Royal Purple

Issue date: 5/13/09 Section: Sports

Baseball head coach John Vodenlich woke up to the best possible news Monday morning.

After losing to UW-Stevens Point in the WIAC tournament final last Saturday, Vodenlich was not anticipating a berth into the 54-team NCAA field.

And while he thought his team's season could be over, the selection committee awarded the 'Hawks an at-large berth.

"I was extremely happy," Vodenlich said. "Baseball's a great game. As much as were all disappointed Saturday, the sun came up Sunday and now anything's possible at this point."

With their new life, the Warhawks (26-17), seeded No. 3, battle the No. 4-seeded Washington University Bears (25-10) today at 7 p.m. in Moline, Ill, in the opening round of the six-team Central Regional.

"I don't know much about them yet," Vodenlich said. "We're doing as much as we can to gather information about them. I just know a lot about their university."

The 'Hawks will try to turn the tide on Washington, as the Bears have been a thorn in the side of UW-Whitewater athletics, recently. The Bears have eliminated the Warhawk volleyball and basketball teams from NCAA competition the last two years.

UW-Whitewater enters regional competition with a 6-5 record in their last 11 games, while Washington University has won 10 of its last 11 contests.

Vodenlich said his team's strength-of-schedule was a reason the 'Hawks were rewarded a bid.

"We played the best competition," Vodenlich said. "I think the committee looked more at our quality wins than our losses."

The 'Hawks split with Carthage College (32-6), the No. 1 seeded team in the regional, earlier in the year. UW-Whitewater also added a win against St. Thomas (31-10), who is the No. 2-seeded team in the Midwest Regional and went 4-0 against Wooster and Otterbein, two teams ranked in the Mideast region.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools