired nine consecutive Falcon batters without giving up a hit. It was pitching by committee in game one with Kyle Lee pitching one-and-two-thirds innings. Eric Schmitz came on to pitch 6th, 7th and 8th innings giving up two runs and two hits while earning his 2nd win of the season. Riley Tincher pitched the 9th to earn his first save of the season.

Andrew Eichstaedt paced the Hawks’ nine hit attack going 2 for 4 including a double and 3 RBI. Sam Keller was the Hawks’ leadoff hitter in the opener and was 1 for 3 including a home run and RBI sacrifice fly. Logan Peot also knocked in two runs with a 1 for 3 afternoon.

UW-Whitewater batters were aided by being hit by a pitch seven time including Matt Beyer being hit three time.

GAME 2 – UWW 11, CONCORDIA (WI) 0 (seven innings)

In game-two, the Wahawks jumped out quick and never looked back in rolling up an 11-0, seven-inning run rule victory.

UWW scored seven runs in the first inning on just three hits, three hit batsmen and an error.

The big inning was fueled by back to back plate appearances with the bases loaded and runs scoring with no hit. The first time Travis Wessels was hit by a pitch with the bases juiced to drive in a run and the second time was when Dylan Friend was walked on the next at bat. Steven Bartlein also “rang the bell” in the inning by driving in two on a single to left field.

A run in the bottom of the third, two more in the fifth, and one more in the sixth brought the final tally to 11-0.

Again, UWW used the committee approach on the mound by using four pitchers in game-two. Just a half-hour afternoon recording the save in the Hawks’ game-one win, Riley Tincher got the start in the nightcap giving up 0 runs and just one hit in three innings to run his record to 9 & 2.

Rob Coe (2.0 innings), Jack Larsen (1.2 innings) and Justin Lambert (0.1 innings) combined to give up 0 runs and just three hits over the final four innings.

For the day Concordia pitchers hit eleven Warhawk batters, walked ten, and struck out just two.

As indicated earlier in the story, Coach Vodenlich intended to use “virtually everyone” in the final doubleheader of the regular season. He did with eight pitchers making the march to the mound and eleven different Warhawks recording a hit and five of them recording multiple hits.

The Warhawks (No. 2 seed) will open the 2011 are off until Friday when they travel to University Field in Stevens Point to face UW-Oshkosh (No. 3 seed) at 10:00 in the first game of the 2011 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament. The three team tournament, including UW-Stevens Point (No. 1 seed), will take place Friday and Saturday with the tournament champion receiving the WIAC’s automatic bid into the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III baseball tournament.

UWW edges Concordia (WI) 8-6 in Tuesday's game-1 at the Mills

2011-05-10T14:07:00.000-07:00

The Wahawks picked up win No. 30 of the season Tuesday afternoon at James B. Miller Stadium. Th Hawks defeated Concordia (WI) 8-6 in game one of the doubleheader.

Jeff Donovan started on the mound a pitched three hitless innings. He was followed by Kyle Lee, Eric Schmitz and Riley Tincher who pitched the final inning and two-thirds to pitck up the save.

Head Coach John Vodenlich enter today's final regular season games with the idea of playing a lot of players. Something he did in game-one.

Riley Tincher is on the mound for UWW to start game two. The Hawks enter the game with a 30 & 9 season record.

More to come......................

Corporate Sponsorship huge in helping fuel success for Warhawks

2011-05-10T11:35:00.000-07:00

From the players, to the coaches, to the former players and parents, to the University, to the great Warhawk baseball fans, the UW-Whitewater baseball team’s amazing success has been fueled on tradition.

One aspect of UWW baseball that maybe doesn’t get enough publicity is “Warhawk Nation” providing corporate sponsorship to the baseball program.

The Warhawks set lofty goals each and every season and it is through the financial help of the corporate sponsors that UW-Whitewater is able to be considered among the nation’s elite Division III programs on an annual basis.

(In the adjacent photo – a look at 2011 corporate sponsors on James B. Miller Stadium’s right field fence – Tom Pattison photo)

The following is a brief resume of success for the UWW baseball program.

UWW record under John Vodenlich: 282 & 91 (2004-present)
UWW record under Jim Miller: 416-226-4, (1987 to 2003)

2005 NCAA Division III National Champions
2008 NCAA Division III 3rd Place
2004 NCAA Division III 3rd Place

12 NCAA Division III Championship Appearances: 1984-89-90-91-93-2000-01-03-04-05-08-09-10)

13 WIAC Championships: 1957 (c), 1958 (c), 1960 (c), 1965 (c), 2000 (t), 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009 (t), 2010

3 WIAC Postseason Titles: 2003, 2004, 2010

Brent Young: Aussie Aussie Aussie - Oye Oye Oye!!

2011-05-10T08:46:00.000-07:00

Brent Young has been a new addition to the UW-Whitewater baseball team in 2011. The senior 1st baseman arrived on campus at UWW after transferring with teammate Lee Kimbell from Lambuth University in Jackson, Tennessee.

Oh, by the way, Young is a native of Brisbane, Australia.

Brent arrived at UW-Whitewater after earning 1st Team All-Conference honors in 2010 at Lambuth.

He also was a member of the Australian Under-19 baseball team in the 2006 World Championships that toured South Africa and Cuba.

Brent has seen more and more playing time as the season has progressed. Perhaps his most memorable moment of the season was a couple of weeks ago against UW-Platteville at Jim Miller Stadium.

The Warhawks, in the middle of conference title chase, found itself trailing the Pioneers 6-5 in the bottom of the ninth inning.

UW-W stayed alive in the bottom of the ninth with Danny Putnam stroking a single and stealing second. With two outs, Platteville elected to intentionally walk Donovan, UW-W's cleanup hitter. The strategy backfired when YounGcame through with a two out, 3-2 pitch single to tie the game and send it into extra innings, Whitewater's first extra inning game of the season.

Teammate Matt Beyer delivered the game-winning hit in the 10th.

While Young is hitting .295 with a couple doubles, one home run and 11 RBI in 22 games played it is his energy both on the field and in the dugout that seemingly energizes his team game in, and game out.

The Aussie shows that energy by often being the first out the dugout to greet a teammate following an impact play.

(In the above photo – Brent Young (22) is first out of the dugout to greet Rob Coe (10) coming off the field in one in one of Coe’s relief appearances on the mound – Tom Pattison photo)

To have great senior leadership on any team often equates to the success a team will have.

The 2011 UW-Whitewater baseball team has a strong nucleus of seniors led by Riley Tincher, Jeff Donovan, Rob Coe and Danny Putnam.

Despite being in his first season with the Hawks add Young to that strong senior nucleus.

Hawks host Concordia (WI) Tuesday for two non-conference games

2011-05-09T18:53:00.000-07:00

The UW-Whitewater baseball team still has some work to do in the regular season prior to this weekend’s WIAC postseason tournament in Stevens Point.
The Warhawks, 29-9 on the season will host Concordia (Mequon) in a nonconference doubleheader Tuesday on Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium.

Will UWW head coach elect to save Riley Tincher and Jeff Donovan for this weekend’s WIAC tournament? That is a question that won’t be known until shortly before Tuesday’s 1 p.m. first pitch.

The Hawks have received some superior starting pitching down the stretch from pitchers other than Donovan and Tincher.

Jack Larsen pitched the first nine innings of UWW’s 1-0, 13 inning victory, in game-two vs. UW-La Crosse this past Saturday. The junior from Menomonee Falls gave up just 1 run and four hits before giving way to Eric Schmitz in the 10th inning. Schmitz did not give up a hit while earning the win in relief.

Justin Lambert has been the Hawks No. 3 pitcher since arriving back home following spring training games in Florida.

Prior to UWW’s series with La Crosse over the weekend UW-Whitewater got “quality starts” in its previous four games.

Lambert, Justin Mortensen, Jack Larsen and Matt Roberts all went at least five innings giving up three runs or less. Larsen went the first 3.2 innings with Kyle Lee pitching the remaining 3.1 innings in the Warhawks 3-1 win over nationally ranked St. Scholastica (Minn).
Tuesday’s non-conference games are not “throw-aways” for the Warhawks. The Warhawks have a 29-9 record entering the twinbill vs. Concordia. Two wins would give UWW a 31 & 9 mark and a strong Pool C (at large) candidate if the Warhawks do not win the WIAC postseason tournament.

First pitch vs. Concordia on Tuesday is set for 1 p.m. on Prucha Field at James Miller Stadium

Treyton Kilar Field of Dreams Family Fun Day on May 14th

2011-05-09T14:05:00.000-07:00

Fundraising continues for the Treyton Kilar Field of Dreams Construction project.

Six year old Treyton Kilar of Whitewater was killed in an apparent drunken driving accident Sept. 2, 2010.

In the memory of Treyton, project organizers are trying to raise money to build a 225- to 250-foot baseball field on Starin Park’s northeast side, complete with concrete dugouts, bleachers and a scoreboard. It also could include lighting and a restroom and concessions building, depending on the amount of funding.

They’ve already raised just over $75,000 through events and donations.

Through the efforts of many organizers are attempting yo raise $474,000 to build a 220-225 foot, youth-sized field with concrete dugouts, fencing, concession stands and lights. This will provide a safe place for children and families to celebrate life and learn how to make responsible, life-long decisions.

It will encourage active and healthy lifestyles, build community togetherness, encourage families to spend and enjoy time together, and build a place where children are encouraged to dream big and learn that through hard work and vision, their dreams can become reality!

The Kilars are planning for the Family Fun Day fundraiser on May 14th to help build Treyton’s Field of Dreams.

“One of the things our family is trying to do is make the events about family and fun,” Mary Kilar, Treyton’s mother, said. “We really hope the May 14 event will be a great family time together for everybody.”

Family Fun Day will go from 3 p.m -midnight May 14 at the American Legion in Whitewater.

A live auction will take place at 8:30 p.m. offering a one-week vacation to a Florida condo, a one-week trip to a Tennessee cabin, a powerboat tour of Lake Michigan and many other great items. A silent auction will offer other items from 3-4:30 p.m., 5-6:30 p.m. and 7-8:15 p.m.

Food and beverages will also be distributed throughout the day, along with children’s activities from 3-6 p.m. and live music from 7-11 p.m.

Great fun for the entire family!

Anyone that would like to volunteer to help on Saturday or make a donation for the auctions, please contact Michelle Hebbe at 920-723-0066.

Thank you for your continued support!

Pairings set for this week's WIAC postseason tournament

2011-05-08T17:36:00.000-07:00

The pairings are set for this weekend's WIAC baseball postseason tournament that gets underway Friday morning at University Field on the campus of UW-Stevens Point.

UW-Whitewater (18-6 conf/29-10 overall) is the No. 2 seed and will open the tournament vs. No. 3 seed UW-Oshkosh (13-11 conf/24-12 overall) at 10 a.m. Friday (5/13).

The winner of game-one will play No. 1 seed UW-Stevens Point (18-4 conf/30-8 overall) on Friday at 1 p.m..

The loser of game-one will play the loser of game-two Friday afternoon at 4 p.m.

The loser of game-three is eliminated with the winner advancing to play the winner of game-two Saturday at 12-Noon.

The following is a look at the complete bracket for the 2011 WIAC Postseeason Tournament.

Friday, May 13Game
#1--UW-Whitewater (#2) vs. UW-Oshkosh (#3), 10 a.m.
Game #2--UW-Stevens Point (#1) vs. Game #1 Winner, 1 p.m.
Game #3--Game #1 Loser vs. Game #2 Loser, 4 p.m. (loser eliminated)

Saturday, May 14
Game #4--Game #2 Winner vs. Game #3 Winner, Noon
Game #5--If necessary, if Game #2 Winner loses Game #4, 3 p.m.

The winner will be awarded the WIAC's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament that will open on Wednesday, March 17th.

UW-Whitewater was selected earlier this year as the host of the 2011 NCAA Division III Midwest Regional (5/17 to 5/22)

(Championship Game will be televised tape-delayed on FSWisconsin May 21 at 3 p.m. and FSNorth May 28 at 3 p.m.) - Be sure to check your local listings for any changes to the broadcast schedule

Jim "Mills" Miller: Once a Warhawk, Always a Warhawk!

2011-05-07T23:12:00.000-07:00

I have always considered UW-Whitewater baseball more than simply a team. If you are around the team, or maybe have pleyed your college baseball wearing a Warhawk uniform you will understand what I am about to talk about.

Warhawk baseball is every much "a family" as it is "a team." That is a major reason UW-Whitewater baseball UWW baseball has been so successful.

If UW-Whitewater baseball is a family then Jim "Mills" Miller is the patriarch of the family while current head coach John Vodenlich is the father.

While the several hundred that were at Saturday’s Warhawk doubleheader vs. La Crosse came to watch the Hawk baseball team – the real reason for many was to join Coach Miller on the day that James B. Miller Stadium would be formally dedicated.

What’s the old saying - once a Warhawk, always a Warhawk?

While it always dangerous to give Mills a microphone and not put a time limit on him, Miller portrayed humility and pride in his remarks during the dedication ceremony conducted between games of Saturday’s twinbill.

The ceremony and special day was outstanding. When a person the stature of Jim Miller is being feted it is not hard to have people that want help in making the day special.

The “Warhawk family” made Satuday’s stadium dedication day very special.

So many of Coach Miller’s former players, along with a large number of his hometown friends were on hand, not for the t-shirt or Mills bobble head doll, they were at the game to share memories with Mills on what it means to “bleed Warhawk purple” for the past 60 years-plus.

Miller spent much of the first game and the entire second game on Saturday with what Mills does best – share stories with his friends at his place – James B. Miller Stadium.

I sat down and interview Mills on Thursday and I asked him what was on “his mind” with stadium dedication day rapidly approaching.

“Back when I retired in 2003 which was a very good year for me,” Miller told voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com. “I received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University, I was inducted into the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and I got to throw out a first pitch at a Milwaukee Brewer game.”

It was on the mound at Miller Park that Mills faced his retirement years with some serious soul searching.

“Man, is this the end – is this all over,” Mills said. “Is there any more beyond this or am I going to be totally board with life? So much has happened over the past eight years since then and I don’t think this is the end either. I don’t think John (Vodenlch) is going to kick me out the door on Monday because I think we get along quite well in what we are doing here.”

Miller ended the interview putting everything in perspective.

“What really hit me the other day was seeing the plaque of Carol and I I walked through the stadium gate,” Miller reminisced. “I suddenly realized that just to the left is the dedication plaque for Rudy Prucha (who the baseball field is named for. Back in 1947, the Millers moved into 243 North Prairie Street and ironically the Prucha’s lived at 263 North Prairie Street. We played together as little kids. Rudy was a neighborhood icon and we were joined together because we were neighbors and now we are still “neighbors” with the field named in honor of Prucha and the stadium in honor of Coach Miller. It really is a small world we you consider the former neighbors, neighbors again as baseball fans entering James B. Miller at Prucha Field view the dual plaques.

“This is very special, it really is.”

Hawks end 2011 conference season with Saturday split vs. UWL

2011-05-07T21:24:00.000-07:00

The UW-Whitewater baseball team’s bid for an 8th WIAC title in the past ten years came up just short on Sunday. The Warhawks need to sweep UW-La Crosse and UW-Stevens Point to lose at least one game to UW-Stout.

The bid for the 2011 title ended with the Warhawks’ dropping game-one of Sunday’s doubleheader 3 to 1 to UWL.

(In the photo above is a view of the largest crowd of the season at James B. Miller Stadium as part of formal dedication ceremonies naming the Hawks' home facility for iconic former head baseball coach Jim "Mills" Miller - Tom Pattison Photo)

The Eagles took a 1-0 lead with a run in the 3rd inning. The Hawks tied the game with two outs in the bottom of the eighth when Jared Fon was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded for the game-tying RBI.

Whitewater could not hold the lead as UWL third baseman Brett Jacobson drilled a two-run single for the game-winning runs in the La Crosse 9th inning.

Moments later word came from Stevens Point that the Pointers’ Sean Gerber hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth to score Dan Douglas that would give the Pointers a 3-2 victory and clinch the Pointer’s first outright regular season baseball championship since 2002.

Game-two turned into one of the best pitching duels of the season for a game that really didn’t have an impact on the conference standings.

The game ended on Matt Beyer’s walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 13th inning.

UW-W's Jack Larsen hurled nine innings, giving up only four hits, walking one, and striking out five prior to giving way to Eric Schmitz to start the 10th.

Schmitz, a relief specialist, pitched four hitless innings and picked up his first win of the season.

UWL starting pitcher Garrett Scray gave up just one run before being lifted after giving up a double to UWW’s Travis Wessels in the 13th. Zach Lauersorf faced just one batter as Matt Beyer stroked a walk-off single to right-center to knock in Wessels with the “game-winner.”

The Warhawks will open the WIAC postseason tournament Friday morning at 10 a.m. vs. UW-Oshkosh in first-round action at University Field at UW-Stevens Point.

UWW still has work to do prior to the WIAC postseason tournament.

The Warhawks will play again on Tuesday in a non-conference doubleheader against Concordia University (WI) beginning at 1:00 on Prucha Field at Jim Miller Stadium in Whitewater.

Dedication ceremonies just completed at the Mills

2011-05-07T12:53:00.000-07:00

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater baseball stadium is now officially James B. Miller Stadium following dedication ceremonies between games of today’s UWW-UWL doubleheader in Whitewater.

A huge crowd was on hand for the ceremonies including a large number of former Warhawks who played for Coach Mills.

I’ll have full details posted this evening here on voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com

UWW's bid for WIAC Title ends with 3-1 loss to UWL

2011-05-07T12:51:00.000-07:00

The Warhawks dropped game-one of today’s doubleheader vs. UW-La Crosse. The Warhawks trailed much of the game before UW-Whitewater tied the game 1-all in the bottom of the 8th inning. UWL responded immediately scoring two runs in the top of the 9th and coming away with a 3-1 win.

Meanwhile in Stevens Point, the Pointers scored a run in the bottom of the 9th inning to slip by UW-Stout 2-1..

With the UWW loss and UWSP win, the Pointers have clinched the undisputed 2011 WIAC Championship and will host the WIAC Postseason Tournament next week. Whitewater will be the No. 2 seed. The winner of next weekend’s tournament will get the WIAC’s automatic bid into the 2011 NCAA Division III Baseball Tournament.

Coming up this evening I’ll be posting the game stories and more here on voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com.

Hawks and UW-La Crosse underway at the Mills

2011-05-07T10:13:00.000-07:00

UW-Whitewater and UW-La Crosse are underway for the final doubleheader of the 2011 WIAC season.

Gametime temperature for game-one is 54 degrees under cloudy skies and an easterly wind at 8 mph gusting to 17 mph.

More to come

-Voice

Welcome to the intersection of Mills Parkway and Alumni Trail

2011-05-07T09:27:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium. I’m blogging today from the corner of Mill’s Parkway and Alumni Trail where the UW-Whitewater baseball team gets set to play UW-La Crosse in the final two games of the WIAC regular season.

Yesterday the forecast called for showers throughout the day. An updated forecast has taken showers out of the forecast for this afternoon calling for cloudy skies and a high of 58 degrees. The wind will be blowing in from right field with gusts to 25 mph.

UW-Whitewater entered the 2011 campaign having won 9 WIAC championships over the past 11 years including 6 of the past 8.

The Hawks have a chance to extend its title run this afternoon. Here is the scenario…

• Heading into the day UW-Stevens Point (18-4) holds a one-game advantage over the Warhawks (17-5).

• If Stevens Point sweeps its doubleheader today the Pointers are the 2011 WIAC Champions.

• If Whitewater sweeps UW-La Crosse today and Stout wins of its two games at UWSP the Pointers and Warhawks will share the 2011 conference title but Stevens Point will host next week’s three-team WIAC postseason tournament.

• If UWW sweeps UWL and UW-Stout sweeps UW-Stevens Point today the Warhawks will win the undisputed WIAC title and host the WIAC postseason tournament.

First pitch in game No. 1 is set for 12-Noon.

A reminder – formal dedication ceremonies for James B. Miller Stadium will take place between games of today’s doubleheader.

- More to come

James B Miller Stadium Dedication set for Saturday afternoon

2011-05-07T06:37:00.000-07:00

When you talk to Jim Miller you don’t get far into the conversation when he talks about the former baseball players he coached at UW-Whitewater.

“Mills” was the Warhawks’ head baseball coach from 1987 to 2003. He holds the record for victories for a UW-Whitewater baseball coach with a record of 416-226-4, a winning percentage of .648 and an average of 24 wins a year.

Miller mentored players to first team all-conference honors seventy-eight times, all-region honors fifty times and All-America recognition eleven times. Eleven players coached by Miller signed professional contracts.

Many of those formal players are expected to be in attendance Saturday for the formal dedication of James B. Miller Stadium between games of the UW-Whitewater baseball team’s doubleheader vs. UW-La Crosse. First pitch for Saturday's twinbill is set for 12-Noon. There will be a tailgate during game two, with food and beverages provided. The tailgate will be located in the Miller Stadium Hawk's Nest (down the right field line).

Miller was among the top thirty National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III active coaching leaders in both total wins and winning percentage at his retirement in 2003. He was a three-time Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association College Coach of the Year, earning the honor in 1988, 1990, and 2000 and was named the NCAA III Midwest Region Coach of the Year in 1989.

In 2000, 2001, and 2003 “Mills” directed UW-W to Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships and was named the conference baseball coach of the year each of those years. He led the Warhawks to National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III tournament bids in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 2000, 2001, and 2003, including a fifth place finish in 1989.

Jeff Donovan was “Dono-nating” Friday in UWW’s sweep of La Crosse

2011-05-06T20:03:00.000-07:00

Jeff Donovan earned a rare honor following his junior season last year. The former WIAC Football Player of the Year (2009) earned 1st Team All-Conference in baseball both as a pitcher and an every day player in 2010. Donovan is well on his way of repeating that rare feat this season.

Donovan finished Friday’s twinbill vs. UW-La Crosse with four hits, five runs, and seven RBIs in a sweep of the Eagles on Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium.

“J-Doe” drove in three runs in a 10-4 game one win. In the Hawks’ 11-6 game-two victory, the senior out of Wauwatosa/East High School knocked in four runs by ripping a grand slam home run in the second inning of the nightcap.

What was the key to Donovan’s home run power Friday?

“Just get it up in the hurricane force winds and good things happen I guess,” Donovan told voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com. “When the wind is blowing out I’m just looking for a pitch I can turn on and I’m pretty comfortable doing that.”

Donovan has now hit six home runs this season which leads all UWW hitters. His 44 RBI also leads the team. J-Doe not only hits for power but also for average. His .418 batting average is third highest on the team. Danny Putnam leads Hawk hitters with a .463 average. Andrew Bauer ranks second with a .455 average with limited at bats.

Donovan was not only the Warhawks’ hitting star Friday but also was the starting pitcher in game-two and picked up his 9th win of the season without a loss.

The lanky righthander pitched six and a third innings Friday afternoon. He gave up ten hits and four runs while walking three and striking out six.

Donovan isn’t the “lone ranger” when it comes to being a dominating starting pitcher on the UW-Whitewater staff.

Riley Tincher went the distance in UWW’s 10-4 game-one victory. The senior lefty from Oregon High School gave up four runs while scattering eleven hits to improve to 8-2 this season. Tincher did not give up a walk while striking out six UWL batters.

The two teams will play another doubleheader Saturday with the game-one first pitch set for 12-Noon.

UW-W will be honoring one of its own Saturday by naming the recently renovated baseball facility James B. Miller Stadium during a special dedication ceremony between games. There will be a tailgate during game two, with food and beverages provided. The tailgate will be located in the Miller Stadium Hawk's Nest (down the right field line).