If it seems like all of a sudden the end of the season is very near it's because it is.
Few teams actually got in 26 games this season. SPASH did. In Poynette we got in 24 plus a suspended game. Our 26th one was cancelled because Belleville had to play a Capitol South make up game on the day we were supposed to play a non-required Capitol Conference cross-over game.
Most of the games played in 2013 were crammed into about a 3 week window, maybe 3 1/2 weeks.
Very few teams had much of a chance to practice outdoors. Teaching was tough indoors as situations were hard to create. Some played wiffle ball, others used Lite Flite or Diamond Dimpled balls indoors to create situations.
The WIAA tourney trail has already been launched. Round 2 of regional play begins on Tuesday in Division 2,3 and 4 while Division 1 gets underway on Tuesday as well.
In Division 1 Sectional #1, the only D-1 sectional is played with two regional pools, it's not surprising that SPASH and Chippewa Falls are the #1 seeds in those pools. I think Superior at a #4 seed could be a sleeper in the top pool with a chance to knock off Chippewa Falls and advance to the sectional championship game after a game with #2 Hudson. SPASH and D.C. Everest will battle for the regional title in the lower bracket of that sectional but Everest will have to contend with a pesky Merrill team that has come on as of late.
In Sectional #2 it's another crap shoot. It's anybody's guess as to just how that one will play out. Appleton East has the #1 seed while Green Bay Preble finds themselves in a spot they haven't been very often, the #2 seed at the bottom of the seeded sectional. Others in the running could be Hortonville and Bayport the #3 and #4 seeds. This sectional could produce some upsets among the lower seeds as well and the top contenders had better take care of business or be packing it up.
In Sectional #3 Sun Prairie got the #1 seed but they've lost twice to Madison LaFollette and pitcher/slugger Nicole Newman. Along the way Sun Prairie will have to contend with the likes of a good LaCrosse Central club while LaFollette will have their hands full with an always-tough, always-ready to play Verona contingent. A sleeper in this one could be #7 Baraboo but the Thunderbirds will struggle to score against Newman and they'll have to pitch around her as well.
In Sectional #4 it's anybody's title to earn. Oshkosh West is the #1 seed and perhaps the top team in the grouping. Kaukauna is the #2 but lurking along the way are Kimberly at #3 and Neenah at #4. Both of those clubs have the capability of knocking off the #1 or the #2 along the way.
Sectional #5 features Westosha Central and pitcher Sarah Fonk. They just lost their only game of the season to Bradford but Fonk did not pitch that game. Freshman catcher Kayla Konwent is a threat every time she bats. In the Jamboree, we intentionally walked her once and should have done that at least one other at bat (longest home run every hit at Diamond of Champions in Poynette). Senior leadoff batter Brittney Blazich is a pretty tough out to record and sets the table for the Falcons. Southern Lakes foe Union Grove is the #2 seed while Waterford is the #3 seed in that sectional. Other who could be contenders include #4 seeded Fort Atkinson and #5 seed Wilmot.
In Sectional #6 Mukwonago emerged with the #1 seed with Oconomowoc #2 at the lower end of the bracket. Oconomowoc had better not be counting chickens before they are hatched though as #3 seed Menomonee Falls is a very tough club this spring. We can't forget always-right-in-the-thick-of-things Watertown either. The Goslings have a way of coming around tough when the tournament starts. In the end I think Fonk will be the highlight of the sectional and lead the Falcons to Goodman Diamond.
In Sectional #7 Germantown has the #1 seed but I believe this one to be wide open. Brookfield Central has had a good season, good enough to get the #2 seed but will be challenged by Divine Savior Holy Angels, a team that just beat Menomonee falls this past Tuesday. Central and DSHA split a twinbill earlier this season. The winner of the #4 Homestead vs #5 Hamilton game really could give Germantown a run in the sectional semi-final. If you let Hamilton score four or five runs you could very well get knocked off. Just ask Brookfield Central whom they beat 6-2 last Monday.
Lastly, in Sectional #8 will be a real battle for the Southeast rep at Goodman Diamond come June 6th. Kenosha Bradford, fresh off that victory over Westosha Central has the experience and the history behind them but will have to get past #4 seeded Muskego or Greenfield to get a shot at Racine Case or Kenosha Tremper.
At the State tournament Sectional #4 plays Sectional #8 for a Final Four Berth. Sectional #1 takes on Sectional #7 while #3 plays #5 and Sectional #2 plays Sectional #6.
Here is a look at how Division 2 might play out.
Sectional #1 includes the statewide favorite in Baldwin-Woodville. The defending state champion and top ranked D-2 team will most likely face Sparta in the sectional semi-final in Black River Falls. I just don't see a sleeper in this group that can handle Baldwin-Woodville. However, my real sleeper in this group is the #5 seed Rice Lake. The coaches in that regional must not have considered strength of schedule too much to rank them #5. A 19-0 (5-inning) win over the #7 seeded Ashland team should have sent a message to the rest. I see another Baldwin-Woodville vs Rice Lake Final taking place at the ball yard at St. Croix Central.
Sectional #2 pits a bunch of state champion caliber contenders. Let's start with the upper regional where Oconto Falls got the #1 seed but has since been beaten by the Shawano. It's always tough to beat a good team three times and that's what Oconto Falls has to be banking on. Shawano has some motivation going for them up there btu will have to get past #3 seeded West De Pere to get a crack at Falls. In the lower half Luxemburg-Casco has the #1 seed and will most likely take on #2 seed Southern Door. In the lower half of the sectional Ripon and New London are the #1 seeds. I look for Adams-Friendship to give Ripon a real battle for the regional title. The winner of that game will take on either the favorite, New London or it could be Little Chute.
Sectional #3 is also a loaded one. Monroe hold the current title of Sectional Champion but River Valley, Marshall, Portage, and Columbus will produce some stiff competition. In the lower half of the bracket I see Turner as the favorite but it seems as something is amiss there. They'll have to bring it around this week and take on McFarland or possibly Edgerton next week.
Finally in Sectional #4 I see Plymouth as the team to set your sights on even though they are a #2 seed. Waupun will have a lot to say about things though as the #2 seed and in the bottom bracket Kewaskum will be looking to knock off Mayville.
There you have them. My thoughts on the WIAA tourney field in all four divisions. Once again I've provided some great locker room or dugout/bench area motivation. Use it as you see fit.
Good luck to all -- unless you are playing our team, then let's just have a great game!
Keep it Rising!
Bob
Tag(s): Bulletins
