While the UW softball team may be getting most of the attention in sports this spring, there is another team roaming the diamond right now and they are turning some heads nationally.
The Wisconsin club baseball team (2-1 Western Lakes, 10-5 overall) is in full swing after a successful 2003 season that saw many firsts for the program. The squad captured the Western Lakes Conference crown, defeated the Iowa State Cyclones to win their first regional title and earned their first-ever berth in the National Club Baseball Association World Series where they finished third in the nation.
The World Series appearance was huge for Head Coach Jeff Booth, whose father passed away right before the season started.
\For me personally, it meant a lot because I had just lost my father to a heart attack in February,"" Booth said. ""He was my coach when I was younger and I learned the majority of my baseball skills and knowledge from him, so it was like he had a hand in our success as well.""
The game also meant a lot to the players who practiced whenever they had chances, are not on sports scholarships and have to pay to be a part of the team.
""You have to take into consideration the fact that these guys are attending UW-Madison to further their educations and not just here to play baseball like some scholarship player at other schools,"" Booth said. ""So for them to dedicate so much time and effort to something outside of school and fit it into their schedules, it was nice to end the season trying to win a national championship.""
Now the Badgers are back and ready to defend their conference title and will try to improve on their NCBA World Series finish from last year. When considering all of the returning talent, a possible championship game appearance may not be out of the question.
""Not having to fill spots in the lineup or on the field is nice because I can focus on smaller details,"" Booth said. ""It is like having extra assistant coaches in the field. They know what it takes to win.""
Wisconsin has seven of eight starters returning to the field with departing shortstop J.J. Boyke being the lone exception. Second team All-American senior second baseman Matt Nuthals and third team All-American junior third baseman Jeremy Baier highlight a strong one-two punch near the top of the lineup. Leadoff man senior center fielder Adam Kuffel also returns to lead the potent Badger offensive attack.
Joining the fielders, seven pitchers also return to comprise the majority of an experienced Wisconsin pitching staff. Staff ace senior Sam O'Conner will once again serve as UW's top pitcher, while junior Olin Erickson and brothers Brad and Rob Hilsabeck, senior and sophomore respectively, help complete a strong staff of starting Badger fireballers. Senior closer Ryan McCulloh, who earned the save that put Wisconsin into the World Series, will act as closer once again this year.
So far this year, the Badgers have once again found success in the field. This season UW has already split with Iowa State, last year's regional championship opponent and took two of three games from the Marquette Golden Eagles in their only conference games.
The UW club baseball team has proven that it is not necessary to be a high-profile NCAA program to turn some heads on Madison's baseball diamond and across the nation. And with the hard work and dedication put forth by Nuthals, Baier, O'Conner and the rest of the student-athletes on the baseball squad-emphasis on student-the Badgers just might be able to complete that quest for a national championship that eluded them a season ago.
