Yellowjackets Baseball

After 8 conference games, our record stands at 1-7 (8-13 overall). Although this may seem like we're not playing good baseball, for the most part that's not the case. Our first series against La Crosse was pretty rough. We didn't make the plays defensively and handed them a lot of runs with two outs. We hit the ball pretty well but not at the right times to score runs. Our pitching did a good job of getting ground balls and fly balls but we just didn't make the plays and ended up losing all four games.

We just played Platteville on Thursday and Friday before Easter. We played much better baseball in that series but where we did well just a week before, we fell short in. We lost 2-1 in 11 innings in the first game. We had plenty of chances to score runs but we didn't capitalize and come through in the clutch. Justin Saufley went 10+ innings without giving up a run and deserved to win. In the second game, we did win 2-0 but failed to execute with runners on base. It shouldn't have been as close as it was. The third and fourth games of the series were pretty much the same story, losing 3-0 and 5-4 in 10 innings. There were chances to score but we didn't take control of the game like you have to do if you want to be a winning baseball team. We have to hit with guys on base, period. Hopefully we find it before our next series versus Whitewater. If we can get good pitching, good hitting, and good defense together we can turn our season around.

We will keep fighting and show "Ganbatte". No matter what happens the rest of the season we are showing signs that this program continues to move in the right direction. We hope to see you at the ballpark!

-16

After 29 hours on the bus and 1700 miles, we arrived in Port St. Lucie, FL at around 5:00 on Saturday, March 14th. We headed to our condos and dressed for practice. Our practice time was cut short because we arrived an hour later than expected, but man was it good to be outside playing baseball. We practiced on Sunday from 12:30-3 p.m. and finished with an intrasquad scrimmage.

Monday brought on the first challenge of our trip as we faced Westminster College (PA) in a doubleheader. We won 12-2. TJ Wink got the start in game one and shut down the Titan offense, going 6 innings giving up 2 runs on 6 hits with 3 strikeouts. Chris Ransom finished the game with a perfect 7th, striking out one. We hit the ball well, collecting 12 runs on 12 hits. Five 'Jackets had 2 RBI including Mitch Loegering and Paul Schlangen, who finished with 2 hits each. Jerrod Jossart also collected his first career hit and RBI with a double to the left center gap in the 6th inning.

The second game of the day went just as well as the first. Justin Saufley pitched a complete game shutout, scattering 7 hits with 5 strikeouts. While we had just 8 hits ourselves, we capitalized on 11 walks and a HBP to score 11 runs. Rhett Williamson had a big day at the plate with 3 RBI while Mike Labelle had 2 doubles. All in all it was a pretty good day for us.

Tuesday was to be more of a challenge for us as we faced Centenary College (NJ) in another doubleheader. We owned game one, and went on to win 9-3. There were more firsts for a few of us as Blake Danielson earned his first win as a 'Jacket and pitched very well. Joe Ahrens collected his first and second collegiate hits with two singles ripped just inside the third base line. Alex Lagadin also hit his first homerun as a 'Jacket as he hit a 2-run bomb to left field. We hit the ball well and put pressure on the defense and were able to capitalize on opportunities.

The second game would not go as well as we dropped game two 6-2. They had one good inning and scored 6 runs with two outs. We couldn't get our offense going and only had 3 hits. Nick Bursik made his collegiate debut and pitched well.

Other firsts, included Jimi Zawacki and Codie Chesney getting there first hits as yelllowjackets against Westminster and Joe Stark had his first collegiate RBI's.

Today on our day off, most of us went to the Mets spring training game versus the Braves. Its been a fun trip so far, and we've still got three days left. Tomorrow we practice and have a JV game following practice at 11:30. We continue our playing schedule on Friday as we play a nine inning game against Bethany (WV) and we play a nine inning game against Carleton (MN) on Saturday morning to conclude our trip to FL. Our hitting has come around while our pitching has remained strong and we're looking forward to the rest of our season.

-16-

Attention ALL former UW-Superior Baseball Players!!!!!

Please click on the enclosed link to update your Alumni Information. With this we will be able to keep you updated on up to the minute happenings for UWS Baseball.

For Parents/Fans:

All games will be played at Lawnwood Athletic Complex or Indian River Community College. We will not know the fields until we get down in Florida. They are 5 minutes from eachother and both are off of Virgina Avenue in Ft. Pierce, FL. From I95 take the Okeechobee Rd (70) exit and head East. Okochobee road will turn into Virginia Avenue. Indian River CC is 3209 Virginia Ave and Lawnwood Athletic complex sits between S 23rd St and S 13th st.

We will be staying at the Perfect Drive Golf Villas at PGA Village: http://www.perfectdriveatpgavillage.com/directions.htm

The address is: 525 Northwest Lake Whitney Place, Port Saint Lucie, FL‎. It is about 15 minutes south of Ft. Pierce.

Schedule:

Saturday, March 14 Practice, 5:30-7:30 PM

Sunday, March 15 Practice 12-2:30 PM

Monday, March 16 Game vs. Westminster College, 8:45 AM, DH

Tuesday, March 17 Game vs. Centenary College, 12 PM, DH

Wednesday, March 18 OFF Day (NY Mets Game)

Thursday, March 19 Practice, 9-11 AM, JV Game vs. Westchester CC, 11:30 AM

Friday, March 20 Game vs. Bethany College, 8:45 AM

Saturday, March 21 Game vs. Carleton College, 10 AM, Depart Florida