Vodenlich talks about his team in the D III World Series for a 4th time

UW-Whitewater head coach John Vodenlich fully understands the impact of having the Warhawks in the NCAA Division III World Series.

As a player, Vo was a catcher on the 1989 squad – the first team in school history to be a participant in the Division III World Series.

Since returning to his Alma Mater to take over the UWW baseball program from his mentor and iconic head coach Jim “Mills” Miller, the Hawks have made the 1 hour 25 minute drive up Highway 26 to Fox Cities Stadium.

This will be the third UW-Whitewater team under Vodenlich – the first since 2008.

“You know we were there in 2004, 2005 and 2008,” Vodenlich indicated during his postgame interview following the Hawks regional championship victory Saturday afternoon. “It is great to get back there.”

Vodenlich and his team had possessed bad memories for a full year after UW-Stevens Point defeated the Warhawks on the final day of the 2010 Division III Midwest Regional to block UWW’s bid to make last year’s NCAA Division III World Series.

“Last year (2010), I think was an important part of this year’s story,” Vodenlich said. “I can’t say this for sure, but maybe if we won here (’10 regional final) last year. Then maybe we would have had a little less drive this year. That loss to Stevens Point was part of everybody who was on that team.”

Coach Vo told his team on the field following its 6-3 regional championship victory that the Hawks aren’t just going to Appleton to be there.

“This was a tough (UW-Whitewater) regional where there were a number of quality individuals and quality programs.” Vodenlich said. “To come out of here (Midwest Region) should make us feel pretty good about our chances up there (NCAA Division III World Series at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton).”

The Warhawks will open play on Friday at 4:30 p.m. vs Central Region champion, Buena Vista University of Storm Lake, Iowa.