When one thinks of sports rivalries, several classic matchups come to mind: Packers-Bears, Yankees-Red Sox, Lakers-Celtics. Division III baseball has its form of this type of rivalry: UW-Whitewater vs. UW-Stevens Point.
The two teams faced each other 11 times a year ago, and will renew their rivalry with doubleheaders Saturday and Sunday at Stevens Point.
Unlike any other games against a WIAC opponent, the games this weekend will be more important for D3baseball.com’s No. 10-ranked team.
The No. 9 Pointers (8-3) knocked the ’Hawks (11-2) out of the playoffs last year, winning the regional final 4-3 in Whitewater on May 22.
Senior starting pitcher Riley Tincher said the matchup will mean just a little more to the team than normal, as the ’Hawks are searching for vengeance this time around.
“The last game of the season is in the back of everyone’s mind,” Tincher said. “It’s something we don’t talk about but everybody knows about it. I would be lying to say there’s no bad blood between us.”
Head coach John Vodenlich said although the games this weekend won’t decide the season, he did admit it’s a rivalry that is unmatched by any other team in the conference.
“[The games] always mean a lot and I think our guys are a little more jacked up to play Point just because of the history,” Vodenlich said.
The teams have finished in the top three in conference since 2007 and have won the WIAC tournament every year since 2001, with the Pointers winning seven and the ’Hawks three.
The ’Hawks were also on the losing end to the Pointers in 2010, accumulating a 5-6 record.
Making the matchup even more interesting is the fact that both teams are starting to get into form, having played some of their best baseball of the season last week.
The ’Hawks have won six straight games, taking four over the weekend against UW-Superior in Whitewater. They have outscored opponents, 74-15, during the winning streak.
The Pointers took two from Edgewood College last weekend, scoring 33 runs compared to their opponent’s five.
Vodenlich said keeping the ’Hawks’ hot hitting going strong will be important if the ’Hawks are to keep their win streak intact.
The ’Hawks are batting .361 as a team heading into this weekend.
“We’re doing a bunch of the little things very productively too,” Vodenlich said. “We’ve been bunting well this season and taking advantage in steal situations.”
Senior Daniel Putnam has led the charge for the ’Hawks with a .534 average while senior catcher Rob Coe has smacked in 19 RBI.
Vodenlich said in order for his team to have a successful weekend, his team needs to keep making plays.
“[The Pointers] can pitch and play defense with the best teams in the nation,” Vodenlich said. “They have some very legitimate arms … when I look at them, they have very good hitters but their strength is in starting pitching.”
