Former Titan Washburn
Signs Free Agent Contract With Mariners

Washburn, 31, was a second round draft pick by the Angels in 1995, and worked his way up the minor league system, sticking in the big leagues in 2001. A year later, he posted an 18-6 record and a 3.15 earned run average during the Angels' 2002 World Series championship season. Washburn's .750 winning percentage that season ranked third in the American League.

Last year, while dealing with forearm problems for the American League West Division champion Angels, Washburn was 8-8 in 29 starts, but had an earned run average of 3.20, fourth-best in the American League. He had a road earned run average of 2.65, second only to Toronto's Roy Halladay at 2.09, and a league-leading earned run average for night games at 2.53. Washburn did not allow a stolen base in 177.1 innings pitched last year, the fourth-highest total of innings pitched in a season without allowing a steal since 1974.

Washburn started game two of the American League Championship Series against the Chicago White Sox this past October after recovering from strep throat. He allowed an unearned run and four hits in 4 2-3 innings. His illness forced him to miss a scheduled start in the previous round against the New York Yankees.

In 2004, Washburn started 25 games for the American League West Division champion Angels and posted an 11-8 record and a 4.64 earned run average. He missed six weeks of the 2004 season due to a cartilage tear in his chest.

Washburn compiled a 75-57 record and a 3.93 earned run average during his eight major league seasons with the Angels. His career totals include 183 starting assignments in 193 games played, 1,153.1 innings pitched, 699 strikeouts, six complete games and two shutouts. Washburn ranks sixth in Angels' history in career starts, eighth in career victories and ninth in career innings pitched.

Washburn joins a Seattle Mariner organization that has lost 192 games over the past two seasons. The current Seattle roster includes third baseman Adrian Beltre, first baseman Richie Sexson and outfielders Carl Everett and Ichiro Suzuki. Besides Washburn, the Mariners' 2006 starting pitching rotation is expected to include Felix Hernandez, Jamie Moyer and Joel Pineiro.

Washburn pitched for UW-Oshkosh in 1994 and 1995, registering a 15-2 record and a 1.97 earned run average in 118.2 innings pitched. The 1995 NCAA Division III All-America second team selection struck out 141 batters during his UW-Oshkosh career, including 17 in a 1-0 win over UW-Whitewater in 1995. In 1994, the Webster, Wis., native scattered nine hits and struck out eight batters in nine innings to gain the win as UW-Oshkosh defeated Wesleyan University (Conn.) in the championship game of the NCAA Division III World Series.

Washburn is one of two former UW-Oshkosh baseball players currently pitching in the Major Leagues, with the other being Jack Taschner of the San Francisco Giants. Taschner made his major league debut this past summer and appeared in 24 games for the Giants, posting a 2-0 record and a 1.59 earned run average as a middle reliever.

Previous former UW-Oshkosh baseball players appearing in a major league baseball contest were Dorian Boyland (21 games) with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1978-81), Jim Gantner (1,801 games) with the Milwaukee Brewers (1976-92), Terry Jorgensen (91 games) with the Minnesota Twins (1989-93), Jim Magnuson (31 games) with the Chicago White Sox (1970-71) and New York Yankees (1973), Dan Neumeier (3 games) with the Chicago White Sox (1972) and Varsho (571 games) with the Chicago Cubs (1988-90), Pittsburgh Pirates (1991-92, 1994), Cincinnati Reds (1993) and Philadelphia Phillies (1995).

- Photo courtesy of the Seattle Mariners -

Titans' Coaching Staff Adds
Former Appleton North Head Baseball Coach

Former Appleton North High School head baseball coach Bruce Erickson has been named a volunteer assistant baseball coach at UW-Oshkosh.

"It's will be fun and interesting," said Erickson, who retired last spring as a teacher at Appleton North High School. "I believe it's a good fit," he said. "For me, it's only a 20-minute ride. In the move from high school to college, you get kids who are there because they came from the best high school programs. The talent level will be better with kids deciding to put in the time and effort to meet expectations at the college level."

Erickson, who also works at Impact Sports out of Madison, will coach infielders under UW-Oshkosh head coach Tom Lechnir.

"He will be involved in every aspect of the program," said Lechnir, who has compiled a 533-157 record in 17 seasons with the Titans.

"I have smiled since the day I knew he was available and I've been smiling ever since. "Bruce and I have been friends for years, and we have talked about this opportunity for years," Lechnir said. "Fortunately, it happened a whole lot sooner than I expected."

Besides Erickson, Lechnir also has former Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Chris Bosio as well as former UW-Oshkosh catcher Ben Stanley as volunteer assistants, and former UW-Oshkosh pitcher Mike Gasper, a UW-Oshkosh employee, as a paid assistant.

Erickson brings a strong winning tradition to the UW-Oshkosh baseball program as he led Appleton West High School baseball teams to four WIAA Division 1 state titles. His overall record was 500-121 since becoming the head baseball coach at Appleton West High School in 1977 through last season at Appleton North High School. Erickson was the head baseball coach at Appleton North High School the past 11 seasons.

Quotes Courtesy of Dan VanderPas, The Appleton Post-Crescent

Former UW-Oshkosh Baseball Coach
Launches $500,000 Challenge

The man who led the UW-Oshkosh to its first national baseball championship has announced he will match up to $250,000 in contributions to improve the university’s baseball facilities.

The man is Russ Tiedemann, whose teams won more than 500 games and spawned several prominent major leaguers, including Jim Gantner, a member of the Milwaukee Brewers Walk of Fame.

“Here’s a man who has already given so much to his alma mater,” said UW-Oshkosh Chancellor Richard H. Wells. “Now he wants to give more, to help ensure that other young men and women get the same opportunities that he had.”

Tiedemann urged UW-Oshkosh alumni, including former players, to step up to the plate.

“UW-Oshkosh provided me with so many opportunities as a student and athlete,” Tiedemann said. “I hope that alumni step forward to meet this financial challenge and give others some of those same opportunities.”

Tiedemann said the first improvement will be a new, state-of-the-art scoreboard at Tiedemann Field. Along with improvements to the baseball facility, the funds will be used to support both men’s and women’s athletics.

Tiedemann, the Titans baseball coach for 20 seasons who retired in 1988, led his teams to 15 conference championships, including 10 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles in 1979-1988.

He was inducted into both the UW-Oshkosh Hall of Fame (1978) and the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame (1983) long before he retired. Less than a year after he retired, the baseball facility where the Titans still play their home games was named Russell G. Tiedemann Field.

Tiedemann’s “outstanding record is more than wins and losses,” said then-Chancellor Edward Penson. “His intellect, compassion and hard work earned more than a case full of trophies for his university. They marked him as an outstanding human being.”

As a student at UW-Oshkosh, Tiedemann was captain of the basketball and football teams and lettered in track and field. After earning a bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1955, he went on to earn a doctorate in education from the University of Utah.

After a successful, 10-year coaching career at Hortonville and Rhinelander high schools, Tiedemann returned to UW-Oshkosh as a member of the physical education department and head baseball coach in 1968.

At UW-Oshkosh, he was a seven-time Wisconsin College Baseball Coach-of-the-Year and was the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Coach-of-the-Year in 1974. In 1975, he was selected coach of the USA National Baseball Team in its first Friendship Series with Korea and Taiwan.

In 1985, Tiedemann was named NCAA Division III National Coach-of-the Year. He received the first Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Man-of-the-Year Award in 1986.

Tiedemann was inducted into the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1983, the NAIA District 14 Hall of Fame in 1990 and the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1992.

The Tiedemann Field project is just the latest at UW-Oshkosh. The university also is in the midst of a $5.7-million expansion and upgrade of the Oshkosh Sports Complex and will soon see construction begin on a $21 million Student Recreation and Wellness Center.

A new, $48-million academic building is slated for 2007-2009, construction of the campus’ first parking ramp will begin next summer and a more than $12-million renovation of Taylor Hall was finished this fall.

Former Milwaukee Brewer
To Join Titans' Coaching Staff

After spending the 2003 season as the pitching coach of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Chris Bosio and his wife, Suzanne, decided to return to Wisconsin to raise their children in the Fox Valley.

Bosio, a former pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers and Seattle Mariners, moved back to the Kimberly area and has been active in the YMCA.

Bosio has added to his resume by joining the UW-Oshkosh baseball team as an assistant under coach Tom Lechnir.

“I’m honored to have the opportunity to be a part of the program,” Bosio said. “It’s exciting to be considered. I’m looking forward to helping out in any way I can.”

Bosio’s duties will not be that of a pitching coach, but that of a roving coach helping the team in many different areas. His position at the university is baseball only.

“I think the most important thing is we are all trying to get the most out of our players and try to develop those guys,” Lechnir said. “When we can add such a quality person as Chris Bosio and all the things he brings to the table in addition to his baseball skills and knowledge, there is no question that this is a great situation for our program.

“We are excited to have a person like him join our staff. It’s what Chris Bosio represents and is all about.” Bosio was a starting pitcher for much of his 11-year Major League Baseball career, which began in 1986 with the Brewers. He signed with the Mariners in 1993, and tossed a no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox on April 22, 1993.

He had a lifetime record of 94-93 with a 3.96 earned run average. His best season with the Brewers was in 1992 when he went 16-6 with a 3.62 earned run average.

“I think it’s going to be a great situation,” Lechnir said. “He’s going to work with everyone. Through the conversations we’ve had, he’s got our same goals and passion. We’re hiring him for the person he is.

“Situational, defensive analysis, offensive analysis, recruiting — that’s what I wanted. I was very pleased to know that’s what he wants too.”

Bosio said part of the reason he chose to pursue a position with the Titans was because of UW-Oshkosh’s past success.

“Tom is a very passionate guy who cares a lot about the community and the program. That’s how he sold me, just with that opportunity. Just how passionate he talked about the kids, the administration, the campus. Just the atmosphere and everyone involved. It’s a big family of people and it’s one of the best programs in the country. As far as the title, coach put it well. He doesn’t have titles for individuals because all the coaches do so many different things. That’s what makes it so successful.”

Bosio said the ability to stay close to home also weighed in his decision.

“It keeps me home and close to my family,” Bosio said. “The decision feels good. All I want to do is complement everyone that is already there. I’m just going to be another person who is as passionate about the game, respects the game. It gets the juices flowing again. It’s real exciting.

“It’s fun when the phone rings and you get the opportunity again.”

By Dan Kohn of The Northwestern

Former Titan Makes Major League Debut

Former UW-Oshkosh left-handed pitcher Jack Taschner became the eighth Titan to appear in a major league baseball game when he made his debut with the San Francisco Giants on Saturday (June 11) in San Francisco, Calif.

Taschner, who was promoted to the Giants earlier in the day, retired three of the four batters he faced during a scoreless eighth inning of San Francisco's 7-6 loss to the Cleveland Indians at SBC Park.

Taschner threw 12 pitches in his major league debut, including seven for strikes. He got two of the four Cleveland batters he faced to fly out and another to ground out. The lone hit off Taschner was a two-out, pinch-hit double by Jose Hernandez.

Taschner was called up to the Giants from the Fresno (Calif.) Grizzlies, San Francisco's AAA affiliate in the Pacific Coast League. The Racine native has battled through injuries and been pitching in the minor leagues since leaving UW-Oshkosh as a second round draft pick (75th overall selection) of the Giants in 1999.

Prior to his promotion, Taschner was throwing his slider, low 90s fastball and changeup at Fresno this season to a 2-0 record and a 0.95 earned run average. Taschner, who generally worked no more than one inning each game, counted three saves and held opponents scoreless in 24 of his 26 outings. His 28.1 innings of work resulted in 35 strikeouts, 17 hits, 13 walks and just three runs allowed.

Taschner compiled a perfect 13-0 record during the 1997, 1998 and 1999 seasons at UW-Oshkosh. His best season came in 1999 when he gained NCAA Division III All-Midwest Region honors after posting a 7-0 record and a 1.51 earned run average over 53.2 innings. Taschner was a member of UW-Oshkosh teams that won 102 of 121 games and captured three WIAC championships. In 1998, the Titans posted a 41-5 record and finished fifth at the NCAA Division III World Series.

Also representing UW-Oshkosh in a major league baseball game on Saturday were Jarrod Washburn of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Gary Varsho of the Philadelphia Phillies. Washburn was the starting pitcher in the Angels' 5-3 loss to the New York Mets, while Varsho was the bench coach for the Phillies in their 7-5 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Washburn was appearing in his 177th major league contest, with all of them coming with the Angels since the 1998 season.

In addition to Taschner and Washburn, other former UW-Oshkosh baseball players appearing in a major league contest were Dorian Boyland (21 games) with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1978-81), Jim Gantner (1,801 games) with the Milwaukee Brewers (1976-92), Terry Jorgensen (91 games) with the Minnesota Twins (1989-93), Jim Magnuson (31 games) with the Chicago White Sox (1970-71) and New York Yankees (1973), Dan Neumeier (3 games) with the Chicago White Sox (1972) and Varsho (571 games) with the Chicago Cubs (1988-90), Pittsburgh Pirates (1991-92, 1994), Cincinnati Reds (1993) and Philadelphia Phillies (1995).

Former Titan Called Up By San Francisco Giants

UW-Oshkosh's contribution to the major league level of professional baseball increased to eight following Jack Taschner's promotion to the San Francisco Giants on Saturday (June 11). Taschner received word about his advancement Saturday morning in Salt Lake City, Utah, and was in uniform hours later when the Giants hosted the Cleveland Indians at SBC Park in San Francisco, Calif.

Taschner most recently played for the Fresno (Calif.) Grizzlies, San Francisco's AAA affiliate in the Pacific Coast League. The Racine native has battled through injuries and been pitching in the minor leagues since leaving UW-Oshkosh as a second round draft pick (75th overall selection) of the Giants in 1999.

Taschner appeared in 26 games for the Grizzlies this season, posting a 2-0 record with three saves and a 0.95 earned run average. He amassed 35 strikeouts and allowed just 17 hits, three runs and 13 walks in 28.1 innings of work.

Taschner compiled a perfect 13-0 record during the 1997, 1998 and 1999 seasons at UW-Oshkosh. His best season came in 1999 when he gained NCAA Division III All-Midwest Region honors after posting a 7-0 record and a 1.51 earned run average over 53.2 innings. Taschner was a member of UW-Oshkosh teams that won 102 of 121 games and captured three WIAC championships. In 1998, the Titans posted a 41-5 record and finished fifth at the NCAA Division III World Series.

Other former UW-Oshkosh players reaching the highest level of professional baseball were Dorian Boyland with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1978-81), Jim Gantner with the Milwaukee Brewers (1976-92), Terry Jorgensen with the Minnesota Twins (1989-93), Jim Magnuson with the Chicago White Sox (1970-71) and New York Yankees (1973), Dan Neumeier with the Chicago White Sox (1972), Gary Varsho with the Chicago Cubs (1988-90), Pittsburgh Pirates (1991-92, 1994), Cincinnati Reds (1993) and Philadelphia Phillies (1995) and Jarrod Washburn with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (1998-Present).

Kansas City Royals Select Jirschele In
Major League Baseball's Amateur Draft

UW-Oshkosh second baseman Jeremy Jirschele (Sr. • Clintonville) was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 30th round (892nd overall selection) of Major League Baseball's Amateur Draft held Wednesday (June 8).

This past year, Jirschele captured NCAA Division III All-America first team status for the second consecutive season. He was named the WIAC Co-Position Player of the Year after leading the conference with a .520 on-base percentage, while ranking second with a .438 batting average and 19 doubles. Jirschele holds the WIAC career record with 660 at-bats and 53 doubles, while finishing second with 253 hits and fifth with 177 runs scored.

He started all 169 games throughout his four-year career at UW-Oshkosh and played defensively in every out recorded by the Titans during that span - a total of 4,192 outs.

In 2004, Jirschele was named the Position Player of the Year in both the WIAC and the NCAA Division III Midwest Region after leading the conference with 81 hits, 65 runs scored and 20 doubles, while ranking second with a .431 batting average, 59 runs batted in , three triples and 125 total bases and fourth with a .665 slugging percentage and .493 on-base percentage.

Jirschele Named WIAC Co-Position Player Of The Year,
Two Others Titans Honored

University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh's Jeremy Jirschele and UW-Stevens Point's Steve Wiczek have been named Co-Position Players of the Year and UW-Whitewater's Greg Reinhard was selected the Pitcher of the Year to headline the 20 individuals voted to the 2005 all-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Baseball Team by the league coaches. Jirschele secured the Player of the Year award for the second straight season after leading the conference with 19 doubles, while ranking second with four triples, third with a .438 batting average, a .520 on-base percentage and 71 hits, seventh with a .698 slugging percentage, eighth with 49 RBIs and 199 plate appearances and ninth with 50 runs scored. He holds the WIAC career record with 660 at-bats and 53 doubles, while finishing second with 253 hits and fifth with 177 runs scored. Jirschele recorded a hit in 37 of 42 games this year, including 22 multi-hit contests and 14 multi-RBI performances. He started all 169 games throughout his four-year career at UW-Oshkosh and played defensively in every out recorded by the Titans during that span - a total of 4,192 outs. Jirschele was a honorable mention selection in 2003. Wiczek leads the conference with a .468 batting average, a .848 slugging percentage, a .537 slugging percentage, 16 home runs and 80 hits, while ranking second with 64 RBIs, third with 17 doubles, fourth with 171 at-bats, fifth with 58 runs scored and seventh with 201 plate appearances. Wiczek has hit safely in 42 of the Pointers' 44 games this season, including 25 multi-hit performances and 19 multi-RBI contests. His 80 hits, 64 RBIs, 16 home runs and 145 total bases this year have established school single-season records. Reinhard leads the league with a 1.33 earned run average, 120 strikeouts, 81.1 innings pitched and a .134 opponent batting average, while ranking second with nine wins. His 120 strikeouts this year are a conference single-season record. Reinhard set a WIAC single-game record with 19 strikeouts against UW-Stout on April 17. He also had six games with 10 or more strikeouts this year. Reinhard was a first team selection last season. UW-Whitewater had a league-high six individuals united with Reinhard on the first team after the squad claimed its third consecutive conference championship and fifth in the last six seasons. Eddie Adamson leads the WIAC with 65 RBIs, while ranking second with a .451 batting average, .529 on-base percentage, 73 hits and 18 doubles, third with a .741 slugging percentage, eighth with nine home runs and ninth with 24 walks. Eric Baldwin places third in the conference with 61 RBIs, sixth with 11 home runs, seventh with 53 runs scored and eighth with a .691 slugging percentage. He was a honorable mention choice in 2004. Dan Gnatzig ranks second in the league with 64 runs scored, fourth with 208 plate appearances and 69 hits, fifth with a .411 batting average, sixth with 168 at-bats and seventh with a .498 on-base percentage. He claimed honorable mention accolades during the 2003 campaign. Aaron Guilbault was a honorable mention selection a season ago. This year, he is sixth in the WIAC with 55 runs scored, eighth with a .485 on-base percentage and 63 hits and ninth with 48 RBIs. Ross Klawitter leads the conference with 211 plate appearances, 65 runs scored and 36 walks, while placing fourth with a .726 slugging percentage, a .519 on-base percentage, 57 RBIs, 12 home runs and 16 doubles, sixth with 65 hits and 10th with a .396 batting average and 164 at-bats. Kevin Tomasiewicz also secured first team status during the 2003 season. This year, he has tied the conference single-season record with 12 wins, while ranking second with a 2.76 earned run average, 78.1 innings pitched, 82 strikeouts, a .228 opponent batting average and fourth with 15 appearances. Tomasiewicz is the league's all-time leader with 32 victories. UW-Stevens Point's Wizcek is joined on the first team by teammates Chuck Brehm, Jake Frombach, Ryan Jones and J.C. Reinke. Brehm places third in the league with 13 home runs, fifth with a .715 slugging percentage, sixth with 12 stolen bases, seventh with 53 runs scored and 51 RBIs, eighth with 63 hits and ninth with a .399 batting average and a .484 on-base percentage. He claimed honorable mention honors a season ago. Frombach leads the conference with 211 plate appearances and 184 at-bats, while ranking fifth with 67 hits, eighth with 14 doubles and 10th with 49 runs scored. He was a first team selection last year after claiming honorable mention status in 2003. Jones secured first team recognition for the third time in his career after leading the league with 16 home runs, while placing third with 63 runs scored and 29 walks, fifth with 53 RBIs and 205 plate appearances and sixth with 168 at-bats and a .702 slugging percentage. Jones' 16 home runs this year are a school single-season record and he holds UW-Stevens Point's career records with 583 at-bats, 203 hits, 185 runs scored, 165 RBIs, 49 home runs and 387 total bases. He also claimed first team honors in 2003 and 2002. Reinke is third in the WIAC with a 2.82 earned run average and a .242 opponent batting average, fourth with six wins, 55 strikeouts and 70.1 innings pitched. UW-Oshkosh had a pair of individuals join Jirschele as first team honorees. Ned Yost ranks second in the WIAC with a .774 slugging percentage and four triples, fourth with a .413 batting average and 60 runs scored, fifth with 26 walks, sixth with 11 home runs and a .500 on-base percentage and seventh with 64 hits and 15 doubles. Ben Huffman claimed first team honors for the second straight year after receiving honorable mention status in 2003. This season, he places third in the conference with 62 strikeouts and seven wins, fifth with 65.1 innings pitched and sixth with a 4.55 earned run average and a .257 opponent batting average. Huffman compiled 25 victories during his career, which are fourth on the conference's all-time list. UW-Stout's Seth Maier, Greg Meinertz and Tim Nielson all received first team status. Maier ranks fourth in the WIAC with 16 doubles, sixth with a .409 batting average, ninth with a .611 slugging percentage and 10th with a .476 on-base percentage. Maier also earned first team honors during the 2003 season. Meinertz claimed first team status for the third straight year after leading the Blue Devils with three triples and placing second with six home runs and 28 RBIs. He was third on the squad with a .329 batting average, a .564 slugging percentage and nine doubles. Nielson secured first team accolades for the second straight year. He ranks third in the league with 15 stolen bases, fourth with 12 home runs, ninth with 48 RBIs and 10th with a .610 slugging percentage. UW-La Crosse's Andy Podmolik leads the conference with five triples, while ranking third with 15 stolen bases and eighth with a .400 batting average. He was a honorable mention choice a season ago. UW-Platteville's Ryan Slaght places third in the WIAC with 77.0 innings pitched, six with five wins and ninth with a 5.38 earned run average and 38 strikeouts. Named to the honorable mention team were: UW-La Crosse's Joe Bemis, Dan Graziano, Matt Zieba and Matt Zurbriggen, UW-Platteville's Matt Huckstep, David Reifenberger and E.J. Zbikowski, UW-Stevens Point's Kevin Pankow, Matt Polomis, Tim Schlosser and Jordan Zimmermann, UW-Superior's Andy Paul and Eric Pokornowski and UW-Whitewater's Jeff Newcomer and Nicholas Teach. UW-Stevens Point head coach Pat Bloom was voted the Coach of the Year after leading the Pointers to a 19-5 conference mark and a 35-9 overall record. The Pointers' 35 wins this season are the most since the school record of 37 set in 2002. Bloom is in his second season with UW-Stevens Point and has accumulated a 60-25 record (.706 winning percentage).

Titans Eliminated From WIAC Tournament

UW-Platteville staged another improbable rally to knock UW-Oshkosh out of the WIAC Baseball Tournament on Saturday (May 14) in Wisconsin Rapids. One week after scoring seven runs in the bottom of the eighth inning for a 10-9 win in Oshkosh, UW-Platteville (22-20) scored five runs in the bottom of the ninth to steal a 7-6 decision from UW-Oshkosh (29-13). The first four UW-Platteville batters recorded hits in the ninth inning, as Mike Flood doubled, Brett Mandsager homered, pinch-hitter Brandon Ihm doubled and Jason Watson singled to cut the lead to 6-4. A walk to David Reifenberger loaded the bases, before Ihm scored on a fielder„s choice ground ball by Matt Huckstep. Huckstep stole second base, setting the stage for E.J. Zbikowski. With two outs and runners on second and third, Zbikowski lashed a single up the middle scoring Watson and Huckstep and triggering the Pioneers„ third straight win over the Titans. Jeremy Granlund went the distance for the UW-Platteville victory, allowing six runs on 12 hits and striking out three. Watson had two hits to lead the Pioneers at the plate. UW-Platteville's rally spoiled great days at the plate by UW-Oshkosh„s Ned Yost (Sr. „ Marietta, Ga.) and Josh Shere (Jr. „ Janesville). Shere belted a pair of home runs, a double and drove in four runs. Yost went four-for-five at the plate with a double. Yost concluded the tournament with seven hits in nine at bats. Brad Bolton (So. „ Phillips) picked up the loss in relief of Ryan Hermus (Sr. „ Combined Locks) who had held the Pioneers to just one earned run and three hits through eight innings of work.

Pointers Rally To Edge Titans In
WIAC Tournament Opener

UW-Stevens Point rallied for three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning for a come-from-behind victory over UW-Oshkosh in a first round game of the WIAC Baseball Tournament held Friday (May 13) in Wisconsin Rapids. UW-Oshkosh (29-12) opened up a 4-0 lead after four and a half innings as Ned Yost (Sr. „ Marietta, Ga.) ripped two doubles and a triple and scored three times. Nat Richter got the Pointers„ on the board in the bottom of the fifth with a two-run homer that hit the top of the outfield fence and bounced over. Still trailing 4-2 in the seventh inning, the Pointers„ Ben Warwick hit a run-scoring double to centerfield, scoring Richter from first base. UW-Stevens Point added a tying run in the eighth inning on a bases loaded passed ball. Matt Polomis then grounded a single up the middle to score Ryan Jones and Steve Wiczek for a 6-4 lead. The Pointers were led at the plate by Richter who went two-for-two with a pair of walks. J.C. Reinke earned the complete game victory for the Pointers, allowing four runs on 10 hits, while striking out six.  Reinke allowed just two hits over the last four innings. Yost supplied much of the Titans„ offense with three extra base hits in his first three at-bats. Jeremy Jirschele (Sr. „ Clintonville) and Bryan Schwebke (So. „ Oshkosh) also picked up a pair of hits. Righthander Ben Huffman (Sr. „ Mequon) went the distance for UW-Oshkosh, allowing just seven hits and striking out 10 hitters. It was just Huffman„s sixth loss in 31 career decisions.

Titans To Battle Pointers
In First Round Of WIAC Tournament

The WIAC Baseball Tournament begins Friday (May 13) at Witter Field in Wisconsin Rapids with UW-Oshkosh and UW Stevens Point meeting in a first round contest for the fourth consecutive year.

Action in the double-elimination tournament starts Friday at 10 a.m. with top-seed UW-Whitewater (36-4) playing fourth-seed UW-Platteville (21-19). That contest will be followed by a 1 p.m. game between second-seed UW-Stevens Point (32-8) and third-seed UW-Oshkosh (29-11).

The WIAC Tournament concludes with games on Friday at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Saturday (May 14) at noon and 3 p.m. If necessary, a second championship game will be played on Saturday at 6 p.m.

UW-Oshkosh owns a 2-2 record against UW-Stevens Point this season, with the Titans posting wins of 5-4 and 12-6 in Oshkosh and the Pointers tallying victories of 5-1 and 16-4 in Stevens Point. UW-Oshkosh is 2-2 against UW Platteville this year and 0-4 against UW-Whitewater.

Since the four-team WIAC Tournament format began in 1998, four different schools have captured championships. UW-Stevens Point won the event in 1999, 2001 and 2002, UW-Whitewater in 2003 and 2004, UW-La Crosse in 2000 and UW-Oshkosh in 1998.

UW-Oshkosh has compiled a 2-2 record in each of the past two WIAC Tournaments, with all four of their wins coming over UW-Stevens Point and all four of their losses coming to UW-Whitewater.

The winner of this year's WIAC Tournament receives the league's automatic bid to the 42-team NCAA Division III Championship.

Titans To Play Lawrence University
At Fox Cities Stadium

The UW-Oshkosh baseball team makes a regular season appearance at Fox Cities Stadium for the fourth time in six years when it plays a doubleheader against Lawrence University on Wednesday (April 27).

UW-Oshkosh enters the noon doubleheader with a 25-5 record after splitting a pair of games with UW-Stout on Sunday (April 24). Lawrence University brings a 12-12 record into its twinbill with UW-Oshkosh after splitting a pair of games with Beloit College on Sunday.

Wednesday…s contests will be the 18th and 19th between UW Oshkosh and Lawrence University. The Titans lead the all-time series by a 16-1 count.

UW-Oshkosh resumes WIAC play this weekend with doubleheaders on Saturday (April 30) and Sunday (May 1) at UW-Whitewater.

Titans Move Doubleheader With
Wisconsin Lutheran College To E.J. Schneider Field

College baseball returns to Oshkosh North High School…s E.J. Schneider Field on Wednesday (April 20) when UW-Oshkosh plays a pair of games against Wisconsin Lutheran College. Wednesday's doubleheader, which was originally scheduled for Tiedemann Field, will begin at 4:30 p.m.

UW-Oshkosh enters Wednesday's twinbill with a 20-4 overall record after sweeping UW-Superior in a four-game series last weekend (April 16-17). Wisconsin Lutheran College brings a 6-20 overall record into Wednesday's doubleheader after losing 12-10 to Finlandia University (Mich.) last Friday (April 15).

UW-Oshkosh resumes WIAC play this weekend with doubleheaders Saturday (April 23) and Sunday (April 24) at UW-Stout.

UW-Whitewater leads the WIAC standings with a 10-2 league record, while UW-Stevens Point follows in second place at 13-3, UW-Oshkosh in third at 9-3, UW-Stout in fourth at 8-8, UW-La Crosse in fifth at 6-10, UW-Platteville in sixth at 2-10 and UW-Superior in eighth at 0-12.

Titans' WIAC Opener
Moved To Tiedemann Field

UW-Oshkosh's WIAC baseball opener scheduled for Wednesday (March 30) against UW-Stevens Point has been postponed due to unplayable field conditions in Stevens Point.

The doubleheader has been rescheduled for Friday (April 1) at UW-Oshkosh's Tiedemann Field. The first pitch will be thrown at noon.

Because of the change in location, the Titans' doubleheader against the Pointers on April 13 has been moved from Oshkosh to Stevens Point.

UW-Oshkosh takes a 5-1 record into Friday's twinbill against UW-Stevens Point. The Titans are ranked ninth in the NCAA Division III by Collegiate Baseball. UW-Stevens Point is 6-1 on the season and ranked 18th nationally.

UW-Oshkosh will also host doubleheaders against Lakeland College (1-10) on Saturday (April 2) and Marian College (1-7) on Sunday (April 3) at Tiedemann Field. Both doubleheaders begin at noon.

Titans Selected To Capture WIAC Championship

UW-Oshkosh has been chosen as the preseason favorite for the 2005 WIAC baseball championship, according to the league's sports information directors.

UW-Oshkosh, which finished second in last year's WIAC race with an 18-6 league record, collected four of the poll's seven first-place votes. Defending champion UW-Whitewater, which received the remaining three first-place votes, was picked to finish second behind the Titans. UW-Whitewater captured last year's WIAC title with a 21-3 league record.

Completing the predicted order of finish for the WIAC derby were third-place UW-Stevens Point, fourth-place UW-Stout, fifth-place UW-La Crosse and UW-Platteville and seventh-place UW-Superior.

The top four teams in the league standings will advance to the WIAC Tournament on May 13-14 in Wisconsin Rapids. The winner of the double-elimination WIAC Tournament will receive the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship.

UW-Oshkosh returns 14 lettermen, including three position starters and nine pitchers, from last year's team that posted a 35-9 overall record and ranked 18th in the NCAA Division III by the publication "Collegiate Baseball."

UW-Oshkosh, under the guidance of 17th-year head coach Tom Lechnir, opens its 2005 WIAC schedule on March 30 against UW-Stevens Point.

Jirschele Chosen To Preseason All-America Team

The publication “Baseball America” has named UW-Oshkosh second baseman Jeremy Jirschele (Sr. • Clintonville) to its 2005 NCAA Division III Preseason All-America Baseball Team. Jirschele was one of 14 players selected to the squad, with the others being catcher Mike Rucci of Rowan University (N.J.), first baseman Kurt Kapferer of The College of Wooster (Ohio), shortstop David Peterson of George Fox University (Ore.), third baseman Scott Tourville of Rose-Hulman Institute (Ind.), outfielders Nigel Archibald of Centenary College (N.J.), Archie Gilbert of California State University-Hayward and Paul Winterling of Johns Hopkins University (Md.), designated hitter Steve Ketter of Rockford College (Ill.) and pitchers Mike DeMark of Marietta College (Ohio), Ryan DiPetro of Eastern Connecticut State University, Kevin Foreman of Mary Washington College (Va.) and Tom McCullen and Josh Schwarz of Rowan University. Last spring, Jirschele received NCAA Division III All-America first team honors by the American Baseball Coaches Association after hitting .431 with 20 doubles, three triples, six home runs, 65 runs scored and 59 runs batted in. Defensively, Jirschele committed only five errors in 248 fielding opportunities. Jirschele, who enters the 2005 season with starts in 127 consecutive games, hit .373 in 2003 with three home runs, 32 runs batted in and 44 runs scored. Jirschele hit .271 with one home run, 21 runs batted in and 18 runs scored in 2002.

Titans Ranked Ninth In
Pre-Season Baseball Poll

"Collegiate Baseball," the nation's premier publication for college baseball news, has ranked UW-Oshkosh ninth in its pre-season poll of NCAA Division III baseball teams.

UW-Oshkosh received 230 votes in the pre-season poll, the most by any WIAC team. Rowan University (N.J.) ranked first in the poll with 250 votes, while Johns Hopkins University (Md.) listed second with 248, University of St. Thomas (Minn.) third with 247, Chapman University (Calif.) fourth with 244 and Marietta College (Ohio) fifth with 240.

The top 10 teams in the poll were completed by sixth-ranked Eastern Connecticut State University with 237 votes, seventh-ranked University of Southern Maine with 236, eighth-ranked Linfield College (Ore.) with 234, ninth-ranked UW-Oshkosh and 10th-ranked Aurora University (Ill.) with 227.

UW-Oshkosh ranked second in last year's pre-season poll. The Titans went on to post a 35-9 record and finish the 2004 season as the 18th-ranked team in the country.

UW-Oshkosh opens its 2005 season on March 14 by playing a doubleheader against St. John's University (Minn.) at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minn. The Titans also play Crown College (Minn.) in a doubleheader at the Metrodome on March 15.

UW-Oshkosh is expected to field another strong team this spring, led by 2004 NCAA Division III All-America second baseman Jeremy Jirschele (Sr. • Clintonville) and 2004 NCAA Division III All-Midwest Region pitcher Ben Huffman (Sr. • Mequon) and third baseman Josh Shere (Jr. • Janesville).

Former Titans Begin Another
Professional Baseball Season

Three former UW-Oshkosh baseball players will take part in preseason workouts as Major League Baseball opens Spring Training Feb. 15.

Reporting to major league training camps in Arizona are catcher Casey Kopitzke with the Chicago Cubs, pitcher Jack Taschner with the San Francisco Giants and pitcher Jarrod Washburn with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Later this month, former UW-Oshkosh baseball players Korey Feiner and Jordan Timm will report to minor league training camps in Florida. Feiner, a catcher, will attend practice with the Minnesota Twins, while Timm, a pitcher, will attend workout sessions with the Toronto Blue Jays.