Sports

Thursday, April 15, 2021

UW-Whitewater Softball Drops Two in WIAC Play

Box Score Game 1: https://uwwsports.com/sports/softball/stats/2021/uw-oshkosh/boxscore/15366

Box Score Game 2: https://uwwsports.com/sports/softball/stats/2021/uw-oshkosh/boxscore/15368

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team held leads past the halfway point in each of the games it played Thursday afternoon but fell in back-to-back contests at UW-Oshkosh in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader.

The Warhawks (11-7 overall, 1-3 WIAC) were defeated 5-4 in the opener after the Titans plated three runs in the bottom of the seventh. UW-W dropped a 9-4 decision in Game 2 after UW-Oshkosh scored seven runs in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead for good.

In Game 1, catcher Nikki Mikosz knocked a pair of home runs, including a two-run shot in the top of the second inning to give UW-Whitewater a 2-1 lead and a solo homer to lead off the top of the fifth.

The Warhawks’ advantage increased to three runs later in the fifth on a run-scoring single through the left side by designated player Kennedy Cox.

Pitcher Kate Cleveland dropped to 4-3 on the year with the loss, striking out four over 6 1/3 innings.

Third baseman Meg Cohrs, right fielder Meghan Dunning and second baseman Delaney Becker also tallied hits for UW-Whitewater. Centerfielder Vera Pflugradt reached base twice on a pair of walks.

In the nightcap, the Warhawks led 4-2 through 4 1/2 innings before the Titans (10-4, 2-0) broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth.

Cox totaled a team-high three hits, and left fielder Krista Sbarra posted two hits and two RBIs. Mikosz collected a two-run double and added two walks at the plate. Becker and first baseman Kaleigh O’Brien each registered one hit and one run scored.

Starting pitcher Rhiann Dick took the loss, falling to 3-3 for the season. Kathryn Kinsella, Annie Morelli and Marissa Adams each made appearances in relief.

UW-Whitewater continues play on the road this Saturday at UW-Stout. First pitch of the WIAC doubleheader is set for 2 p.m.

Photo and Comments Courtesy of Bob Mischka

Emilia Houwers qualified for the State tennis tournament by placing third in the Janesville Craig Sectionals on Wednesday, April 14. The State Meet will be held at Badger High School on April 22 and 23 this year.

(UW-Whitewater submission) Olivia Kraft, a native of Whitewater, WI, and student-athlete at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, was one of four Warhawks who were named Kwik Trip Athletes of the Week by the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference for the week of April 5-11, 2021.

Donovan Brandl (Rudolph, Wis./Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln) is the Warhawk baseball team’s third different Pitcher of the Week for the 2021 season. Brandl is a first-time honoree. Gracie Holland (Marshfield, Wis./Marshfield) of the women’s track and field team, the Women’s Field Athlete of the Week, is the program’s first selection of the 2021 season.

Paige Nierman (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./Stevenson) and Olivia Kraft (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community), the Women’s Tennis Athletes of the Week in doubles, have now garnered the award twice in 2021. The duo was also recognized for their performance from March 22-28.

Baseball – Pitcher

Donovan Brandl (Rudolph, Wis./Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln), Freshman

Brandl didn’t allow a run over two appearances last week, helping the No. 16 Warhawks to a 4-0 record. He started the week Tuesday with a scoreless inning of relief, striking out two in UW-Whitewater’s 9-5 victory on the road. Three days later, he tossed a complete-game, two-hit shutout, striking out eight in the Warhawks’ 15-0 home triumph in seven innings. Brandl also finished 7-for-21 (.333 avg.) with three doubles and four runs batted at the plate over that span.

Women’s Field

Gracie Holland (Marshfield, Wis./Marshfield), Freshman

Holland placed first out of 15 competitors in the pole vault with a career-best height of 12-02.00 (3.71 meters) to help the Warhawks place third at Dubuque’s Spartan Invite on Saturday. She is currently tied for the No. 1 mark in both the WIAC and NCAA Division III and was only two feet shy of the UW-W program record in the event. Holland also scored team points in the long jump, placing fifth with a distance of 16-10.75 (5.15 meters), good for 15th on the conference’s outdoor performance list.

Women’s Tennis – Doubles

Paige Nierman (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./Stevenson) Senior, and Olivia Kraft (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community), Junior

Nierman and Kraft posted a 2-0 record in doubles matches last week to help UW-Whitewater remain undefeated (4-0) in the WIAC and extend its unbeaten streak against conference opponents in dual matches to 106. The duo topped Michelle Spicer and Maddie Toboyek 8-1 at No. 1 doubles last Tuesday at UW-Oshkosh, helping the Warhawks post a 9-0 win. Four days later, Nierman and Kraft combined for an 8-0 triumph at No. 2 doubles over Emily Cooper and Alexa Brooks of UW-Eau Claire in UW-Whitewater’s 9-0 victory at Lake Geneva Tennis. Nierman and Kraft are now 4-2 playing together during the 2021 season.

For more than 150 years, UW-Whitewater has provided students with the education and training to begin their careers with a solid foundation behind them. The UW-Whitewater is committed to the development of the individual, the growth of personal and professional integrity and respect for diversity and global perspectives. These are met by providing academic and co-curricular programs that emphasize the pursuit of knowledge and understanding and a commitment to service within a safe and secure environment.

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Game 1 Box Score: https://static.uwwsports.com/custompages/softball/2021/sb15.htm

Game 2 Box Score: https://static.uwwsports.com/custompages/softball/2021/sb16.htm

After a 17-day layoff between games, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team saw its seven-game win streak snapped Wednesday before recovering in the second game for a doubleheader split against UW-Platteville in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play at van Steenderen Softball Complex.

The Warhawks (11-5 overall, 1-1 WIAC) suffered their first home loss of the season in the opener by a 7-6 score before closing the day with a 6-3 triumph in the nightcap.

In Game 2, right fielder Meghan Dunning smashed a two-run homer to left, and catcher Nikki Mikosz added a solo home run of her own as part of UW-W’s three-run fourth inning.

Pitcher Rhiann Dick earned the win, allowing two earned runs over 4 2/3 innings to improve to 3-2 on the season. Annie Morelli picked up her first save of the year, tossing the final 2 1/3 innings and allowing one run.

Dick and Morelli combined to strand 11 Pioneer runners, including three in the fifth inning and two in the second, third and sixth frames.

Mikosz put UW-Whitewater on the board in the bottom of the second with an RBI groundout. In the fourth, Dunning hit her two-run shot on an 0-2 count, and, one batter later, Mikosz hit one high over the left-center field fence on the 10th pitch of her at-bat.

After UW-Platteville (7-7, 2-2) plated two runs in the fifth, the Warhawks got both runs back in the bottom of the inning as third baseman Meg Cohrs hit an RBI double to center field. First baseman Kaleigh O’Brien, who walked earlier in the frame, scored from third on a wild pitch with two outs to increase the lead back to four.

The Pioneers cut their deficit to three in the top of the sixth, but Morelli retired the potential tying run on a groundout to end the inning, and tossed a 1-2-3 seventh to complete the win.

Cohrs and Mikosz totaled two hits apiece to lead the offense. O’Brien reached twice with one hit and one walk and scored two runs.

In Game 1, UW-Platteville broke a 4-4 tie in the top of the sixth by crossing home plate three times. UW-Whitewater drew to within one after a run-scoring groundout from shortstop Sophia Kinjerski and a two-out, RBI single through the right side by designated player Kennedy Cox.

The Warhawks put the tying run at third with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but were unable to send the game to extra innings.

Dunning and second baseman Delaney Becker each registered two hits, and Becker knocked in a pair of runs. Outfielder Vera Pflugradt reached base twice on one hit and one walk and scored one run.

Starting pitcher Kate Cleveland scattered eight hits over four innings, allowing three earned runs. Reliever Marissa Adams fell to 0-1 on the year in the loss, pitching 1 1/3 innings. Annie Morelli tossed the final 1 2/3 frames.

UW-Whitewater visits UW-Oshkosh for another WIAC doubleheader Thursday. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m.

Box Score, Game 1: https://static.uwwsports.com/custompages/baseball/2021/bb16.htm

Box Score, Game 2: https://static.uwwsports.com/custompages/baseball/2021/bb17.htm

The No. 13 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater baseball team combined strong pitching and timely hitting Wednesday afternoon for a pair of wins at UW-Platteville in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader.

The Warhawks (15-2 overall, 9-1 WIAC) trailed for the first four innings of the opener before emerging with a 5-1 victory, and took an early lead in Game 2 on their way to a 7-0 triumph.

In the nightcap, left fielder Matt Korman batted in the first four runs of the game, knocking a two-run single to right center in the top of the second and a two-out, two-run double to left center in the top of the third.

Right fielder Jacob DeMeyer gave UW-W a five-run lead with a run-scoring double in the fourth, and centerfielder Zach Campbell drove home a pair with a two-out base hit in the fifth.

Matt O’Sullivan improved to 5-0 on the year after tossing eight innings, allowing three hits while striking out 14 hitters, the fifth-most in one game in program history. Kade Lancour sustained the shutout with a scoreless ninth.

Korman finished 3-for-4 with one run scored and four RBIs. Shortstop Nick Santoro registered two hits and two runs scored, and infielder Sam Vomhof reached base twice with two hits and one walk and scored two runs.

In Game 1, the Pioneers (8-10, 4-6) took the lead in the bottom of the first before the Warhawks plated two in the fifth and three in the sixth.

From there, starting pitcher Westin Muir and reliever Ben Muscatello held UW-Platteville at bay. Muir (4-0) allowed four hits and one walk while striking out nine over eight innings of work. Muscatello pitched around a one-out triple in the bottom of the ninth for a shutout inning to close out the contest.

Shortstop Nick Santoro and designated hitter Ben Wilkins each collected two hits, one run scored and one RBI. Catcher Ian Drays also finished with two hits.

Korman and DeMeyer each plated one run in the game.

UW-Whitewater hosts UW-Platteville Saturday for a conference doubleheader. First pitch at Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium is set for 1 p.m.

Article by Chad Carstens
Whitewater High School Head Cross Country Coach
ccarstens@wwusd.org

Whippet CC runners had a great day racing on the new CC course created on the golf course formerly known as Decatur Golf Course in Brodhead. This meet featured four teams: Belleville, Brodhead-Juda, Turner, and Whitewater. Coupled with a great course layout, ideal weather conditions, and stronger fitness, all athletes smashed their personal bests for the spring CC season. 

The girls went first and executed perfectly. Sophie Walton placed 8th with a new best time of 23:38. Following close behind were the 2nd through 5 runners of Gwen Truesdale, Trinity Nickels, Olive Coburn, and Lauren Beuhler. There was less than a minute spread between this group, and it was thrilling to see those four Whippet uniforms power their way around the course. The next pack of Whippets to come through were Danielle DePorter, Caelyn Caputo, and Emma Weigel. Their spread of 19 seconds is getting about as close-knit as you can be over 5000 meters. Jenny Villarreal and Evie Troxel closed out the finishers for the Whippets with finishing places of 32nd and 36th overall. The girls’ team placed 3rd with 54 points.

The boys raced next, with Trenten Zahn again leading the Whippets as he crossed the finish line in second with a time of 16:59. CJ Tomomitsu and Cooper Hammond ran tight together and placed 6th and 7th. Will Hofmann threw down the hammer late in the race despite battling some lower leg injuries and pulled up within 15 seconds of Cooper. Nate Holden is learning quickly and rounds out the top five scorers with his 26th place finish. Ben McCulloch was coming up on Nate as he was just 20 seconds behind in 29th. Andrew Rollette dropped significant time to stop the clock at 25:02. Keith Cameron finished in 28:40, and Sterling Truesdale crushed his race in 28:40. The boys’ team was edged out by Turner for the win by just two points. WW finished with 49 points. 

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Next up will be the RVC meet hosted by Whitewater High School at Whitewater High School on Thursday, April 22nd. Come on out and cheer for the Whippets as they enter the Championship portion of their season. Girls JV will race at 4:00, followed by Girls Varsity 4:45, Boys Varsity 5:30, and Boys JV at 6:15.

Results: https://www.whs.wwusd.org/sites/whs.wwusd.org/files/files/Private_User/ccarstens/xc_brodhead_april_13.pdf

From Packerswire:

“The Green Bay Packers have talked with one of the most intriguing interior offensive lineman prospects in the 2021 NFL draft class.

Wisconsin-Whitewater offensive lineman Quinn Meinerz, a likely Day 2 pick, has been in contact with all 32 NFL teams during the pre-draft process, according to Bob McGinn of The Athletic.

The majority of teams like Meinerz as a center prospect in the NFL, per McGinn.

The Packers have an obvious in-state connection, but the team also has a need at center and the interior of the offensive line after losing Corey Linsley in free agency. Meinerz, who opened eyes at the Senior Bowl, could be a starting-caliber player capable of either replacing Linsley or playing guard and allowing a player like Lucas Patrick or Elgton Jenkins to move to center.”

Click here to see the complete article.

Article by Baron West
Whitewater High School Head Girls’ Tennis Coach
bwest@wwusd.org

The Whitewater Girls’ Tennis Team has been battling the weather all season. On Thursday, part of the team was able to get a match in at the conference meet until the rain finally set in. The rest of the conference matches will be played on Friday, April 16.

On Monday, except for the wind, the weather cooperated enough for the sub-sectional meet to take place. 1 singles, Emilia Houwers, was the first Whippet to earn herself a place at the sectional meet since she had already earned herself a sub-sectional bye. 4 singles, Crystal Chan, also earned a trip to sectionals by winning her match 6-2, 6-0 against Janesville Craig. The 3 doubles team of Jeanette Falcon and Vanesa Wence were the final Whippets to reach sectionals by winning 6-4, 6-4 against Milton.

The sectional meet will take place at Palmer Park in Janesville beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 14. Good luck, Whippets!

The Whitewater Whippet Football Team traveled to East Troy to compete in a Rock Valley Conference game on Friday, April 9. The Whippets lost that game, 28-6.

Photos and captions from the first half courtesy of Bob Mischka:

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Photo 1: Quarterback junior Brock Grosinske looks to throw a pass with junior Mason DePorter defending him.

Photo 2: Brock Grosinske drags a host of Trojan defenders with him as he crosses the goal line for the lone Whippet touchdown. Senior Chase Conn happily signals the touchdown in the background by raising his arms.

Photo 3: Senior Dylan DuClos starts out on a run with Grosinske in the background and Whippet senior Carter Friend rushing up to help with blocking.