LA CROSSE — Colton Schraepfer, a 2019 Pecatonica graduate, scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning on a wild pitch to help UW-La Crosse rally to beat UW-Platteville in the WIAC playoffs May 19.
UWP led 5-0 early on, but UWL came back to tie the game at 7 in the bottom of the seventh inning. Trailing 11-7 in the bottom of the ninth, UWL scored four runs to send it to extra innings. UWP added another two runs in the top of the 11th, but a single to right field by Zach Carney evened the score at 13-13.
Schraepfer, pinch running on third base, scored on a wild pitch by Andres Yance and was met at home by his team, which spilled out of the dugout with arms in the air.
Schraepfer is 8-for-38 this season with 10 RBIs, three steals and six walks in 10 games.
UWL (30-11, 19-9) finished the regular season third in the WIAC standings behind UW-Whitewater (34-5, 24-4) and UW-Stevens Point (30-9, 24-4), which tied for the league title.
UWL is scheduled to play at Whitewater in the conference tournament semifinal May 21, with the winner taking on either UW-Stout (22-17, 16-12) or UWSP in the championship.
UW-Oshkosh wins WIAC softball title
MADISON — University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh will participate in regional competition of the NCAA Division III Softball Championship at UW-Eau Claire’s Bollinger Fields beginning May 21.
The Titans (24-11) secured an automatic bid into the 48-team field by winning the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship. UW-Oshkosh, the top seed in the six-team, double-elimination event, will face No. 6 seed Illinois College (25-12) in its opening game. The Titans are making the ninth NCAA appearance in program history and third in the past five years. UW-Oshkosh won regional crowns in 1988 and 2017.
The Eau Claire Regional will also feature: No. 2 seed Alfred University (N.Y.) (31-9), No. 3 seed Linfield College (Ore.) (36-7); No. 4 seed University of Southern Maine (31-4); and No. 5 seed Piedmont University (Ga.) (22-11).
The winner of the Eau Claire Regional will advance to the finals that will be held May 27 to June 1 at Moyer Park in Salem, Va.
All-WIAC Softball Selections Announced
MADISON — University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s Maddie Candre and UW-Oshkosh’s Maddie Fink were tabbed the Position Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year, respectively, to lead the individuals chosen to the 2021 All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Softball Team by the league coaches. In addition, UW-River Falls’ Johanna Breyen was selected the Newcomer of the Year and UW-Oshkosh was recognized as the Coaching Staff of the Year.
Candre is the third Pointer to receive the position award, joining Jill Van Wychen (2003) and Lauren Luedtke (2019). Candre ranks second in the conference with 12 doubles, third with 52 hits, and fifth with a .409 batting average, .483 on-base percentage, 30 runs scored and 76 total bases. She had at least one hit in 32-of-39 games, including 16 multi-hit performances. Candre also produced two three-hit contests and a season-high four hits against UW-Eau Claire on April 24. Her four hits against the Blugolds included a pair of home runs.
Fink is the third Titan to claim the league’s pitching honor, joining Sara Brunlieb (2015) and four-time winner Ronessa Stampfli (2005-08). Fink is second in the WIAC with a .237 opponent batting average and 16 wins, third with 122.1 innings pitched and 88 strikeouts, fourth with 23 appearances, and fifth with a 2.29 earned run average. She allowed two runs or fewer in 11-of-17 starting assignments and compiled a season-high 11 strikeouts in the season opener against St. Norbert College (Wis.) on March 9.
Breyen is third in the conference with a .443 batting average. She led the Falcons with 15 runs scored, while ranking second with 12 RBI.
UW-Oshkosh head coach Scott Beyer, along with assistant coaches Alyssa Doomis and Kaitlyn Krol, have led the squad to a share of the WIAC regular-season championship and tournament title. The Titans earned a spot in the NCAA Division III Championship and own a 24-11 record heading into regional competition.
Repeat selections on the first team from the 2019 campaign included: UW-Eau Claire’s Abbey Place; UW-La Crosse’s Kendra Leis and Sydne Shattuck; UW-Platteville’s Ashton Hoeppner; and UW-Whitewater’s Meg Cohrs. Hoeppner was also a first team honoree in 2018, along with teammate Shannon Gaul, while Cohrs collected first team recognition in 2017.
An All-Sportsmanship Team was chosen for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season. It included one member from each school.
Natalie Dillon, a Monroe graduate and outfielder for UW-Oshkosh, was one of the selections.
Dillon was 24-for-54 at the plate this year (.444) with three doubles in 29 games.
UW-Oshkosh is 24-11 overall this spring and finished 10-4 in the WIAC.
Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Awards Declared
MADISON — The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) has announced its award recipients for the 2021 women’s outdoor track & field season based on voting by the league coaches.
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Emma Lawrence was tabbed the Track Performer of the Meet from the WIAC Championship (presented by Culver’s), while UW-Oshkosh’s Sydney Thompson received Field Performer of the Meet honors. UW-La Crosse’s Emily Dawidowich was selected the Newcomer of the Year and UW-La Crosse secured Coaching Staff of the Year recognition.
Lawrence won the 100-meter hurdles and 400-meter hurdles at the conference meet with times of 14.12 seconds and 1:01.76, respectively. Her time in the 400-meter hurdles established a David A. Smith Stadium at Ramer Field facility record.
Thompson was victorious in the discus and shot put with marks of 153-0 (46.64m) and 48-10 3/4 (14.90m), respectively. She also finished fifth in the hammer throw. Her distances in the discus and shot put were season bests in the WIAC.
Dawidowich won the 200-meter dash at the conference championship in 24.69 seconds and took second in the 100-meter dash in 12.21 seconds. Her time in the 200-meter dash is first in the WIAC this season, while the 100-meter dash performance is second.
UW-La Crosse’s coaching staff directed the squad to its ninth consecutive WIAC title. The Eagles won seven individual championships and one relay crown during the two-day championship. The coaching staff includes: head coach Nickolas Davis; and assistant coaches Saul Banashak (throws), Doug Geiwitz (pole vault), Julianne Merkes (throws), Nathan Petesch (assistant coach), Derek Stanley (distance), Jenna Starck (high jump) and Katie Wagner (sprints/hurdles/relays).
Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Honors Announced
MADISON — The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) has announced its award recipients for the 2021 men’s outdoor track & field season based on voting by the league coaches.
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Seth Holden was tabbed the Track Performer of the Meet from the WIAC Championship (presented by Culver’s), while UW-Stout’s Noah Zastrow received Field Performer of the Meet recognition. UW-Whitewater’s Christian Patzka claimed Newcomer of the Year accolades and UW-La Crosse was recognized as the Coaching Staff of the Year.
Holden posted first-place finishes in the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash with times of 10.59 seconds and 21.48 seconds, respectively. He also contributed to the winning 4x100-meter relay team. Holden’s prelim time of 10.48 seconds in the 100-meter dash established a season best in the conference.
Zastrow was victorious in the pole vault with a conference meet record height of 17-5 1/2 (5.32m). The mark established a WIAC season-best and David A. Smith Stadium at Ramer Field record (both performances he previously owned). The WIAC record of 17-3 in the event was set by UW-La Crosse’s Hans Schmidt in 2003. Zastrow also placed fifth in the long jump at the conference championship.
Patzka finished second at the WIAC championship in the 5,000-meter run and 3,000-meter steeplechase with times of 14:55.22 and 9:17.92, respectively. His time in the 3,000-meter steeplechase ranks second in the conference, while the 5,000-meter run is 10th.
UW-La Crosse’s coaching staff led the squad to its 30th consecutive league crown. The Eagles secured five individual first-place finishes and one relay title during the two-day championship. The staff includes: head coach Josh Buchholtz; associate head coach Phil Whitesitt (throws); and assistant coaches Luke Ackerson (hurdles), Garrett Carlson (multi), Doug Geiwitz (pole vault), Nicholas Gordon (long/triple jump), Matt Gordy (sprints), Nathan Petesch (distance) and Derek Stanley (distance).
