Leavitt outstanding in lead-off spot over the weekend

UW-Whitewater head coach John Vodenlich entered the weekend juggling the Warhawks’ batting order. Ryan Levitt (see adjacent photo) was in the lead-off slot all weekend. The sophomore from Merrill responded by going 7 for 20 from the plate, scoring 7 runs with 6 RBI and 2 home runs.

The Hawks’ designated hitter tells Voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com that his approach at the plate in the No. 1 slot is a bit different than farther down the batting order.

“The biggest thing for me is just seeing pitches so the guys behind me know what the pitcher has.” Leavitt said following Sunday’s doubleheader sweep of La Crosse.

Leavitt is batting .406 with 4 home runs and 25 RBI.

One of the keys to the Hawks success this season has been the consistency of hitting throughout the batting order.

Case in point occurred in game-two on Sunday when UW-La Crosse took a 4-3 lead into the ninth inning.

The Warhawks scored five runs in the frame with five different players recording an RBI. Jordan Stine, Rob Coe, Mike Kenseth, Nick Rechlitz, and Daniel Putnam each drove in a run for UW-W who batted around in the inning.

The Warhawks have shown an amazing resiliency at the plate for much of the season.

“This team has the spirit,” John Vodenlich said following Sunday’s four-game sweep of the Eagles. “They have a come-from-behind spirit . They have a lot of confidence going into the next couple of weeks. Hey, anyway you cut it that was four victories on the road.

The Hawks are now 23 & 2 overall and 11-2 in the WIAC.

They are back home for an eight-game homestand. UW-Oshkosh will be in town for a twin bill on Wednesday. UW-Stevens Point, now in second place, three games back in the standings, invades Jim Miller Stadium for a pair of doubleheaders this weekend. Oshkosh will be back for another doubleheader a week from Wednesday.

A reminder…. KOOL 106.5 will be broadcast several of the games during the upcoming homestand. Veteran sportscaster’s Gary Douglas and Tom Pattison will have the radio call of game-one vs. Oshkosh on Wednesday. They will broadcast both games of Saturday’s doubleheader vs. UW-Stevens Point along with the first game of the April 28th doubleheader vs. Oshkosh.

The radio station is prevented from airing this Sunday’s doubleheader with Stevens Point due to contract obligations with NASCAR.

For those of you outside the KOOL 106.5 listening area, the broadcasts will be streamed. More information on that later this week.