Congratulations Warhawks on a very memorable season

Congratulations Warhawks on a very memorable season!!

I want to start off by saying I had an extremely enjoyable first year of blogging Warhawk baseball here on Voices Eye on Baseball Blog.

It has been my privilege to attempt to help put a “face” on the players on their run to an undisputed 2010 WIAC Baseball Championship.

The 10-games played this season between the Warhawks and Stevens Point Pointers was simply amazing. Two teams with “what it takes to win a national championship” split the ten games played against each other this spring. The deciding factor in the 10th and deciding game was a successful suicide squeeze bunt by Stevens Point in the top of the ninth inning in a 3-3 Regional championship game.

Watching one’s opponent celebrate with a championship game-winning monkey-pile on your own infield made it even more hurtful for the Warhawk team, coaches and fans.

The ten-game Point-Warhawk series this season ended with both teams winning five games each. If we were to be politically correct, I think we should have one more game to split the tie with the winner of THAT game going to the Division III World Series this weekend. Just kidding!

I’m not complaining - but I was very surprised that UW-Stevens Point was included with Whitewater in the Midwest Region and not the Central Region in Moline, Illinois as was the case in 2009 when the Hawks were shipped to Moline.

I spent most of Sunday reflecting on this years Warhawk baseball team. Disappointed? Definitely. Despite not completing its mission, the 2010 Warhawks will go into the history books with a 42 & 7 record, second best season record in school history. The 2005 NCAA Division III National Championship team posted a 45 & 7 mark. The 2008 Warhawks finished with a 42 & 10 record and 3rd place finish at the Division III World Series.

I’ll have more thoughts on the season posted online on Tuesday.


- Voice

Point edges Whitewater for NCAA regional title

For both UW-Whitewater AND UW-Stevens Point fans at James B. Miller Stadium it will take some time to "come down" from an incredible day of championship caliber baseball.

The day started with Whitewater needing to beat the Pointers twice to advance to the NCAA Division III World Series.

Riley Tincher pitched a complete game in game one on short rest, beating Stevens Point 9-3 to send UWW to the Midwest Region championship game.

Tincher pitched a complete game Thursday morning followed by getting the final eight outs in the Warhawks 5-4 win over St. Thomas (Minn)on Friday, ousting the defending national champions from this year's tournament.

Saturday's championship game was played at the highest level, a level worthy of a national championship game. Stevens Point jumped out a a 3-1 lead in the third inning.Mike Kenseth's two-run single down the left field line in the bottom of the fourth inning tied the game at 3-3.

The game would stay tied until the top of the ninth inning when the Pointers scored on a suicide squeeze bunt by UWSP catcher Steve Considine. The ball was bunted a couple feet in front of the plate as pinch runner Ryan Inverson broke down the third base line. Hawk catcher Rob Coe pounced quickly on the ball and had to turn quickly to make the tag on the runner. Coe stumbled as he attempted to turn to his right to make the tag. It sas a case of the ALL-WIAC catcher simply catching his spikes on the synthetic turf.

Whitewater had three more outs to try to win the game late however Stevens Point pitcher Scott Williams retired the Hawks in order in the ninth.

Stevens Point now will represent the WIAC at next week's NCAA Division III World Series at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute. Coach Pat Bloom's team will take a 33 & 16 record into Friday morning's tournament-opening game.

The regional championship game was UW-Whitewater's second the past two years. The Hawks fell to Carthage College in the title game of the 2009 Central Region in Moline, Ill.

The Hawks end the season with a spectacular 42 & 7 record which ranks among the best in school history.

Much more on today's incredible drama at the Mills wil be coming up later tonight.

Warhawks 9, Pointers 3: Regional Championship Game at 3 p.m.

The UW-Whitewater Warhawks jumped on UW-Stevens Point pitching early on the way to a 9-3 win toforce a second game vs the Pointers at 3 p.m. The winner will advance to next week's NCAA Division III World Series at Fox Cities Stadium

Much more coming after this afternoon's Midwest Regional.

Warhawks and Pointers will play for berth in Division III World Series Saturday afternoon

Tell me if this scenario sounds familiar? The Warhawk baseball team loses big to Stevens Point. Wins an elimination game, and then must beat their WIAC archrivals for the tournament championship?

In the words of Yogi Berra, “its déjà vu all over again!”

The Warhawks face the identical task Saturday against Stevens Point. This time in NCAA Division III Midwest Regional play.

After losing 12-4 to the Pointers Friday morning, the Warhawks “circled the wagons” and defeating the University of St. Thomas (Minn), the defending Division III national champions to advance to Saturday’s championship round.

The buzz word in elimination games is to do whatever it takes to survive and advance and that is what the Warhawks did by knocking off the Tommies.

After using both Jeff Donovan and Aaron Leitner on the mound in the loss to the Pointers, Coach Vodenlich elected to start middle relief specialist, Kyle Lee against St. Thomas.

Lee pitched 3.1 solid innings. Next up was three innings from the WIAC’s leading closer, Ben Versnik And in crunch time Vodenlich called for his No. 1 pitcher on short rest to get the game’s final eight outs.

“He did a great job going two-plus innings,” Vodenlich told Voice’s Eye on Baseball Blog following the game. “That was a very good team and our pitchers really pitched well. Riley will be ready to go again Saturday.”

With the win over the Tommies the Warhawks will now play Stevens Point for a ninth, and possibly 10th time this season.
To advance to the Division III World Series Whitewater must win two games Saturday. For Vodenlich the mission is pretty “cut and dried.”

"We've got to do the same thing," Vodenlich said. "We have to show up, get two (good) pitching performances, swing the bats and we've got to play defense."

Saturday’s first Point-Whitewater championship bracket game is set for 12-Noon On Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium. A second game, if needed, is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Both teams will be looking to “stamp its ticket” to the NCAA Division III World Series, set for next week at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute.

Warhawks survive and advance to Championship Saturday at NCAA Regional

The UW-Whitewater baseball team has withstood an elimination game and sends the WIAC champions to another matchup vs. archrival UW-Stevens Point. The Warhawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in Saturday morning's contest involving the two remaining ubbeaten teams in Midwest Regional Baseball action on Prucha Field at James. B. Miller Stadium.

The Pointers didn't take long to rally roughing UWW starting pitcher Jeff Donovan for six runs in the third inning on the way to a 12-4 victory sending the Pointers to Saturday's championship game. The Hawks used two of its regular starting pitchers in the loss. Donovan went the first three innings with Aaron Leitner pitching the final six innings of the game.

The Hawks then faced St. Thomas (Minn), the defending NCAA Division III National Champions in s lste afternoon "elimination" game. The Tommies advanced by defeating Carthage Collge (Wisc) 6-5 in Saturday's second ballgame.

Middle relief specialist, Kyle Lee got the starting assignment and rose to the occasion going 3.1 innings giving up two runs on four hits.

In the "battle to stay alive" game head coach John Vodenlich called for Ben Versnik, who set a school record with seven saves so far this season. Versnik was extended to his longest outing of the season by going three innings, giving up two runs on four hits.
In the must-win situation, the Hawks went to Riley Tincher who was the winning pitcher in the Hawks first reginal game vs. Aurora Univesity (Ill). The big lefthander shut the door on the Tommies bid for back-to-back national championships by striking out three of the 10 batters he faced to pick up a save.

The Warhawks and Pointers now meet for the Regional championship and berth in next week's NCAA Division III National Championship at Fox Cities in Grand Chute. The 12-Noon game will mark the ninth time the WIAC archrivals will have met this season. That will tie the UW-Whitewater record for most games against one team in a season, which also occurred in 2005.

If Whitewater wins the first game the final game of the regional, and tenth in the UW-W versus UW-SP series, will be played at 3:00.

Much more on today's action and a look to Saturday will be coming up later tonight here on Voice's Eye on Baseball Blog.

Warhawks advance, will play UW-Stevens Point Friday morning

It will be UW-Whitewater and UW-Stevens Point on Thursday morning in the battle of the two remaining unbeaten teams in NCAA Division III Midwest Regional action. Stevens Point advances by beating defending National Champion St. Thomas, 2-1, in a nail biter on Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium.

It was the Tommies who wasted little time putting a run on the board, as rightfielder Mat Olson connected on a Scott Williams fastball and sent it over the leftfield fence for his third home run of the season, giving St. Thomas an early 1-0 lead in the first.

In the fourth, the Pointers took the lead with one swing of the bat, as Jeremy Richter belted a two out, two-run home that plated Sam Spurney ahead of him, pushing UW-Stevens Point in front 2-1.

From there, it was all Williams, as he struck out four and walked just one as the Pointers advance to round three in the winners bracket.

The Tommies out-hit the Pointers 8-4 on the afternoon but it was Richter’s one swing that provided all the offense UW-Stevens Point would need.

St. Thomas’ Kris Edwards, who opened his career as a Warhawk, suffered the loss, allowing the four Pointer hits, going eight innings, striking out two and walking two.

The Pointers win sets up a rematch with Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) foe UW-Whitewater in a battle of undefeated teams in the regional on Friday morning at 10 a.m. The winner will automatically advance to Saturday’s championship round.

The Warhawks advanced earlier Thursday following its 6-2 victory over the College of St. Scholastica (Minn) eliminating the Saints from the double elimination tournament.

In Thursday’s other game, Carthage College advanced in an elimation game with a 10-5 victory over Aurora University (Ill).

Hawks win 6-2 to advance in NCAA Division III Regional Play

The UW-Whitewater baseball team is 2 & 0 in this week's NCAA Division III Midwest Regional baseball action following Thursday afternoon's 6-2 victory over St. Scholastica (Minn).

The Warhawks jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning highlighted by Rob Coe's two-run homer. Matt Beyer's second inning home run extended the Hawk lead to 4-0.

The Saints cut the lead in half whern Brandon Peterson singled in a pair of runs.

Warhawk starting pitcher Jason Hooper would dominate from that point by giving up just one more hit over the next five innnings. (See adjacent photo of Hooper vs. St. Scholastica - photo courtesy of Jeff Seisser, Daily Jefferson County Daily Union)

Whitewater added two insurance runs in the ninth inning on a home run by Jordan Stine and RBI single by Jeff Donovan.

Stine led the Hawk hitting attack by going four of five scoring two runs including the solo home run. Rob Coe finished a triple shy of the cycle including a double and two-run homer.

The Warhawk bullpen picked up where Hooper left off. Kyle Lee gave up a walk in the St. Scholastica eighth. Ben Versnik pitched a one-two-three ninth inning to send the Hawks to Thursday morning's battle of the tournament's final two unbeated teams in the double-elimination tournament.

The Warhawks will play the winner of Thursday's final game between UW-Stevens Point and defending National Champion St. Thomas (Minn.).

Hawks to play St. Scholastica (Minn) Thursday at 1 p.m.

The UW-Whitewater baseball team will take on the College of St. Scholastica on Thursday in second round action of the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional at James B. Miller Stadium. The Saints fell hard to UW-Stevens Point 12-1 in Wednesday's final first round game.

The Warhawks rode the piching of Riley Tincher and Jordan Stine and Danny Putnam's 6 ro 9 at the top of the batting order to lead the Warhawks 12 hit attack.

Stine was 3x4 with three runs scored and two stolen bases from his leadoff spot, while Putnam was 3x5 in the number two hole.

Tincher did not allow a runner to reach second base through six innings. In the seventh, the Spartans loaded the bases with two outs, but Tincher got out of it with a strikeout. Tincher, 12-1, allowed six hits, walked one and struck out five. Eric Schmitz pitched the final two innings. Steve Salazar, 8-2, took the loss for Aurora.

Next up for the Warhawks will be the College of St. Scholastica of Duluth, Minnesota. UW-Stevens Point jumped out to a 4-0 lead after one inning on the way to a 12-1 win. Point's Sam Spurney and Mike Richter each hit home runs and knocked in seven of Stevens Point's 12 runs.

(In the adjacent photo - Mike Richter is greeted by teammates after blasting a three-run home run in the Pointer's 12-1 victory over St. Scholastica Wednesday afternoon at James B. Miller Stadium - Tom Pattison photo)

In the other first round game, defending national champion St. Thomas spotted Carthage College a 4-0 lead before pounding the baseball on the way to a 14-6 win over teh Red Hawks. for twenty runs, twenty-five hits, eleven walks, and four errors in the first round game.

Matt Schuld, 10-1, went eight innings for the win, with relief help from Nick Gervais. Carthage used four pitchers in the game.

Carthage will play Aurora in Thursday's first game at 10 a.m. The Pointers and the Tommies will square off at 4 p.m

The Warhawks (39-5) play on Thursday at 1 p.m. when they take on St. Scholastica (38-7). If you can't make it to the Mills you will be able to listen to the game live with Gary Douglas and Tom "Voice" Pattison with the call on KOOL 106.5 in the Whitewater area. You may also listen to the broadcast via audio stream at: http://www.uwwsports.com/sports/2007/9/20/followthewarhawks_09202007.aspx.




The Pointers Sam Spurney led the way for the Pointers with each hitting a home run while driving in seven of Point's 12 runs.

Tincher, Donovan headline UW-W All-WIAC selctions

UW-Whitewatater's Riley Tincher was named the Pitcher of the Year to lead the 19 individuals selected to the 2010 All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Baseball Team by the league coaches. UW-Stevens Point’s Eric Fritz was chosen the Position Player of the Year. In addition, UW-Whitewater’s John Vodenlich was tabbed the Coach of the Year in balloting released Tuesday morning.

Tincher is the sixth player in Warhawk listings to capture the conference award. The junior lefthander from Oregon tops the conference with 83.2 innings pitched, 11 wins and 20 appearances, while ranking third with 67 strikeouts and seventh with a .271 opponent batting average.

He struck out at least five batters in five of his 12 starting assignments, including a season-high 11 against UW-Superior on May 3. Tincher allowed two or fewer earned runs in 15 of his 20 appearances and four or fewer hits in four games.

Jeff Donovan was selected All-WIAC both as a pitcher and as a 1st baseman. Jeff, who misssed last season, was a first team pick in 2007 and 2008.

Other Warhawks named !st Team All-WIAC are Jordan Stine, Rob Coe and Jason Hooper.

Stine, who missed 2009 due to injury, was recognized in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Coe and Hooper were All-WIAC selections last year.

Seniors Mike Kenseth and Ben Kuhlmann along with sophomore pitcher Aaron Leitner earn honorable mentionAll-WIAC recognition.

Meanwhile, Vodenlich secured the coaching award for the third consecutive season, becoming the first individual in WIAC history to accomplish the feat. He also captured the prize in 2004. Vodenlich directed the Warhawks to their third straight regular-season conference championship and the WIAC tournament title. He is in his seventh season in charge of the squad and owns a 249-80-1 record.

Warthawks roll to 6-1 1st round win over Aurora \Ill)

The UW-Whitewater baseball team is off and running in NCAA Division III Midwest Regional action on Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium. The Hawks ride the starting pitching from Riley Tincher and hitting at the top of the order for a 6-1 victory over Aurora University (Ill).

Tincher scattered six hits over seven innings to run his seaason-record to 12 & 2. Eric Schnitz went the final two innings giving up just one hit.

Jordan Stine and Danny Putnam, the top two in the UWW batting order went 6 for 9 at the plate with Stine scoring three of Whitewater's six runs. Nick Rechlitz, in the No. 9 spot in the batting order went 2 for 4, scoring a run and knocking another run in. Jeff Donovan also has two RBI for the Warhawks.

(In the adjacent photo - Warhawk center fielder Jordan Stine gets under the tag of Aurora catcher Kirk Williamson to score Ben Kuhlmann's infield single in the second inning - photo courtesy of Jeff Seisser, Daily Jefferson County Union)

Stine and Putnam also featured "highlight" reel catches in the outfield for the Hawks.

Steve Salazar (9-2) went the distance on the mound for Aurora gtiving up 6 runs, 5 earned, and 12 hits.

Aurora will take on the loser of Wednesday's St. Thomas vs. Carthage game at 10 a.m.Thursday in the double elimination tournament.

Next up for then Warhawks will be the loser of Wednesday's 4 p.m. game between St. Scholastica and UW-Stevens Point. Gametime will be 1 p.m. Thursday.

- More to come - Voice

Pairings set for this week's Midwest Regional at the Mills

The UW-Whitewater baseball team will play host to five excellent teams in this week’s NCAA Division III Midwest Regional, May 19th to May 22nd at Prucha Field at Jim Miller Stadium.

“We’re excited to be hosting the Regional,” head coach John Vodenlch tells Voices Eye on Baseball Blog. "When you take a look nationally I think you could argue that we have a very strong regional and it is going to be very competitive.”

Among the teams that will be in Whitewater this week is defending NCAA Division III National Champion St. Thomas (Minn.). The 2ndrd seeded Tommies will face 5th seeded Carthage College of Kenosha in Wednesday’s first round at 4 p.m.

The UST beat Carthage 3-1 in an elimination game at the 2009 College World Series. They also beat the Redmen 2-1 in 10 innings on March 20th at the Metrodome in Minneapolis.

UW-Stevens Point will also be back at the Mills this week after dropping two games to UW-Whitewater on Saturday giving the Warhawks the 2010 WIAC Tournament Championship and automatic berth into this year’s NCAA Tournament.

The six team Midwest Region field also includes: #3 St. Scholastica (Minn) will face 4th seeded UW-Stevens Point Wednesday at 1 p.m.

The first game of the day has the host Warhawks (38-5) taking on the 6th seed, Aurora University (Ill), who enter NCAA action with a 27-14 record as champion of the Northern Athletics Conference.

“They are obviously a very good team,” Vodenlich said. “They are a very emotional type team and when things are good they can really get it going.

Aurora was a “Cinderella team” back in 2006 when reached the Division III “world series. According to Coach Vodenlich, the Cinderella tag fits the Spartans again this year.

“They are on a high right now and they’ll come to our place with every thing they’ve got. It is definitely a team we can’t overlook.

For the Spartans, this will be their first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2006 when they advanced all the way to the Division III World Series.

It will be UW-Whitewater vs. Aurora University in game-one of this week’s NCAA Division III Midwest Regional at James B. Miller Stadium’s Prucha Field. The first pitch is set for 10 a.m.

If you’re stuck at work and can’t make it to the game you will be able to hear all the action live with Gary Douglas and Tom “Voice” Pattison mike-side on KOOL 106.5. For those of you out of the area you can also catch the game via the internet. The broadcast will be streamed via the following Website address: http://vod.uww.edu/uwwsports2/

Warhawks will open NCAA versus Aurora University (Ill)

The UW-Stevens Point baseball team has received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III tournament and will join host UW-Whitewater (38-5) in the field at this week's Midwest Regional at Prucha Field in James B. Miller Stadium.

The top-seeded Warhawks, who swept Stevens Point on Saturday to snap the Pointers' five-year stranglehold on the WIAC tournament title, open regional play Wednesday at 10 a.m.

They'll face sixth-seeded Aurora (Ill.) University (27-14), which downed Edgewood College to win the Northern Athletics Conference tournament.

Second-seeded University of St. Thomas (33-7), a Minnesota school, will face fifth-seeded Carthage College (28-16) at 1 p.m., with fourth-seeded Stevens Point (29-15) to meet third-seeded St. Scholastica (Minn.) at 4 p.m.

The Saints (38-6) are making their sixth straight trip to the tournament after winning their 14th straight Upper Midwest Athletic Conference title.

The double-elimination regional concludes Saturday, with the winner advancing to the double-elimination NCAA Division III championship at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute from May 28 to June 1.

NCAA Division III Midwest Region pairings just released

The NCAA Division III tournament committee has just released it's 2010 Midwest Region bracket pairings.

Wednesday, May 19

10:00 a.m. #1 UW-Whitewater vs. #6 Aurora University (Ill)
1:00 p.m. #2 University of St Thomas (Minn) vs. #5 Carthage College (Wis)
4:00 p.m. #3 St. Scholastica (Minn) vs. #4 UW-Stevens Point (Wis)

The six-team regional at Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium will run through Saturday.

Much more will come here on the Voices Eye on Baseball Blog.

Warhawk fans, all KOOL 106.5 baseball broadcasts are available via podcast

Gary Douglas and I are very fortunate to have the privilege to broadcast UW-Whitewater athletics’ events on KOOL 106.5. To know the team you are covering sets a realistic goal each year on winning a conference title and competing for a national championship is something extremely exciting.

I’ve been broadcasting UW-Whitewater baseball, basketball, and football for the past 22 years and have had a blast doing it! Broadcasting events such as Saturday’s Warhawk baseball performance is what it is all about for a broadcaster. What I enjoy most is the atmosphere of those postgame moments when the athletes, coaches, parents, and fans congregate on the field or court to soak in the excitement of winning another championship.

For me and my partner, Gary Douglas, tournament time is truly the best time of a team’s season. I have really enjoyed blogging Warhawk baseball this season on Voices Eye on Baseball Blog and broadcasting the late-season and postseason games on KOOL 106.5.

Our next stop is right back at the Mills as the Hawks host the 2010 NCAA Division III Midwest Regional beginning on Wednesday.

When you are at the stadium attending the games this week take time to soak in the incredible atmosphere of watching your Warhawks compete for their ultimate goal – the 2010 NCAA Division III Baseball Championship. It is a very special feeling!

By the way, all KOOL 1065 Warhawk baseball broadcast are available via podcast. You can access the games by cut and pasting the following Web address: http://940wfaw.com/pages/6577869.php

Hawks WIAC title just the next step of the journey

For the week prior to the 2010 WIAC Conference Baseball Tournament their was the question of how much did the UW-Whitewater baseball team want the postseason title knowing that their 35 & 4 record was good enough to earn an at-large bid into the NCAA Division III national championship field.

“Behind everything is motivation,” Warhawk head coach John Vodenlich told reporters following yesterday’s securing of an outright, 2010 WIAC title. “Our eye has always been on the regional and that and that could have been the motivation. Obviously we found the motivation to be here today to compete and we did. We did a nice job and I’m proud of them.”

Whitewater’s 5-3 and 6-2 victories over the archrival Pointers had an NCAA tournament feel to them.

The victories also showed fans the competitive nature that boils inside the players.

“I think in many respects you may have seen two of the better teams in the nation play today,” Vodenlich said. “There is a committee that decides what at-large teams will make it into the (NCAA) field.”

Stevens Point will definitely receive strong consideration to be included in this year’s tournament field.

From the first pitch this year, winning a regional championship and getting to the national championship game has been our goal, Vodenlich said.

For the Warhawks, it is on to the next step to the season – the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Need your help - photos anyone?

Just dropping a line to allow me to congratulate the Warhawks on securing an undisputed WIAC Baseball Championship. For Warhawk fans at the Mills yesterday or for those that might have been listening to me and Gary on the KOOL 106.5 broadcast, it was a very memorable afternoon of baseball.

For those of you that were taking digital photos at the games yesterday, I need your help. I was without a photographer and I don't have any photos for use on my blog.

If anyone may have photos they would like to contribute to Voices Eye on Baseball Blog your contribution would be greatly appreciated!

I don't need many. Four or five pics would be great. Especially postgame photos of the players, parents and fans celebration (get-together) in the Hawks Nest VIP area down the right field line.

I'm looking to use the photos in association with my blog stories.

You may send the photos to my email address: tpattis@core.com

Thank you in adevance for anyone that may wish to share their photos!

And finally - I hope that the Voices Eye on Baseball Blog has helped make this 2010 Warhawk baseball season more enjoyable.

See you at the Mills for NCAA Regional action on Wednesday.

-Voice

Undisputed WIAC Title even more special for the seniors

Winning championships never grows old but for the seniors on this year’s Warhawk baseball team but winning a first WIAC Tournament title was even more special.

“There is nothing better than this right now and it makes it even better that it was against Point,” senior second baseman, Ben Kuhlmann told Voices Eye on Baseball Blog following his teams WIAC Conference Tournament Title.

The senior out of Minneapolis, Minnesota Southwest High School has started 115 consecutive games for the Warhawks. Despite losing three of five games to the Pointers going into Saturday’s action, Kuhlmann said he and his teammates knew they had what it would take to win two games.

“We had all the confidence in the world. We just had to go out and do it,” Kuhlmann said.

The weekend was even more special for centerfielder Jordan Stine. The senior from Merrill received his degree Friday afternoon in special ceremonies on the field at James B. Miller Stadium between games.

Which was more special for Jordan – getting his diploma or winning the undisputed WIAC Championship as a senior?

“They were equally exciting because both of them took five years for me to accomplish,” Stine said following Saturday’s title win. “This is the first time in my career that we have felt good leaving the conference tournament.”

This was the fifth time in six years that Steven Point and Whitewater faced off in the WIAC conference championship game. The Warhawks have captured the regular season conference title six of the last seven years however had not won the WIAC Tournament Championship since 2004.
In a side-note, UW-Whitewater won the 2005 NCAA Division III National Championship and finished third in 2008 despite NOT winning the conferences’ automatic bid into the tournament.

Whitewater will open its NCAA tournament play on Wednesday in the Division III Midwest Regional to be hosted by UW-Whitewater at the Prucha Field at James B. Miller Baseball Complex. Tournament pairings will be announced on Monday.

Hooper and Donovan pitch gems on Championship Saturday

UW-Whitewater is the 2010’s undisputed WIAC baseball champion. The Warhawks defeated archrival, UW-Stevens Point, 5-3 and 6-2 Saturday, to capture the WIAC conference tournament and the conference’s automatic berth in NCAA Division III regional play beginning on Wednesday.

Whitewater out hit, out pitched, and out executed the Pointers less than 24 hours after being thrashed 15-7 by the five-time defending postseason champions.

It was UW-Whitewater’s pitching Saturday that set the table for the “championship Saturday” two game sweep.

In the opener, Jason Hooper scattered seven hits over 7 1/3 innings and Hawk “closer” Ben Versnik got the final five outs in hitless fashion to garner his eighth save of the season. Each worked out of a bases-leaded situation without allowing a run.

As a senior, the victory was even more special for Hooper, a Lake Mills native.

“It feels amazing,” Hooper said following the game. “It is great to get it (postseason title) back. I’ts been six years since we’ve had one of these.”

Jeff Donovan got the call for game-two and didn’t disappoint going 8 1/3 innings giving way to Riley Tincher with one out in the ninth and leaded 6-2. Tincher retired the final two batters to record his second save of the season.

Donovan is no stranger to being in the limelight of “big games”. Jeff ended his Warhawk football career last December by leading the Hawks to the 2009 NCAA Division III football championship. The All-American quarterback also garnered 2009 WIAC Player of the Year honors.

After the game, Donovan talked about “wanting the ball” for Saturday’s championship game.

“I really do want to pitch in a situation like that - when the pressures on. I want to be in control out there,” Donovan tells Voices Eye on Baseball Blog. “I was just really excited going into the start and I knew they’d leave me out there for 130 pitches if I was effective.”

The Warhawks will take a 38 & 5 record into next week’s NCAA Division III Midwest Regional at Prucha Field at Jim Miller Stadium. Play will begin Wednesday. The 2010 tournament pairings will be announced on Monday morning.

Hawks ace WIAC final

While UW-Whitewater graduation exercises were taking place in the nearby DLK Field House, the UW-Whitewater baseball team was busy taking one more final test. The classroom - James B. Miller Stadium. The course - the 2010 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament.

The Warhawks aced the final by defeating archrival UW-Stevens Point 5-3 and 6-2 to capture the WIAC postseason tournament and earn the WIAC’s automatic berth into the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament that will open on Wednesday.

Great pitching, timely hitting and solid defense was the recipe for capturing UWW’s first WIAC postseason tournament crown since back-to-back victories in 2003 and 2004.

Jason Hooper scattered seven hits in seven-and-a-third innings in game one in the Hawks 5-3 come-from-behind win to force game-two on “championship Saturday.” Trailing 2-1 entering the 8th inning the Hawks pushed four runs across the plate to take a 5-2 advantage. Point would score one in the bottom of the inning. Ben Versnik, who relieved Hooper with one out in the eighth did not give up a hit while getting the Pointers to go in order in the nail down his seventh save of the season.

Jeff Donovan followed Hooper’s pitching gem with one of his own in game-two. The Hawks jumped out to an 3-0 lead after two innings while Donovan was keeping the Pointer’s prolific offense off-balance for much of the game. Donovan goes eight-an-a-third innings giving up just seven hits before giving way to Riley Tincher. Just 24 hours after losing his first game after 11 consecutive wins this season, Tincher got the final two batters to record his first save of the season..

The Warhawks will take a 38 & 5 record into Midwest Regional action next Wednesday at James B. Miller Stadium.

Stevens Point falls to 29 & 15 and are “on the bubble” for a pool-C at-large bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Bids will be announced by the NCAA on Monday morning.

Much more on today’s Hawk title will be coming up later this evening.

Hawks not done yet

The UW-Whitewater baseball team will have to beat rival UW-Stevens Point twice on Sunday to earn the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament Championship and automatic berth into the 2010 NCAA Division III playoffs that open Wednesday in Whitewater.

The Pointers knocked off the WIAC regular season champions 15-7 Saturday in second round action in the three team, double elimination Tournament.

The Hawks bounced back in the next game with a 14-0 victory over UW-Platteville. UWW pounded out 17 hits while sophomore, Aaron Leitner pitched a tidy, two-hit shutout in the elimination game.

One of the questions entering the conference tournament was if Whitewater’s 35 & 4 record had already earned the WIAC regular season champions a berth in next week’s NCAA Division III Midwest Regional.

Warhawk head coach John Vodenlich talked about the scenario following Saturday’s action.

“I think it might have affected them (Warhawks) today,” Vodenlich said. “They know what’s going on and I feel they are confident that they will live for another day this postseason.”

Senior shortstop Mike Kenseth admits the team hears the talk about the team had already earned a berth in the NCAA Midwest Regional.

“We know all that stuff but we really want to win this (WIAC) tournament,” Kenseth tells Voice’s Eye on Baseball Blog. “You know that is our goal – we want conference outright. We don’t want anyone else win the conference tournament. We want it.

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

As previously indicated, the Warhawks must beat the Pointers twice Sunday to win the outright title and automatic berth into next week’s NCAA Division III Midwest Regional.

The first championship game is set for 12-noon at Prucha Field at Jim Miller Stadium in Whitewater. If you can’t make it to the park you can listen to the game live on KOOL 106.5. The games are also streamed and may be accessed online at: http://vod.uww.edu/uwwsports2/

Hawks bounce back in 14-0 shutout over UW-Platteville

The Warhawk baseball team got just what the doctor ordered in it's loser's bracket game against UW-Platteville Saturday afternoon at James B. Miller Stadium. The Hawks rocked Platteville pitching for 14 runs and 17 hits while getting a pitching gem from Aaron Leitner in Whitewater's 14-0 shutout over the Pioneers.

The Hawks got on the board first on Danny Putnam's RBI single to knock in Jordan Stine in the 3rd inning.

The Hawks added two more in the fourth, highlighted by Rob Coe's 4th home run of the season.

Ben Kuhlmann blasted a three-run homer in the fifth to highlight a four-run fifth to extend the UWW lead to 7-0.

The Hawks sealed the deal with a seven run seventh to give the Hawks a 14-0, seventh inning, ten-run rule victory.

Aaron Leitner piched a gem for the Hawks giving up just two hits to up his record to 7 & 1 on the season.

Justin Crotty went 4-and-a-third innings, giving up seven runs on seven hits. Crotty's record falls to 3 & 6. Platteville, amig just it's second appearance in the WIAC Conference Tournament, ends its season with a 22 & 20 record.

The Warhawks will take a 36 & 5 mark into tomorrow afternoon's championship round. The Hawks will need to beat UW-Stevens Point twice to capture the WIAC postseason crown and the conference's automatic berth in the 2010 NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.

Sunday's game-one is set for 12-Noon - if you can't make it to the Mills you'll be able to hear that and all Warhawk postsason tournament action on KOOL 106.5

Hawks drop 15-7 game to UW-Stevens Point in Hawks WIAC Tournament Opener

The UW-Whitewater baseball team jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead over UW-Stevens Point in game two of the 2010 WIAC Baseball Championship Friday at James B. Miller Stadium in Whitewater. At first glance, it looked like the tournament's No. 1 season was on the way to its 35th victory of the season. The Pointers had other thoughts.

Trailing 5-1 entering the fifth inning, Stevens Point's bats came alive scoring four in the third inning, four more in the 6th, and sealed the deal with 6 more in the top of the ninth. The Hawks would score two in the bottom of the ninth inning - too little too late. Final score: UWSO 15, UWW 7.

The wind was blowing out to right field in excess of 25 miles per hour Saturday afternoon which led to five home runs and seven doubles.

Jeremey Richter led the hit parade for the Pointers with a 3 for 3 day including a home run and 4 RBI. Josh Krueger and Steve Considine also blasted home runs for the No, 2 seed Pointers.

Mike Kenseth led the Hawks with a 3 for 4 day including a home run and 3 RBI (see ajacent photo courtesy of Jeff Seisser - Daily Jefferson County Union) Jordan Stine knocked it two runs including his third home run of the season.

Joel Delorit scattered 10 hits in seven innings to pick up his 7th win of the season against 2 losses.

Riley Tincher suffered his first loss of the season following 11 consecutive wins. The big lefthander gave up 9 runs on 11 hits in 5-and-a-third innings pitcher. Kyle Lee pitched the final three-a-two-thirds innings giving up 6 runs on eight hits.

With the win, Stevens Point advances to tomorrow's championhip round. Whitewater will face UW-Platteville, a 17-6 loser to Stevens Point in the tournament opemer, in a loser's bracket game at 4 p.m. Saturday.

Welcome to the Mills

Welcome to OUR home

The brand, spankin’ new James B. Miller Stadium will be hosting plenty of postseason baseball over the next 10 days.

The WIAC Conference Tournament will be held at “the Mills” Friday and Saturday this week. The NCAA Division III Midwest Regional will be held in Whitewater May 19-23. The regional will be made up of anywhere from six to eight teams.

Renovations completed earlier this spring include: a synthetic surface infield, lights, a new warning track, a new back stop, extensions to the dugouts, new bullpens, underground irrigation in the outfield, a new outfield fence, and an indoor shower and bathroom.

The lights were made possible through a $200-thousand donation from former team captain Eric Baldwin. The highly successful professional poker player was honored for his contribution during ceremonies late last month.

On the right fence are 2010 UW-Whitewater baseball corporate sponsors who play a huge part in helping make the baseball program as successful as it is.

The Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium renovation is the latest out door facilities renovation that have made UW-Whitewater’s athletic facilities among the best in Division III.

A reminder to our regular UW-Whitewater baseball fans - for the comfort and safety of all guests, pets are not allowed at James B. Miller Stadium during postseason action including both the WIAC Conference Tournament and next week’s NCAA Division III Regional.

Be aware that Saturday, May 15, is graduation day for UW-Whitewater. Parking is extremely limited and you will be directed to specific areas.

Platteville looks to play giant killer this weekend

UW-Platteville enters the 2010 WIAC Conference Baseball Tournament with just one previous appearance. That was back in 2005. The Pioneers advance to the conference tournament with a 22 & 18 record, including 11 & 13 in the WIAC.

Platteville captured the third and final playoff berth on the final day of the regular season. Four teams entered the final weekend with a chance of attaining said playoff berth.

The Pioneers have put together a tremendous season.. Eric Frese's club tied for the most victories - 22 - in program history and for just the second time qualified for the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament. UW-P also ended the regular season breaking or tying 27 school marks..

The Pioneers have already shattered records for most (464), runs (357) and home runs (47) in a season, among other marks. Individuals have also set several marks and are on the verge of more.

Platteville returned a number of players from last year's team that won 21 games, then got a huge boost from a couple of junior college transfers. Junior Aaron Hopson arrived from Augustana (Ill.) College, and senior Nartowicz came from Madison Area Technical College.
Hopson's .680 slugging percentage and 11 home runs are second in the conference, and he is batting .361 with 43 RBIs. Nartowicz is batting .325 and slugging .541 with seven homers and 44 RBIs.

"As good offensively as we've been all year, it's hard to sustain that on a daily basis in baseball," UW-P head coach Eric Frese tells the Dubuque Tribune-Herald. "It still comes down to pitching and defense."

Platteville’s pitching staff is led by Wil Osmanski. The 6-foot-7 junior is 7-2 with a 3.93 ERA and three complete games.
The Pioneers enter the weekend knowing they can beat Whitewater and Point; Platteville took one of four from each in the regular season with a one-run loss to both.

"Now we have to go out and prove to ourselves that we're good enough to play with them on the big stage," Frese said.

The Pioneers open the weekend by taking on No. 2 seed, UW-Stevens Point at 10 a.m. Friday.

UWSP has eye on WIAC postseason title

(The following story includes quotes courtesy of the Stevens Point Journal)

UW-Stevens Point enters this weekend’s Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament as the No. 2 seed. The Pointers finished the regular season with a 27 & 13 record including a 16-8, second place finish in the conference.

The Pointer’s will meet UW-Platteville in the opener of the double-elimination tournament Friday at James B. Miller Stadium. The first pitch is set for 10 a.m.

The Pointers will be looking for a sixth consecutive automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Whitewater and Point split their four-game series last month in Whitewater.

“You need to understand that nothing you did in the regular season means you did in the regular season means you have the advantage now,” Bloom tells the Stevens Point Journal. “The postseason is a totally different animal.”

This year’s conference tournament has been cut to a three-team, double-elimination affair. According to UWSP head coach Pat Bloom, it is a format that favors the No. 1 seed.

It’s conceivable that the winner of the Point-Platteville game could play three games Friday. The No. 1 seed could win the WIAC’s automatic berth by winning just two games.

“The new format give an even greater advantage to the No. 1 seed,” This format means you have to line up your starting pitching right away and you must get quality starts from them.”

The UWSP pitching staff is led by Joel Delorit. The junior out of Southern Door High School enters the weekend coming off three consecutive eight inning complete game victories.

Delorit ranks fourth in the WIAC in ERA (3.64) and his 78 strikeouts leads the conference.

“This is not different than any other tournament. You’ve got to get good pitching, and the offense has to consistently perform for us,” Bloom said. “You have to find a way to win games early in the tournament so you don’t back yourself against the wall.”

The winner of this weekend’s conference tournament receives the WIAC’s automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament that begins next week.

Warhawks will take a 35-4 record into this weekend's conference tournament

For those that don’t remember, the 2009 Warhawk baseball team missed making it to the NCAA Division III “World Series” by a smidgen last season. The ’09 Hawks lost to Carthage College in the championship game of the Moline (Ill) Regional. The Hawks finished last year with a solid 30 and 19 record.

There have been plenty of changes made to this year’s starting line-up. Only Ben Kuhlmann, Rob Coe, Nick Rechlitz, Matt Beyer and Travis Wessels were in the starting line-up in last season’s Regional final.

Jordan Stine missed all of last year due to injury. Jeff Donovan also missed all of 2009. Mike Kenseth missed much of the final third of the season due to injury.

Stine and Donovan are back this year. Kenseth is penciled in at shortstop each game. Also on this year’s squad is Danny Putnam who started his college career at NCAA Division 1 Central Arkansas State.

The ’09 team finished its season with a .280 batting average. This year’s batting average is a more robust .360.

“Donovan, Stine and Putnam (see adjacent photo courtesy of UWW Athletics) are obviously good quality offensive ‘sticks’ that we didn’t have a year ago,” Coach Vodenlich tell’s Voices Eye on Baseball.

Prior to this season Vodenlich was asked about his top recruits for 2010.

“I would be asked who do you have for recruits coming in?” Vodenlich explains. “Well we have Jeff Donovan and Jordan Stine so we’re sitting pretty good there. “Putnam is also a very good addition and Kenseth is playing better than he ever has. Those additions have had a great impact on our team both offensively and defensively.”

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that nothing is a given in baseball. The Warhawks enter the postseason with one of the top records in the country. The postseason is a different “animal.” Don’t get looking ahead. Play one game at a time. Yes its cliché time but it is the way a team MUST approach the postseason.

“At the end of the year it really doesn’t matter what other people think, its what you believe, Vodenlich tells the Royal Purple. “We’ve always believed that we were the best team in the conference and that we were going to win the WIAC postseason title. Now we have to go out and do it on the field.

UW-Whitewater will open play in this weekend’s three-team conference tournament by playing the game-one winner between UW-Stevens Point and UW-Platteville. Action begins at 10 a.m. Friday morning at Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium in Whitewater. The Hawks and the winner of game-one are scheduled to play at approximately 1 p.m.

A reminder, all the games in Whitewater’s postseason run will be broadcast live with Gary Douglas and Tom “Voice” Pattison on KOOL 106.5. The games will also be “streamed” by clicking onto UW-Whitewater’s athletic Website.

Cut and paste the following Website address:
http://vod.uww.edu/uwwsports2/

Rob Coe shines brightly behind the plate

Rob Coe is flat out the most talented catcher in the WIAC this season. The junior out of Appleton North High School leads the Warhawks in hitting with a .403 average along with three home runs and 34 RBI. Coe is also the top defensive catcher in the conference.

Want proof? Whitewater has stolen 99 of 125 bases this year. Opponents have stolen just nine bases in 18 attempts! UW-W pitchers have done an excellent job in holding runners but just 18 attempts on the season? It is quite obvious that opposing teams have plenty of respect for Coe’s arm.

Warhawk head coach John Vodenlich knows a thing or two on what it takes to be a top-rate catcher. The Hawk “skipper” played catcher during his Warhawk baseball career (1989-92). By the time he finished he had become the baseball program’s first two-time All-American.

In the Warhawks three appearances in the NCAA Division III “World Series” Whitewater has featured outstanding catchers. In 2004 and 2005 it was Aaron Guilbault. Billy Johnson was behind the plate in 2008.

“Rob is calling more and more of the games for himself which is a great asset to have,” Vodenlich tells Voices Eye on Baseball. Defensively he has blocked the ball well and features an outstanding arm along with having a great stick.”

Although he is just a junior, Rob brings plenty of leadership both on and off the field.

“I just go out there and do anything I can to help the team win,” Coe said following a recent game. “I’m just going out there and try to help everyone improve. I work hard with our pitchers in hitting their spots. Its all about doing what you can do so that we can keep winning.”

Coe was a 1st Team All-WIAC selection as a sophomore last year and according to Coach Vodenlich has continued to improve.

“I don’t remember a great team that didn’t have a great catcher,” Vodenlich said. “I like to think that he really has the makings of being great.

Tincher anchors solid Warhawk pitching staff

One of the big questions heading into the season revolved around the UW-Whitewater pitching staff.

Riley Tincher was equal to the challenge. The 6-foot-3, 225 lb. lefthander enters the postseason with an 11 and 0 record. The junior from Oregon (Wis) had 11 starts during the regular season with each of the starts ending with a Whitewater win.

“Pitching is pitching,” Tincher said. “Either starting or in relief it’s pitching and the object is to throw strikes.”

Only one pitcher in NCAA Division III has more victories than Riley. Derek Johnson of Redlands (California) leads Division III with a 12 & 2 record.

Tincher also appeared in a relief role seven times. His 3.71 earned run average ranks second on the Warhawk pitching staff behind closer, Ben Versnik.

The big lefthander entered his senior season with plenty of optimism.

“I had high expectations,” Tincher tells Voices Eye on Baseball. “Maybe not 11 & 0 but I did expect to have a solid season on the mound.”

Hard work and wanting the ball has been the key to Riley’s success.

“I work hard and I want the ball every chance that I can get,” Tincher said. “I’ve always had the same intensity whether it is practice or game-day.”

Tincher is joined in the Hawks’ starting rotation by Jason Hooper (5-2), Aaron Leitner (6-1) and Jeff Donovan (3-0). They have combined for an impressive 25 and 3 record.

Pairings set for 2010 WIAC Postseason Baseball Tournament

UW-Platteville will join UW-Whitewater and UW-Stevens Point this weekend in the 2010 WIAC Postseason Baseball Tournament.

The three teams are the only teams with a winning overall season record. The Pioneers enter the postseason with a 22 & 18 season record and 11 & 13 in the WIAC. Stevens Point 27 & 13 overall and 15 & 8 in the conference. WIAC regular season champion Whitewater finished the regular season 35 & 4, 21 & 3 in the WIAC.

The Warhawks split both of its doubleheaders against the Pointers. On April 24th at Whitewater the Hawks won game-one 7-5 while losing the nightcap 12-1. On April 26th the Warhawks were an 8-1 winner in game-one. The Pointers came back to hand the Hawks a 15-9 defeat.

The Warhawks took three of four at Platteville in early April at Platteville. The Hawks won the first three games 15-2, 7-6 and 12-2 before losing 8-4 in the final game of the four-game series.

Stevens Point won three of its four games vs. the Pioneers in Stevens Point. The Pointers won the first three games 14-5, 11-10 and 11-8. The Pioneers salvaged the final game of the four-game weekend series 11-6.

The three-team postseason playoffs will open with Stevens Point playing Platteville at 10 a.m. Friday at James B. Miller Stadium. Whitewater will play the winner at 1 p.m. in the double elimination tournament.

The postseason tournament champion recieves the WIAC's automatic bid into the 2010 NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.

Warhawk baseball no stranger to NCAA Tournament play

With the 2010 postseason getting underway next weekend, lets take a look at the four UW-Whitewater baseball teams that made it to the NCAA Division III World Series.

The Hawks first trip to the NCAA Division III “World Series” was back in 1989. The ’89 squad coaches by future hall-of-famer Jim Miller needed to get by archrival UW-Oshkosh in regional action in Oshkosh.

On the final day of regional action Oshkosh needed to beat the Warhawks twice to get back to the “World Series” for a sixth consecutive year.

The first “championship” game saw the Titans destroy Whitewater 36-10. Miller’s team was not fazed as it came back to beat Oshkosh 11-6 to punch the program’s first ticket to an NCAA Division III World Series. The 1989 NCAA Division III Championship was held in Bristol, Connecticut where the Hawks lost a tight 3-2 game to California State-Stanislaus in the opener and 5-2 to Johns Hopkins (Maryland) on day two. Whitewater finished the season with a 28 & 15 mark.

It would be 15 years later before the Warhawks would make it back to the “World Series.” The Hawks went through the Midwest Regional unbeaten at Prucha Field to earn the right to travel to Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton to play for a national title.

The Hawks opened play by losing 8-2 to Rowan (New Jersey). Whitewater responded with two consecutive wins – 8-1 over Salisbury (MD) and a 4-3 victory over SUNY-Brockport.

The following day the Warhawks appeared on the verge of making it to a championship match-up with George Fox (Oregon). The Hawks led Eastern Connecticut State 1-0 entering the bottom of the ninth inning. ECSU ended UWW’s championship run with a walk-off two-run home run with nobody out for a 2-1 victory. The Hawks went home with the 2004 third place trophy. The Hawks ended 2004 with a 39 & 9.

The 2005 Warhawk baseball team used the 2004 season as a springboard to bigger and better things. The ’05 team boasted incredible pitching depth on the way to a school record 45 wins.

Whitewater beat UW-Stevens Point 7-5 in the Regional to earn a return trip to Fox Cities Stadium.

The Warhawks swept Trinity (CT) 8-3, Chapman (CA) 7-6, Wooster (OH) 10-7 to advance to the championship game. The next day UW-Whitewater would earn the school’s first ever NCAA Division III Baseball Championship with a 10-4 victory over SUNY-Cortland. (see adjacent photo)

The Warhawks last championship run occurred in 2008.

Whitewater advanced to the 2008 NCAA Division III “World Series” with a 21-13 regional final victory over St. Scholastica (MN) on a windy day in Oshkosh.

The Warhawks lost its opening game at Fox Cities Stadium 5-1 at the hands of Linfield (OR). Having to advance through the “loser’s” bracket, the Hawks went on a three game winning streak beating SUNY-Cortland 10-2, Chapman (CA) 7-4.

The following day Whitewater would have to win two games to advance to the championship. The Warhawks won the first of the games 13-11 over Adrian (MI). The next game would be another slugfest as the Hawks fell to Johns-Hopkins (MD) 12-11 resulting in the Hawks to finish third for the second time in four years. The Hawks ended 2004 with a 42 & 10 record.

This year’s Warhawks will take a 35 & 4 record into the postseason. Whitewater will host both the WIAC postseason tournament and the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional.

Versnik impressive in the role of the Hawks' closer

One of the key aspects for the Warhawk pitching staff this year has been in the closer’s role. Ben Versnik has appeared in 17 games so far this season with all but one being in as the Hawks closer. His 3.00 ERA leads the Hawk pitching staff. Versnik’s strike out to walk ratio is excellent with 30 strike outs and just seven walks.

The sophomore out of West Allis Hale High School recorded six saves during the regular season to lead the WIAC. The six saves ties the school record set in 2004 by Collin Kuecker.

Versnik, who was a starter his freshman season, was given the “closer” role back in the Hawks spring trip to Florida.

“We needed him to be a starter last year and he’ll return to a starter later in his career,” head coach John Vodenlich tells Voices Eye on Baseball.

Why Versnik as a closer?

“He has a closer’s mentality,” Vodenlich said.“He’s got the stuff that if he’s on he will dominate and that is great to have for the backend of a game.”

Versnik was quick to adapt to his new role.

“I get to go out there and give everything I have for one inning,” Versnik said. “It is a lot different than when I was a starter and had to control my energy through several innings.”

The sophomore has made the most out of the experiment that began back in March.

“I had no clue what was going to happen going into the season,” Versnik said. “Ever since Coach (Vodenlich) put me in this role I’ve just rolled with it and it has been fun.”

WIAC's 3rd seed will be determined Sunday

It will come down to the final day of the reguler season to determine the third and final berth in next weekend's WIAC postseason tournament.

Whitewater clinched the No. 1 seed and UW-Stevens Point the No. 2 seed last weekend.

Entering this weekend's games Platteville had a 9 & 11 conference record. Oshkosh, Superior and La Crosse were all at 8 & 12.

Platteville and Superior split Saturday's doubleheader at Superior. Oshkosh swept two from La Crosse.

Subday's playoff scenario includes:

Platteville controls its own destiny. They sweep Superior Sunday and they are clinch a playoff berth regardless of what else happens.

Superior needs to sweep Platteville Sunday, AND have La Crosse beat Oshkosh one time.

Oshkosh needs to sweep La Crosse Sunday AND have Superior beat Platteville at least once. If Oshkosh loses once they are eliminated regardless of what happens in the other games, due to losing tie-breakers with both Platteville and Superior.

The 2010 WIAC Baseball Tournament will be held March 14th and 15th in Whitewater. Action gets underway at 10 a.m. Friday with the No. 2 seed taking on the No. 3 seed. The Warhawks will will play the winner of game-one at 1 p.m. Friday.

Warhawks turn thoughts to the postseason

The Warhawk baseball team set some lofty goals heading into the 2010 season. They secured a huge goal over the weekend by clinching the WIAC regular season title for the seventh time in the last eight years.

Whitewater will take a sensational 35 & 4 record into postseason play beginning with the conference tournament in Whitewater on May 14th & 15th.

According to UW-Whitewater "closer" Ben Versnik the team's mindset in the postseason will be to focus on the present - not the future. In other words, one game at a time.

"We want to win the conference tournament and we know we have to win the first game and then one more," Versnik told Voices Eye on Baseball following Thursday's doubleheader sweep. "Once thats over we must do it all over again, one game at a time in the regional.

After that? "We want to get back to the (Division III) World Series and compete for another national championship.

The Warhawks won the 2005 national title and finished 3rd in Appleton in 2004 and 2008.

Whitewater will play host to both the WIAC Postseason Tournament and the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional. The Division III World Series will again be played at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton.

Warhawks close out regular season with sweep of Concordia

Following a sluggish start the UW-Whitewater baseball team closed out the 2010 regular season Thursday afternoon with a pair of nonconference wins, 7-4 and 12-1, over Concordia (WI) at James B. Miller Stadium.

The Hawks trailed 3-2 in game one before scoring four times in the sixth and once in the seventh to put the game away. Whitewater ripped four doubles (Stine, Coe, Leavitt and Beyer) in the game. The red-hot Beyer also added a triple.

Jeff Donovan got the start and went five innings giving up four hits, two runs (one earned) and striking out four. Eric Schmitz (2-0) got the win with two innings of relief. Kyle Lee and Ben Versnik each pitched a hitless inning to finish the game.

Whitewater played long-ball in its game-two victory. Danny Putnam, Rob Coe, and Jeff Donovan all homered. For Donovan it was his 11th of the season. Coe and Jordan Stine added two-base hits.

Aaron Leitner (6-1) started and went five innings surrendering a single run on two hits. Tom Kerndt, Jason Hooper, Andrew Bauer and Riley Tincher all pitched a single inning in relief with Kerndt, Hooper and Tincher each striking out two

The Hawks close the regular season with a 35 & 4 record, one of the finest in school history.

Hawks 7, Concordia 4 (Game One)

The Warhawkbaseball team defeated Concordia (Mequon) 7-4 in game one of this afternoon's regulars season ending doubleheader at Him Miller Stadium.

The Hawks trailed 3-2 entering the bottom of the sixth inninng. Thats when the bats came alive scoring four runs to takea 6-3 lead. Ben Kuhlman & Matt Beyer led the way at the plate going 2 for 4 with 2 |RBI

Jeff Donovan started the game for the 'Hawks and pitched the first five innings to a tie, giving up two runs, before giving way to Eric Schmitz who eventually earned the win. Schmitz is 2-0 this season. The Warhawks used four different pitchers in the game and they combined for eight strikeouts.

Game Two is underway with the Hawks leading 4-0 in the fourth inning.

Fresh off its WIAC title-clinching weekend in Superior the Warhawks came out rather flat in today's opening game vs. Concordia University.

The Hawks trailed 3-2 entering the bottom of the sixth innning. The Warhawk bats got going in the bottom of the sixth by plating four runs to take a 6-3 lead.

Eric Schmitz came on in relief of UWW starter Jeff Donovan.

After six-and-a-half inninngs: Warhawks 6,Concordia 4

Hawks host Concordia Thursday in regular season finale

The Warhawk baseball team winds up the regular season this afternoon by hosting Concordia University (21-13) of Mequon in doubleheader action at Jim Miller Stadium. The Hawks enter Thursday's action with a 33 & 4 record, ranked No. 3 in the nation according to D3Baseball.com.

Earlier in the season Warhawk head coach John Vodenlich told Voice's Eye on Baseball Blog that the season is a journey, not a sprint. The regular season portion will end with Thursday's non-conference doubleheader vs. Concordia beginning at 1 p.m.

Next weekend the Warhawks captured thhe 2010 WIAC title. It is the seventh in the last eight seasons and 13th in program history.

UW-Whitewater will host the three-team, double-elimination WIAC Tournament as the event’s top seed May 14-15. The winner of the conference tournament earns the league’s automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Championship.

The NCAA Midwest Regional Tournament will take place at UW-Whitewater's Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium.













Action begins this afternoon at 1 pm.

Hawks sweep Superior 17-7 and 10-4

The UW-Whitewater baseball team wrapped up its 2010 WIAC regular season by sweeping UW-Superior Monday afternoon in Superior. UW-W defeated the Yellowjackets 17-7 (in seven innings) and 10-4 in the nightcap.

The Hawks showed no sign of a letdown just 24 hours after clinching its third consecutive WIAC and seventh in the last eight years.

Whitewater came out of the gate with seven runs in the first inning and seven more in the fourth on the way to its seven inning, run differential victory.

Jason Hooper scattered seven hits in five and two-thirds innings to push his record to 5 & 2. Kyle Lee pitched one inning in relief while Brock Liston recorded the final out of the game.

Four Hawks recorded multiple hits in the game led by Ben Kuhlmann’s 3 for 5 effort.

19 Warhawks played in the game.

Game two saw the Warhawks trail for the only time in the four-game weekend series trailing 1-0 after two innings.

The Hawks scored two in the fourth to take a lead they would not relinquish.

Riley Tincher pitched seven and a third, giving up one run while scattering four hits. Tincher struck out eleven while improving his record to 11 & 0 on the season. Tom Kerndt came on in relief to record the final five outs of the game.

Rob Coe led the Hawk offense in game-two going 3 for 5, Jordan Stine 2 for 4 with 3 RBI, and Jeff Donovan with 3 RBI including his team-high 11th home run of the season.

UW-Whitewater is now 33-4 overall and 21-3 in the WIAC, while the UW-Superior falls to 16-18 overall and 8-12 in the WIAC.

Rechlitz shines at the hot corner

One of the primary reasons the UW-Whitewater baseball team has been able to put together a 31 & 4 record has been its offensive consistency throughout the batting order.

Batting No. 9 is third baseman Nick Rechlitz. The senior from Milwaukee Marquette High School has a stout .368 batting average.

At the bottom of the batting order Nick views his roll as being a facilitator for the top of the order.

“I see my job as just trying to get on base for the guys at the top of the order to drive me in,” Rechlitz told Voices Eye on Baseball following Sunday’s doubleheader sweep in Superior.

Rechlitz has been outstanding at third base this season. He has spent his career playing a number of positions.

“I’ll admit it has been an adjustment,” Rechlitz said. “I’ve kind of moved around on the infield. I started as a shortstop and played second base. Third base is all about reacting and we’ve worked on it a lot this season. Making plays out there is what I’m trying to do.

As far as “making plays” is concerned, Rechlitz has committed just three errors this season.

Rechlitz may get his aggressive play on the field from another sport. Nick was a four year letter winner in wrestling in highs school.

Following Saturday’s clinching the WIAC baseball championship Nick echoed the feeling of everybody on the squad – there is plenty of baseball to be played and a number of goals still to attain,

Leitner and Donovan outstanding on the mound in Sunday's DH sweep

The UW-Whitewater pitching staff is much more than just Riley Tincher and Jason Hooper. The two veteran pitchers have dominated the headlines for much of the season. Sunday’s starting combo of Aaron Leitner and Jeff Donovan continued to show there own dominance.

Leitner (see adacent photo) won game-one vs. UW-Superior. The sophomore transfer from Lawrence University scattered eight hits, walked three and struck out eight in seven innings of work. Eric Schmitz went the final two innings, allowing just one hit and striking out two. Leitner is now 5 & 1 on the season.

The former Player of the Year in the Midwest Conference has been a major cog on the UW-W pitching staff. Leitner’s only loss occurred on March 20th in Winterhaven, Florida vs. Cortland State, New York.

The key to Aaron’s success has been keeping the ball down, getting ahead in the count and throwing strikes.

Leitner says pitching is much more complex in the WIAC.

“In the Midwest Conference most teams would have three or four really good hitters in a lineup,” Leitner tells Voices Eye on Baseball. “In this conference you face really good hitters from one to nine.”

The Warhawks slammed three home runs in the game. Jeff Donvan hit his 11th of the season. The red-hot Matt Beyer slammed his seventh and Rob Coe his third of the season,

In game two, Jeff Donovan did not allow a hit until there was two out in the fifth inning.
Superior designated hitter Shaun Marshall broke up the no hit bid by blasting a two-run home run. Donovan went seven and two thirds innings to improve his record to 3-0. The lanky righthander allowed five hits, walked six and struck out three. Ben Versnik closed out the game, allowing just one hit to record his seventh save of the season..

“It’s great to be part of it, we did it as a team,” Donovan said following Sunday’s WIAC clinching sweep of Superior. “I was honored to have the opportunity to get the ball (pitch) in a situation like that.”

Whitewater will wind up the WIAC portion of the schedule Monday by playing the doubleheader postponed on Saturday.

Hawks claim outright WIAC title

The UW-Whitewater baseball team sets its goals prior to each season. One of those goals was accomplished Sunday afternoon as the Warhawks have clinched its 9th WIAC regular season championship in the past 11 years.

The Hawks cliched no less than a share of the title with its 11-3 win in game-one of Sunday's doubleheader at Superior.

Whitewater clinched the outright title with a 10-2 win in game-two of the twin bill. Second-place Stevens Point split its doublehheader against La Crosse - winning the first game 10-9. Point lost game-two 15-5 in eight innings.

UW-Whitewater head coach John Vodenlich told Voice's Eye on Baseball that winning the conference championship is just one of several goals for the 31 & 4 Warhawks.

"We want this every year, there's no doubt about it," Vodenlich said following Sunday's clinching of the WIAC championship. "I would be lying if I told you our minds are anything but on the upcoming NCAA Division III Regional that will be played in Whitewater. Not to say the WIAC postseason tournament is not important.

Whitewater will host the 2010 WIAC Postseason Tournament beginning on March 14th. The NCAA Division III Midwest Regional will take place the following week.

Much more will be coming up later this evening, but its time to head out to dinner. In the words of Homer Simpson - Ummm Food.

Hawks Clinch Title

The Warhawks have clinched at least a share of the 2010 WIAC regular season title. The Hawks defeated UW-Superior this afternoon 11-3 in game one of a doubleheader. UW-Stevens Point averted elimination from the title race with a 10-9 victory over UW-La Crosse in the first game of a twinbill in Stevens Point.

The magic number is now one for the Hawks to clinch the title outright.

The Hawks scored five runs in the first inning and never looked back in picking up win No. 30 of the season.

Aaron Leitner pitched seven innings to pick up the win.

Mattt Beyer, Jeff Donovan and Rob Coe each hit home runs for Whitewater.

Much more including game quotes and more will be coming up following today's game-two.

Hawks one win away from 9th WIAC title in last 11 years

The Warhawks "magic number" to clich it's 9th WIAC regular season title in the last 11 years. Second place UW-Stevens Point split its doubleheader with UW-La Crosse Saturday. With the split, the best WIAC record the Pointer can achieve is 18 & 6. Whitewater enters the first day of its four game weekend series at Superior with a 17 & 3 mark. One victory will get the Hawks to the 18 win plateau and earn no worse than "a piece" of the 2010 WIAC title. Two wins Sunday gives the Hawks the undisputed championship.

Sunday's weather forecast for the Twin Ports: Partly cloudy and windy. Temperatures steady or falling to near 51F. Winds SW at 20 to 25 mph.

Voices Eye on Baseball Blog will update the score every three innings today from Superior and keep an eye on UW-Stevens Point's doubleheader with UW-La Crosse.