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From the WIAC --

Defending conference regular-season and tournament champion, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, has been picked to win the 2018 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) baseball championship, according to a preseason poll conducted by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.

The Warhawks claimed the 17th regular-season title in program history a year ago, along with the fifth tournament first-place finish, and made its 20th NCAA appearance. UW-Whitewater welcomes back Blake Fleischman and Heath Renz, the reigning WIAC Position Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year, respectively. Fleischman is among the six returning position players and posted a .309 batting average, .483 slugging percentage, .389 on-base percentage, 31 RBI, six home runs and team-best 11 doubles during the 2017 campaign.

Renz, who was named to the D3baseball.com Preseason All-America First Team, compiled a 9-0 record, 1.96 earned run average and 55 strikeouts in 69.0 innings pitched a year ago. Austin Jones received honorable mention on the preseason All-America squad after striking out 83 batters in 85.0 innings pitched.

UW-Whitewater is followed in the conference predictions by: UW-La Crosse; UW-Oshkosh; UW-Stevens Point; UW-Stout; UW-Platteville; and Illinois Institute of Technology.

UW-La Crosse made the program’s sixth NCAA appearance – and fourth straight – a season ago. The Eagles return their top-three hitters from last year’s squad, including Nate Heili, who topped the team with a .348 batting average, .442 on-base percentage, 57 hits and 21 stolen bases. Caleb Willems had a 2.02 earned run average in 35.2 innings and produced 31 strikeouts, along with a conference-best eight saves.

UW-Oshkosh brings back seven starting position players from a year ago, including Andy Brahier, who had a .317 batting average, .460 slugging percentage, 30 RBI and four home runs. Among the eight pitchers returning that have starting experience are Colan Treml, who threw a team-high 72.0 innings and had a team-best 3.00 earned run average and 53 strikeouts. Jesse Sustachek compiled a 3.82 earned run average in 66.0 innings of work with 34 strikeouts.

UW-Stevens Point has reached double-digits in WIAC wins 15 consecutive seasons and brings back 22 letterwinners from last year’s squad. In 2017, Kyle Mrozinski led the Pointers with a .310 batting average, .408 on-base percentage, .511 slugging percentage, 44 hits, 12 doubles and 34 RBI. His 34 RBI ranked third in the WIAC. Cole Erickson had team highs with four victories, 60.1 innings pitched and 44 strikeouts.

UW-Stout’s six conference victories during the 2017 campaign were the most since the 2014 squad produced 10 wins. Joel Hollow leads this year’s returnees after batting .333 with 12 runs scored, five doubles and two home runs a season ago. Jordan Wilson had a team-high 40 hits and finished second on the squad with 26 RBI, 23 runs scored and nine doubles. Luke Eide compiled team-highs of 64.0 innings pitched and 37 strikeouts.

UW-Platteville brings back 16 letterwinners from last season’s squad the produced at least 19 wins for the third straight year – the longest stretch in program history. Josh Moses led the WIAC with a .612 slugging percentage, 16 doubles and five triples, while ranking fifth with a .354 batting average. He also led the team with a .422 on-base percentage, 52 hits, 30 RBI, 29 runs scored and four home runs.

Illinois Institute of Technology begins its first season as an affiliate member with the conference after previously being an independent. The Scarlet Hawks have 20 returning letterwinners from a year ago, including Orlando Cardenas-Juan, who led the team with a .346 batting average and eight stolen bases, while finishing second with 19 RBI. James Tarala recorded 34 strikeouts in 52.1 innings pitched.

2018 Preseason Predictions (Voted on by WIAC head coaches and sports information directors)

                                                                                2017 Record

1. UW-Whitewater                                          (36-9 overall, 17-3 WIAC)
2. UW-La Crosse                                               (31-19, 11-9)
3. UW-Oshkosh                                                (22-20, 11-9)
4. UW-Stevens Point                                      (22-19, 11-9)
5. UW-Stout                                                       (10-27, 6-14)
6. UW-Platteville                                              (19-21, 4-16)
7. Illinois Institute of Technology               (11-28, NA)

Team Vitals (Entering the 2018 season)

Illinois Institute of Technology

Head Coach:  Ed Zeifert; 2nd season at IIT; 11-28
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  20/6
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  6/3
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  5/2
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  1/1

Returning All-WIAC:  N/A

Notable Returning Position Players:  Orlando Cardenas-Juan, So., 2B/SS/3B; Zachary Dickey, So., C/RF; DJ Rybski, Sr., 2B

Notable Returning Pitchers:  James Tarala, Sr., RHP; Ryan Cantlin, So., LHP; Matt Witkowski, So., LHP

UW-La Crosse
Head Coach:  Chris Schwarz; 14th season at UWL; 320-236-1
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  15/17

Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  4/5
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  3/3
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  3/3

Returning All-WIAC:  Nate Heili, Jr., INF (2016-First, 2017-First); Caleb Willems, Jr., RHP (2017-First)

Notable Returning Position Players:  Alex Robson, Jr., 2B; Nate Roethle, Sr., C; Brady Stolzman, Jr., 1B

Notable Returning Pitchers:  Connor Cook, So., RHP; Mason McMahon, Jr., RHP; Zach Pronschinske, So., RHP

UW-Oshkosh
Head Coach:  Kevin Tomasiewicz, 5th season at UWO; 84-77-1
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  22/7
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  7/2
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  8/3
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  3/2
Returning All-WIAC:  Andy Brahier, Sr., 1B (2015-First, 2016-Honorable, 2017-Honorable); Alex Koch, Jr., OF (2017-Honorable); Nick McLees, Sr., RHP (2017-Honorable); Dylan Ott, Jr., INF/OF (2016-Honorable); Jack Paulson, Sr., SS (2017-First); Jesse Sustachek, Sr., RHP (2015-Honorable, 2017-Honorable); Colan Treml, Jr., RHP (2017-First)

Notable Returning Position Players:  Taylor Grimm, Sr., C; Logan Reckert, Sr., OF/C; Sam Schwenn, Jr., OF

Notable Returning Pitchers:  Lucas Gregory, Sr., LHP: Alex Larson, So., RHP; Jon Maday, So., RHP

UW-Platteville
Head Coach:  Eric Frese; 20th season (12th at UWP); 314-461-3 (overall) / 180-260-1 (UWP)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  16/16
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  2/7
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  4/2
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  2/0
Returning All-WIAC:  Josh Moses, So., OF (2017-Honorable)

Notable Returning Position Players:  Curtis Barsness, Sr., SS

Notable Returning Pitchers:  Scottie Gordon, Jr., LHP; Tyler Vogel, Jr., RHP

UW-Stevens Point
Head Coach:  Jeremy Jirschele; 3rd season at UWSP; 43-40
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  22/12
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  6/4
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  10/5
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  2/1
Returning All-WIAC:  Cole Erickson, Sr., RHP (2016-First, 2017-First); Kyle Mrozinski, Jr., C/OF (2017-First)

Notable Returning Position Players:  Tommy Duddleston, So., 3B; William Iloncaie, Jr., SS; Ryan Stanicek, Jr., OF

Notable Returning Pitchers:  Ben Miller, Sr., RHP; Drew Spaeth, Sr., RHP; Alex Stodola, Jr., RHP

UW-Stout
Head Coach:  Ben Kincaid; 2nd season at UWST; 10-27
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  23/6
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  8/1
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  4/3
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  3/0

Returning All-WIAC:  Zach Carlson, Sr., RHP (2014-First); Joel Hollow, Sr., 3B (2017-First)

Notable Returning Position Players:  Jon Krueger, Jr., OF/DH; Sam Waters, Sr., INF; Jordan Wilson, Jr., OF

Notable Returning Pitchers:  Paul Danczyk, Sr., RHP; Luke Eide, Jr., RHP; Max Sires, Sr., RHP

UW-Whitewater
Head Coach:  John Vodenlich; 17th season (15th at UWW); 536-205-1 (overall) / 507-165-1 (UWW)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  19/14
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  6/3
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  4/3
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  1/2

Returning All-WIAC:  Cal Aldridge, Jr., INF (2016-First, 2017-First); Blake Fleischman, Sr., INF (2016-First, 2017-First/Position Player of the Year); Austin Jones, Sr., RHP (2016-Honorable, 2017-First); Brett Krause, Sr., OF (2017-First); Heath Renz, Sr., RHP (2017-First/Pitcher of the Year); Matt Wary, Jr., UTIL (2017-Honorable)

Notable Returning Position Players:  Mike Aiello, Jr., C; Dayton Bryden, Sr., OF; Jeff Szubert, Sr., OF

Notable Returning Pitchers:  Sam Heilenbach, Jr., RHP; Michael Kaska, Jr., RHP