Warhawk baseball closing in a season opening weekend in Omaha, Nebraska

Coming off an outstanding 42 & 7 record in 2010, the defending WIAC regular season and postseason champions have been busy during the preseason filling holes in the lineup due to graduation.

There is an old baseball axiom in baseball that for success you must be strong up the middle.

Gone from last year's Warhawk baseball team are Mike Kenseth and Ben Kuhlmann, the WIAC’s top shortstop/2nd hase combination. Also finishing up his eligibility was multi-year All-WIAC centerfielder Jordan Stine.

Third baseman Nick Rechlitz must also be replaced

“It all boils down to pitching, hitting and defense” 2010 WIAC Coach of the Year John Vodenlich tells Voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com. “During preseason practice we have done the same thing we do every year. We believe if we can throw, catch, hit, run, and play defense, the fundamentals, we will win the majority of games again this year.”

“Having said that, it always begins with pitching and defense,” Vodenlich said. “Both Riley Tincher and Jeff Donovan are back and that gives us two great arms at the top of our rotation.”

“With the loss of our shortstop, second baseman, and center fielder, filling those rolls will be vitally important,” Vodenlich indicated in an interview last week. “If we can fill those spots satisfactorly I think we’ll do just fine.”

The Hawks open the season with three nonconference games vs. Concordia-Moorehead (Minn) next weekend in Omaha, Nebraska. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Friday (March 4th) and a single game on Saturday (March 5th)

The Hawks once again will head to central Florida for a jampacked eight days of games beginning on March 17th.

The Warhawks’ home opener is a doubleheader vs. Bethel University (Minn) on March 26th on Prucha Field at James Miller Stadium.

Check back often this week as I’ll be blogging numerous articles previewing the 2011 Warhawk baseball team. My tentative plans will also have me travelling to Omaha this weekend to keep UWW baseball fans “in the know” on the season-opening three games vs. Concordia-Moorhead (Minn).