Caleb Boushley – Photo Courtesy of UW-La Crosse Athletics
The WIAC made history on Saturday when two of its teams qualified for the NCAA D-3 baseball College World Series at Fox Cities Stadium later this week.
UW-La Crosse, as the top seed in the Midwest Regional, beat St. John’s 5-3 in the title game at Copeland Park on Saturday. UW-Whitewater, also a top seed in the Central Regional, swept fifth-seeded Rose-Hulman 11-0 and 5-3 in the championships games in Sauget, Illinois to gain a spot in the field.
La Crosse (38-8) will open play on Friday at 1:15pm against Trinity of Texas (39-8). Whitewater (34-15) will play at 7:45 Friday night against La Roche of Pittsburgh.
In the La Crosse win, starter Caleb Boushley (10-0) scattered eight hits and struck out five. Taylor Kohlwey had two hits, extending his hitting streak to 49 straight games, second most in team NCAA Division 3 history.
In the Whitewater victories, Austin Jones (7-2) struckout eight and allowed five hits in the first game while Lake Bachar (8-5) went the distance and struck out eight in the title game.
Bachar already has a national championship under his belt, winning one as a punter and place-kicker on the Warhawk football team.
The Warhawks are making their eighth trip to the College World Series, winning championships in 2005 and 2014. Head coach John Vodenlich picked up career win number 500 on Saturday. The victory total includes time spent at Edgewood College.