Sam Keller makes an extra stop in his journey from Milwaukee to UW-Whitewater

I have often talk on my blog on the quality depth the UW-Whitewater baseball team has in battling for a WIAC championship on an annual basis.

2011 is no different. The Hawks showed that depth in Wednesday’s 8-2. game-two victory over Platteville Wednesday afternoon at the Mills.

Coach Vodenlich shuffled his normal line-up in game-two by starting back-up players at several positions.

One of those “back-ups” took an extended path from playing his high school baseball at Milwaukee Riverside/University High School.

Sam Keller was an outstanding baseball and football player at Riverside. He announced early in his senior season (2008) that he would attend NCAA Division I Grambling University (Louisiana) to play baseball.

Keller made the decision to transfer to UW-Whitewater following his sophomore season with the Tigers.

“I actually came here (UWW) to be close to my mom and dad in Milwaukee,” Keller told voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com. “That means a lot to me and my parents.”

Keller was a multi-sport star at Riverside, being All-Conference in both baseball and as a linebacker in football.

His hustle on the diamond jumps out at a fan watching from the stands.

Keller went 2 for 4 with an RBI and run scored in Wednesday’s 8-2 victory. The two times Keller didn’t get on base he was hustling down the line while diving face-first into first base in an effort to get an infield single.

His high school coach, Matthew Parlier, calls the key to Keller’s success due of great work ethic, attitude, character and leadership ability.

Keller was a member of Riverside High School’s National Honor Society and named a scholar-athlete his two years at Grambling.

Keller is one of a number of players that have played first base when Jeff Donovan is pitching. He has also played center field and hit in the designated hitters role.