Wisconsin High School Sports | Wisconsin Sports Network | WisSports.net

[email=dsemrau@madison.com] [/email]Dennis Semrau

Wissports.net



Welcome to spring baseball season in Wisconsin.



Where the wind chill factor can outnumber the attendance and rainy days make many schedules moot not only for fans but beleaguered athletic directors and coaches who wish they had a budget large enough to bribe the Milwaukee Brewers into sharing Miller Park.



By the way, the Milwaukee Brewers home opener is a week away. Will you be calling in sick and making the trek to watch the Brew Crew and Chicago Cubs at Miller Park?



But I digress, playing high school baseball in Wisconsin means knowing the cost of a bag of Diamond Dry, having your lap top attuned to the Weather Channel and having your opponents cell phone numbers on speed dial in case of a postponement.



So what are your favorite stories of opening days gone by and the lengths you have had to go to get them in?



It won t be long before the WIAA will be determining its four state baseball champions in June when its holds its 62^nd annual state championships at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute.



But for now, it s time to play ball.



It s also time for us to share your memorable moments, special plays and stellar players with baseball fans around the state. So don t be shy, send your box scores, notes, feature ideas and even a novelty play or two to me at [email=dsemrau@madison.com]dsemrau@madison.com[/email].



In the meantime, following are 10  trivia questions to amuse you on your next bus trip or two.



*** Did you know that the WIAA began sponsoring a tournament program in spring baseball in 1948?



*** Did you know that the first State Tournament was held in Milwaukee, and that Milwaukee Boys Tech beat Madison East 10-2 for the title?



*** Did you know that the tournament then moved to Menasha (1950-57), Eau Claire (1958-62), Oshkosh (1963-64) and Wisconsin Rapids (1965) before returning to Eau Claire (1966-70) and then moving to Marion (1971-1972) before calling Wausau (1973-1997) its home?



*** Did you know that the tournament moved to its current location at Time Warner Field at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute in 1998?



*** Did you know that beginning in 1978, competition took place in three Classes (A-B-C)? That terminology was changed in 1991 to Divisions (1-2-3).



*** Did you know that in 2006, the Tournament Series expanded to the current four divisions?



*** Did you know that Appleton West has won a state record seven titles, followed by Nekoosa and Sun Prairie with five, Eau Claire with four, and Hortonville, Janesville Craig, Oconomowoc, Eau Claire Memorial and Stevens Point with three each?



*** Did you know that La Crosse Central has a state record 18 tournament appearances and that only Nekoosa has won three consecutive championships, winning the Class B titles from 1980-82?



*** Do you know who is number one this season?

 

The Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association picked Kimberly (Division 1), Madison Edgewood (Division 2), Marathon (Division 3) and Pecatonica (Division 4) as its preseason champs.

 

Kimberly last won the Division 1 title in 2007, while Edgewood won the Division 2 title in 2004, Marathon is the defending Division 3 champion and Pecatonica is after its first title.

 

*** Did you know that Kenosha Bradford (Division 1), West DePere (Division 2) and Burlington Catholic Central (Division 4) are the other defending champions?

 

Over the next few weeks, we will be previewing various teams and conferences around the state. If you would like to have your school or league included, please send me an e-mail at [email=dsemrau@madison.com]dsemrau@madison.com[/email]

 

Good luck this season!