Voices Notes for April 1st

Hello again everybody! What a day for a baseball game. In the words of former Chicago Cub Ernie Banks - "Lets play two!"

From my notebook:

• UW-Whitewater right fielder Daniel Putnam has certainly made an impression in his first year at Whitewater. The transfer from Division I University of Central Arkansas enters today’s doubleheader vs. Marian University leading the WIAC in hits, runs scored, doubles, total bases and stolen bases. Putnam was a single shy of hitting for the cycle in a 12-4 Warhawk win over Washington and Jefferson last week in Florida.

• Today’s doubleheader at the Mills will be played under sunshine and a forecast high temperature of 80 degrees. I haven’t checked out weather records for April 1st in Whitewater, but this could be the warmest weather for a preconference game in a very long time.

• UW-Stout centerfielder Brian Giebel has been named the WIAC Player of the Week. In six games at the RussMatt Baseball Central Florida Invitational, the junior from River Falls was 10-for-24 as the leadoff hitter. Giebel hit .417 with 11 runs scored, hitting four doubles, one triple and one home run and had three runs batted in.

• UW-Oshkosh right-handed pitcher Kyle Kannenberg (Sr. • Oshkosh) has been honored as the WIAC's Baseball Pitcher of the Week. Kannenberg's award stems from two strong performances in games played March 22-28. The senior from Oshkosh recorded a win and a save during an appearance against St. John’s University (Minn.) on March 24 and Bethany Lutheran College (Minn.) on March 25 at Mall of America Field in Minneapolis, Minn. Kannenberg recorded a win and a save during an appearance against St. John’s University (Minn.) on March 24 and Bethany Lutheran College (Minn.) on March 25 at Mall of America Field in Minneapolis, Minn.

• This could be the final year for UW-La Crosse baseball. In order to preserve baseball at the UW-La Crosse. A group called Save UWL Baseball has worked extremely hard to raise the required $175,000 in cash and pledges by May 1st, 2010. Without someone coming forth with a substantial donation it appears the fundraising effort will fall short of its goal. As of March 28th $72,800 had been raised. If we the fundraising effort falls short of it’s goal baseball as we know it will be gone at La Crosse after the 2010 season.

• Losing UW-La Crosse baseball would have a significant impact on the WIAC. If La Crosse is dropped from the WIAC that would mean the number of baseball teams competing is down to six. That's one below the NCAA minimum for leagues to receive an automatic berth in the Division III National Tournament.

See you at James B. Miller Stadium this afternoon. Game-One of today's doublheader against Marian University (Fond du Lac) is set to begin at 1 p.m.

-Voice