Women's Gymnastics

March 16, 2000

MENOMONIE - UW-Stout gymnasts Katie Hanson (Fr, Duluth, Minn) and Tasha Pasch (Fr, Northfield, Minn) have qualified to the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) Championships scheduled for March 24-25 at Springfield College in Springfield, Mass. Both will advance to the meet as all-around competitors.

Hanson scored a career best all-around score of 36.05 by placing 11th on the floor exercise (9.20), 10th on the balance beam (9.20), eighth on the uneven bars (8.675) and 17th on the vault (8.975) at the NCGA West Region qualifier, March 9.

Pasch, who was the 2000 WIAC all-around champion, set a school record at the regional meet on the beam in finishing second. Pasch scored a 9.475, downing a mark Hanson established in early February. She was 19th on vault (8.95), 10th on the bars (8.575), and 21st on the floor (8.90) to establish her score of 35.90. Pasch's best all-around score of the season was a 36.10 at the conference meet.

Competitors advance to the national meet by utilizing a formula combining the scores from four meets during the regular season and scores from the regional qualifier.

March 9, 2000

LA CROSSE - Once again the UW-Stout gymnastics team improved on their season best team score as they finished fifth at the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) West Region Championships at UW-La Crosse, Thursday, March 9.

The Blue Devils scored a season-high 171.70 and Katie Hanson (Fr, Duluth, Minn) and Tasha Pasch (Fr, Northfield, Minn) finished third and fourth, respectively, in the all-around. Both put a solid claim on advancing to the NCGA National Championships March 23-25 in Springfield, Mass. Individual bids will be announced Monday, March 13.

Hanson hit a career best 36.05 in placing 11th on the floor exercixe (9.20), 10th on the balance beam (9.20), eighth on the uneven bars (8.675) and 17th on the vault (8.975).

Pasch, who was the WIAC all-around champion two weeks ago, set a school record on the beam in finishing second. Pasch scored a 9.475, downing a mark Hanson established early in February. She was 19th on vault (8.95), 10th on the bars (8.575), and 21st on the floor (8.90) to establish her score of 35.90.

Coach Jeff Richards was pleased with the Blue Devils performance on the beam. Stout opened up on the beam, just as they did at the conference meet where their beam performances were sub-par. Not so this time around. Only two teams scored higher on the beam than Stout.

"We started on the beam and looked so solid," Richards said. "We had such a rough time at the conference meet (on the beam). They were just hungry. I am proud of them."

Erika Opoien (Fr, Superior) established a career-best in the all-around, scoring a 34.80. Her ninth place beam score of 9.225 easily topped her former best of 8.85. She also set a career best in the vault with an 8.90.

"Erika put in skills and upped her difficulty," Richards said. "She came through and did lot of good stuff."

NCGA West Region Championships
1. UW-La Crosse 180.55; 2. Hamline 177.975; 3. Gustavus Adolphus 177.125; 4. UW-Oshkosh 176.375; 5. UW-Stout 171.70; 6. UW-River Falls 169.80; 7. UW-Eau Claire 169.60; 8. UW-Whitewater 169.55.

Individual Results
(First place, all Stout scores)
Vault: 1. Tiffany Reber (RF) 9.425; 17. Katie Hanson 8.975; 19. Tasha Pasch 8.95; 21. Erika Opoien 8.90; 39. Brenna Jones 8.375; 47. Andrea Hassel 7.90; 48. Scarlett Ramey 7.725;

Uneven bars: 1. Jaime Randall (LX) 8.975; 8. Katie Hanson 8.675; 10. Tasha Pasch 8.575; 21. Erika Opoien 8.15; 42. Brenna Jones 7.25; 45. Andrea Hassel 6.80; 47. Scarlett Ramey 6.20;

Balance beam: 1. Carol Sheker (LX) 9.55; 2. Tasha Pasch 9.475; 9. Erika Opoien 9.225; 10. Katie Hanson 9.20; 14. Andrea Hassel 9.15; 43. Brenna Jones 8.10; 45. Alissa Martin 8.00;

Floor exercise: 1. Sabrina Ashton (Osh) 9.40; 11. Katie Hanson 9.20; 19. Brenna Jones 8.925; 21. Tasha Pasch 8.90; 39. Erika Opoien 8.525; 40. Andrea Hassel 8.45; 43. Lis Carlson 8.35;

All-around: 1. Katie Korteum (GA) 36.575; 3. Katie Hanson 36.05; 4. Tasha Pasch 35.90; 13. Erika Opoien 34.80; 15. Brenna Jones 32.65; 18. Andrea Hassel 32.30.

Baseball

March 18, 2000

FT. MYERS, Fla - Brad O'Connell (Jr, Elk Mound) helped to send the UW-Stout baseball team home from their annual spring break Florida trip on a happy note.

In the Blue Devils final game Saturday, March 18, O'Connell picked up the win on the mound, pitching three-and-two-thirds innings with two strikeouts, went 3-for-4 at the plate with a home run, two RBIs and two stolen bases as Stout topped Fredonia, NY, 8-7.

Earlier in the day, Jake Streich (So, Howard Lake, Minn) and Brian Bee (So, Bloomer) combined for a six-inning, 12-0 shutout win over Fredonia. Streich notched seven strikeouts and gave up only two walks.

Stout opened with four runs in the first as David Rueber (Jr, Afton, Minn) drove in two runs. O'Connell drove in two runs in the fifth with a double.

The Blue Devils ran their overall record to 6-7-1, and went 6-6 in Florida. Stout won six of their last seven games.

The Blue Devils return to action Wednesday, March 29 when they play Macalester College at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minn., at 8:30 p.m.

March 17, 2000

FT. MYERS, Fla - It took nearly all week, but the UW-Stout baseball team picked up a sweep of games Friday, March 17, in their annual spring break trip to Florida.

The Blue Devils didn't even need the luck of the Irish as they downed Monmouth, Ill, 5-3 and 14-2, getting complete game wins from Scott Meyer (Sr, Austin, Minn) and Matt Lunde (So, Eau Claire), respectively.

In the opener, the Blue Devils got the bulk of their runs in a three-run fifth. Monmouth was generous, giving Stout two unearned runs.

Freshman Matt Hoeft (Elk Mound) had a solid morning, getting a triple in each game. In the first game, Hoeft went 2-for-2 with a triple, an RBI and a run scored. In the second game, Hoeft went 2-for-4 with a double, a triple and two RBIs.

Brad O'Connell (Jr, Elk Mound) went 2-for-4 with a double.

Stout got things started in the second inning, rallying for three runs with two outs. They added four runs in the third and three in the fifth. The game ended on the 12-run rule after six innings.

On Thursday, March 16, Stout scored a total of 30 runs on the day, but still split a series with Mount St. Joseph, winning the first game, 16-3, but getting pummeled in the second, 31-14.

Zak Arneson (Jr, Barneveld) picked up the complete game win, scattering six hits, allowing two earned runs, two walks and striking out 10. Stout pounded out five home runs with O'Connell and JR Dachel (Sr, Bloomer) each getting two and JW Dachel (So, Bloomer) collecting one.

Mount St. Joseph ground up six Blue Devil pitchers and chewed up starter Adam Shoberg (So, Minnetonka, Minn) for eight runs - but only four earned runs - on six hits in the first. Mount St. Joseph clubbed five home runs and had a 14-run third inning.

The Blue Devils topped that with six home runs. O'Connell, JW Dachel, Hoeft, Dave Rueber (Jr, Afton, Minn), Eddie Young (So, La Crosse) and Lucas Martell (So, Kingsford, Mich) each had home runs.

March 14, 2000

FT. MYERS, Fla - Freshman Chris Cisler (Maribel) came on in relief to work out of a bases loaded jam and picked up his first collegiate win as the UW-Stout baseball team grabbed their first win of the season, downing Fontbonne, Mo., 15-3, Tuesday, March 14 in Ft. Myers, Fla.

With no place left to put anyone, Cisler struck out the first batter, then forced a double play when third baseman Dave Rueber (Jr, Afton, Minn) made a diving catch and picked off the runner at first base who strayed too far.

Coming off a wild 14-11 loss earlier in the day to Fontbonne where Stout lost the lead in their third straight game, the Blue Devils (1-6-1) pounded out 16 hits and committed no errors.

Rueber not only was a defensive standout, he led the Blue Devils at the plate, going 3-for-3 with five RBIs and a home run.

JW Dachel (So, Bloomer) and Brad O'Connell (Jr, Elk Mound) were 3-for-5 with Dachel getting three RBIs. Justin Biever (Fr, South Milwaukee) was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a home run. JR Dachel (Sr, Bloomer) also had a home run and finished the game 3-for-4.

Cisler worked two full innings and gave up one hit, no runs or walks and struck out two.

In the opener that day, Stout built an 8-1 lead heading into the fourth inning, but started to fall apart. Fontbonne scored four runs in the top of the fourth, but Stout answered back with three more to build an 11-5 lead.

Fontbonne added a run in the fifth, three in the sixth, then delivered the winning five runs in the top of the seventh.

Offensively, O'Connell was 2-for-4, while Eddie Young (So, LaCrosse) and Brock Meyer (Fr, Lyle, Minn) were 2-for-3. Meyer drove in two runs, as did Rich Young (Fr, Woodbury, Minn).

Virginia Wesleyan 10, Stout 9
Virginia Wesleyan got to the Blue Devils for six runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 10-9 come-from-behind win, Monday, March 13.

Stout scored five runs in the second and added another in the third for a seemingly comfortable 6-0 lead. Wesleyan roughed up starter Scott Meyer (Sr, Austin, Minn) for four runs in the bottom of the third.

The Blue Devils gave Meyer a little more cushion with two runs in the fourth and a solo run in the sixth. Wesleyan sent Meyer to the showers in the sixth with a six-run outburst.

O'Connell and JR Dachel were 2-for-4 and Brian McQuillan (Fr, St. Paul, Minn) and Rich Young were 2-for-3. Young, Dachel, Rueber and Kurt Ploog (Jr, Lakeville, Minn) each drove in two runs.

The Blue Devils parlayed doubles by the Dachel brothers, Rueber and Jake Fleming (Fr, Eau Claire) into the lead, but three Stout errors spelled doom for the boys in blue.

JW Dachel and Nick Kalina (So, Potosi) both hit 2-for-3. Dachel drove in two runs.

Marian 12, Stout 1
Marian 6, Stout 3
The Blue Devils did not start off their Florida trip on the right foot, getting rocked by cross-state non-conference opponent, Marian College, 12-1 in the first game, Sunday, March 12. Stout made the second game more respectable, dropping a 6-3 decision.

Marian worked three Stout pitchers for 13 hits and 11 earned runs.

Stout's offense showed a little life in the top of the fourth when Biever drove in Ploog for what would be Stout's only run of the game, and tightened the score to 2-1 in favor of Marian.

But the Sabres started to rattle in their half of the inning, picking up three runs. Marian chased Stout starter Zak Arneson (Jr, Barneveld) in the fifth, picking up five runs. Marian added two more runs in the sixth.

With the score tied 2-2 after two innings in the second game, Marian racked up three runs in the top of the third and added another in the fourth. Tony Vitcenda (Sr, Elroy) entered in relief to pitch the final four outs, and allowed no runs and fanned two.

Rueber drove in a run in each of Stout's scoring innings and ended the game hitting 2-for-4. Eddie Young was 2-for-2 with an RBI. Young worked the two games at catcher and picked off four Marian baserunners on the afternoon.

March 17, 2000

FT. MYERS, Fla - Rebecca Zimmerman (Sr, Fall Creek) went the distance in both games in the final day of play for the UW-Stout softball team as the Blue Devils split two games at the Rebel Games in Orlando, Fla.

Stout opened the day with a 7-4 loss to Bridgewater State, the No. 3 nationally ranked team, but bounced back with a 5-4 win over perennial power Rowan University.

Stout (4-6) allowed Bridgewater two runs in the opening stanza, but the Blue Devils answered back when Cara Fenhouse (Sr, Superior) drove in two runs. Bridgewater chipped away at Zimmerman in the third with two more runs, but Stout's offense answered back with two more runs in their half of the inning. Bridgewater got the decisive run in the fifth, then added two more runs in the top of the seventh. Stout left two runners stranded in the fifth and had another cut down at the plate in the sixth.

Zimmerman came back later in the evening to hold off a Rowan rally. With Stout holding the final 5-4 score in the bottom of the seventh, Zimmerman forced a groundout to open up the inning. The second batter reached on an error, then advanced to second. The senior then forced a pop-up to the outfield and got another groundout to end the game.

Stout opened the game with three innings in the top of the first as Angie Pinnow (Jr, Bruce) drove in a run and stole home, and Kelley Espey (So, Byron, Minn) picked up another RBI.

Rowan scored two runs in the first, then tacked on single runs in the fifth and sixth. The Blue Devils got the winning runs in the third inning as Fenhouse and Molly Harms (So, Norwood-Young America, Minn) delivered RBIs.

Stout returns to action Wednesday, March 29 when they travel to Augsburg College.

March 16, 2000

ORLANDO, Fla - The UW-Stout fastpitch softball team split two one-run games Thursday, March 16 during the Blue Devils' annual spring break trip to Orlando, Fla.

The Blue Devils (3-5) opened up the day with a 4-3 win over Denison, Ohio, but followed that up with a 12-11 nine-inning loss to Defiance, Ohio, later that afternoon.

Rebecca Zimmerman (Sr, Fall Creek) picked up the win over Denison.

Kelley Espey (So, Byron, Minn) led the Blue Devil offensive attack in the back-and-forth contest with Defiance. Espey smashed a three-run, over-the-fence home run to give Stout an 11-10 lead in the ninth.

But Defiance rallied back in the rain. Espey had the bead on a long Defiance hit to centerfield, ran into the fence and could only watch as the ball fell over the fence from her outstretched glove.

On Tuesday, March 15, Stout defeated Illinois Benedictine, 4-2, but came up short in an 8-6 loss to Cazenovia, NY, College.

Rebecca Deuel (So, Big Lake, Minn) picked up the win against Benedictine and smashed a double to help her cause. Angie Pinnow (Jr, Bruce) also hit a double.

Against Cazenovia, Stout came back from a 6-0 first inning deficit, but came up just short.

The Blue Devils lost senior catcher Cara Fenhouse (Superior) in the first inning after she was hit in the neck with a pitch and were forced to shuffle their infield.

Stout ran the base paths well, recording seven stolen bases. Zimmerman was tagged with the loss.

March 13, 2000

ORLANDO, Fla - Using a hard-hitting offense, solid baserunning and a sharp defense, the UW-Stout softball team picked up their first win of the season by downing Carroll College, 7-1, Monday, March 13 near Orlando, Fla.

Rebecca Zimmerman (Sr, Fall Creek) picked up the win as Stout (1-3) jumped out to a 6-0 lead after four innings, then added another run in the seventh. Carroll wrecked Zimmerman's first-ever shut out bid with a single run in the bottom of the fifth.

The Blue Devils racked up nine stolen bases during the course of the game and aided their case with three doubles.

In the late afternoon game, Stout gave up three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to drop a 5-4 decision to Richard Stockton. Stockton opened up the scoring with a single run in the first, but Stout knotted the score int he fourth. Stockton again took a lead in the fifth. The Blue Devils scored two runs in the top of the sixth and another in the seventh to take a 4-2 lead.

Stout opened up their Florida trip, Sunday, March 12 with a 13-5 loss to Muskingum, Ohio, which is ranked 10th in the first national poll. Stout then was rocked, 9-0, in five innings to Springfield, Mass.

March 18, 2000

LONG BEACH, Calif - UW-Stout's Jesse Hunter (Jr, LaFarge) and Jamie Buchholtz (Jr, Bloomer) both finished third at the Long Beach State Track & Field Classic Saturday, March 18 in Long Beach, Calif., as the Blue Devils opened the outdoor season.

Hunter won his heat of the 400-hurdles, and finished in a tie for third with a time of 54.16 second with Eric Stellman of the Colorado School of Mines.

Buchholtz pole vaulted 15-feet, 1-inch to place third, while teammate Jeff Rotering (So, Waumandee) went 14-7.25 to place fifth. Rotering placed 11th in the javelin with a career best (153-9).

Eric Moe (So, Whitehall) placed fourth in the triple jump (46-2) and ninth in the long jump (21-4.25).

Eric Hanson (Sr, Winona, Minn) placed 10th in the 1500-meter run (4:00.62) and also scored in the 800 (2:01.67). John Hanson (So, Grantsburg) scored in the 400-meter (50.70) and Dan Reinert (Sr, Elk Mound) scored in the 100-meter dash (11.26).

As a team, the Blue Devils finished eighth. Only one member of each team could score in an individual event. The meet featured teams from all divisions and also included several track clubs.

Long Beach State Track & Field Classic Team Results
1. Weber State University, 191.50; 2. Long Beach State, 170; 3. Cornell University, 154; 4. S. Utah, 129; 5. St Thomas, 122.50; 6. Irvine, 102; 7. CS Los Angeles, 87; 8. Wisconsin-Stout, 79.50; 9. NSSU Japan, 71; 10. Western State, 59; 11. USC, 55; 12. Simpson College, 49; 13. Colorado School of Mines, 40.50; 14. Central Washington, 18; 15. US International, 8.

High jump: 1. Charles Clinger (Weber) 7-0.50; Quackenbush 6-0.75; Pole vault: 1. Jimmy Camilo (Long Beach) 15-7; 3. Jamie Buchholtz 15-1; 5. Jeff Rotering 14-7.25; 10. Bob Cahow 14-1.25; Corey Knudsen 13-7.25; Long jump: 1. Nat Toothaler (Cornell) 23-5.50; 9. Eric Moe 21-4.25; Triple jump: 1. Charles Clinger (Weber) 50-5.50; 4. Eric Moe 46-2; Javelin: 1. Kyle Rowley (So. Utah) 212-1; 11. Jeff Rotering 153-9; Corey Knudsen 146-4.

March 11, 2000

Rotering finished with a jump a 15-feet, 5-inches (4.70 meters), one of his top jumps of the season.

Teammate Jamie Buchholtz (Jr, Bloomer) didn't fare as well. Coming into the event as the No. 2 seed, Buchholtz could only go 14-11 (4.55 meters), one of his lowest heights of the season.

Women's Track & Field

March 11, 2000

BLOOMINGTON, Ill - UW-Stout shot putter Sara Pivec (So, Coon Rapids, Minn) earned All-America honors by placing fourth at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships Saturday, March 11 at Illinois Wesleyan in Bloomington, Ill. Pivec, who has set the school shot put record consistently throughout the season, broke the record again as she tossed the shot 43-feet, 2.25-inches (13.16 meters) to just edge past the record again.