Baseball

April 11, 1998

BLUE DEVILS HAND COACH TERRY PETRIE 500TH CAREER WIN

MENOMONIE - Fortunately for UW-Stout baseball coach Terry Petrie, Saturday was a warm, spring day. When the Blue Devils scored the 12th run in the bottom of the seventh to take a 12-0 lead, the game was called because of the 12-run rule, and rightfielder Andy Guden (So, Medford) doused Petrie with the ice-water bucket to celebrate Petrie's 500th career win.

The Blue Devils (15-9, 2-0) rallied from a 4-0 deficit in the first game to take a 10-4 win, then proceeded to pound UW-Superior, 12-0, in the second contest to hand Petrie the milestone in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener.

Petrie, who is in his 28th season at the helm of the Blue Devils, saw his Blue Devils rally in the first game with a five run, two-out, third inning outburst. Troy Gustafson (Sr, Grand View) got the rally going with a two-run home run, and the Blue Devils followed that with three consecutive singles by Guden, Ryan Hanson (Jr, Austin, Minn) and Brent Blegen (Sr, Spring Valley). Brad O'Connell (Fr, Elk Mound) put the icing on the inning with a double.

Stout scored two more runs in the fifth inning, again with two outs. O'Connell got the inning going with a triple, then scored when Ryan Zelhofer (Fr, Edgerton) drove him in. Zelhofer stole second, then came home on Tate Cummins' (Jr, Austin, Minn) single.

Luke Welch (Sr, Menomonie) and Gustafson hit back-to-back doubles in the sixth, and Guden drove in Gustafson. Gustafson went 5-for-5 with three RBI, and nearly hit for the circuit, hitting three singles, a double and home run.

Brett Blair (Jr, Woodbury, Minn) picked up the win, working seven innings, allowing four earned runs, walking two and striking out eight.

Zelhofer helped to give Stout the win in the second game, going 2-for-3 with five RBI, on the strength of two doubles and a sacrifice hit.

The game was ended on the 12-run rule in the bottom of the seventh when Kevin Hulsey (Fr, New Richmond) reached when he was hit by a pitch. Hulsey advanced to second on a wild pitch, and Gustafson drove him home with a double, his only hit of the second game.

The Blue Devils pelted Superior (3-12, 0-2) pitching during the entire game, scoring in every inning except the first.

After the game, the team presented Petrie with the game ball and a team-autographed ball to commemorate the 500 wins .

Stout is at UW-Whitewater Friday, April 17 and at UW-Platteville Saturday, April 18.

Terry Petrie Superlatives

WIAC (formerly WSUC) Titles: 1982, 1990
WIAC Northern Division Title: 1982, 1983, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1993
Wis. High School Baseball Coaches Association collegiate coach of the year: 1983, 1987
WSUC Coach of the Year: 1982, 1990
NAIA Area 4 Coach of the Year: 1989
NAIA World Series Appearances: 1989 (5th place), 1990
Coached 15 All-Americans
Coached 80 percent of all Stout wins
Coached 64 percent of all Stout baseball games
Career Record: 500-351 (.587)

April 9, 1998

BLUE DEVILS SWEPT BY ST. THOMAS

MENOMONIE - Just one day after pounding the baseball at will in a double shutout of Mt. Senario, the UW-Stout baseball team found out what it was like to be on the receiving end of a shutout.

The Blue Devils were swept by nationally ranked St. Thomas, 12-0, 8-5.

In the opener, Stout (13-9) was allowed only two hits and one of those came in the bottom of the seventh when Troy Gustafson (Sr, Grand View) stretched out a double and pushed Ryan Zelhofer (Fr, Edgerton) to third. But the two were stranded when the last two Blue Devils struck out.

This was the first time Stout had been shut out since April 22, 1996, and that was a 4-0 shutout at the hands of St. Thomas at Nelson Field.

Stout dropped their lethargy in the second game, coming back to tie the game at 5-5 in the bottom of the fourth.

Luke Welch (Sr, Menomonie) reached on a double, then was moved by Gustafson's single. Andy Guden (So, Medford) drove in Welch with a double, moving Gustafson to third. Ryan Hanson (Jr, Austin, Minn) brought in Gustafson with a fielder's choice. Brent Blegen (Sr, Spring Valley) cleared the bases with a two-run shot.

Stout would get only two more base runners the rest of the game and St. Thomas scored three more runs in the top of the fifth for the final 8-5 score.

Blegen went 3-for-3 with two RBI to lead the Blue Devils.

April 8, 1998

BLUE DEVILS SET UP BATTING PRACTICE AT MT. SENARIO

LADYSMITH - Batting practice, that's what is was as the UW-Stout baseball team annihilated Mt. Senario College, 11-0, 12-0, Wednesday, April 8 at Ladysmith.

The wind was blowing out for the Blue Devils as they cracked out six home runs in each game. Freshman Brad O'Connell (Elk Mound) and Luke Welch (Sr, Menomonie) led the parade with a home run in each game.

In the opener, Stout (13-7) needed only five innings to put the Saints away early, scoring three runs in the fourth and five in the fifth to win by the 10-run rule. Connecting on home runs were O'Connell, Welch, Tate Cummins (Jr, Austin, Minn), Ryan Zelhofer (Fr, Edgerton), Jake Mihm (Sr, Plover) and Shawn Fonder (Sr, Menasha).

Welch and Zelhofer finished the game going 3-for-4 with Welch collecting three RBI.

Zak Arneson (Fr, Barneveld) went the distance to pick up the win, allowing only one hit, walking two and striking out four.

In the nightcap, the Blue Devils collected home runs by O'Connell, Andy Guden (So, Medford) and Jim Verbist (So, Tomahawk) in the six-run sixth inning. Josh Johnson (Fr, Oregon) highlighted a three-run seventh inning with a two-run home run, his first collegiate home run. Also collecting home runs were Welch and Troy Gustafson (Sr, Grand View).

Gustafson went 2-for-4 with three RBI, while O'Connell was 2-for-4 with two RBI.

Fonder picked up the win, going five innings and scattering five hits. Brad Ipavec (Fr, Cedarburg) cleaned up the final two innings, allowing no runners to reach base.

The twelve home runs on the day nearly doubled Stout's home run output of the season. The Blue Devils came into Wednesday's game with 17 home runs.

April 14, 1998

UW-STOUT'S ZAK ARNESON NAMED WIAC PITCHER OF THE WEEK

MENOMONIE - UW-Stout's Zak Arneson, a right handed freshman pitcher from Barneveld, was named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) pitcher of the week.

Arneson made three appearances and one start, picking up one win in allowing no runs in nine innings of work. He worked five complete innings in an 11-0 five-inning, one-hit game in recording the mercy rule shortened shutout against Mt. Senario College.

On the week, Arneson allowed two walks, struck out seven and only allowed two hits. In addition to the complete game, Arneson worked four innings against UW-Superior in two separate games, allowing only one hit.

Arneson is currently 3-1 on the season with an earned run average of 4.56. In the second game against Superior, Arneson pitched in relief, helping to assure Blue Devil coach Terry Petrie of his 500th career win.

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Softball

April 7, 1998

BLUE DEVILS SWEEP FALCONS IN WEST DIVISION OPENER

MENOMONIE - RIVER FALLS - Errors have hurt the UW-Stout softball team all season, but the Blue Devils didn't succomb to errors Tuesday, April 7 as they swept UW-River Falls, 3-0, 4-3, in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference West Division opener at River Falls.

Carolyn Bare (Sr, Superior) picked up her second shutout win of the season, even though she allowed the leadoff batter to reach first base in four of the seven innings.

Leading 3-0 heading into the sixth inning, the Falcons loaded the bases. Bare forced Krista Kirkeeide to fly out to second baseman Cara Fenhouse (So, Superior), who threw to first to force the runner. First baseman Molly Wagner (Fr, Altoona) then threw to shortstop Charysse Minder (Fr, Ellsworth) to pick off the runner at second.

The Falcons loaded the bases again in the bottom of the seventh, but another fly out to Fenhouse ended the game.

Stout scattered their runs around, scoring in the first when Bare's double drove in Angie Pinnow (Fr, Bruce). Pinnow drove in Jesse Ustby (Fr, Onalaska) in the third and Fenhouse stole home in the fifth.

In the nightcap, Stout (9-11, 2-0) took a 4-0 led into the sixth, but the Falcons scored two runs in the bottom of the inning, then scored another in the bottom of the seventh when outfielders Kristin Liberty (So, Tomahawk) and Ustby crashed going for a fly ball.

Tiffany Wulf (Jr, Prior Lake, Minn) picked up the win, but Bare came in with the score at 4-3 and a runner on third to strike out the final two batters of the game to record the save.

Liberty recorded what would be the eventual game-winning-hit in the sixth when her single to right field brought in Bare and Rebecca Zimmerman (So, Fall Creek) for Stout to take a 4-0 lead.

The sweep was the first for a Blue Devil softball team over River Falls.

The Blue Devils return to conference action this week when they travel to UW-Superior Wednesday, April 15, then come home to host UW-La Crosse at 3 p.m. Thursday, April 16 and Mt. Senario at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 18.

The Blue Devils have moved their home field and will now play at revamped Fowler's Court, just west of Johnson Fieldhouse instead of at Wakanda Park.

April 13, 1998

UW-STOUT TO RETIRE SUZANNE BRION'S NUMBER

MENOMONIE - She ruled the basepaths, both offensively and defensively, for three years at UW-Stout, and now the Blue Devils are going to retire her number.

Suzanne Brion, who played shortstop for the Stout fastpitch softball team from 1994-96, will have her No. 23 retired Saturday, April 18 between games of the Blue Devils doubleheader with Mt. Senario at Fowler's Court. The first game begins at 1 p.m.

Brion, a Chetek native who attended Cameron High School, was named the Wisconsin Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference player of the year in 1996 and was a two-time All-American, picked as a third team choice in 1996 and a second team choice in 1995.

Brion holds all of the Stout stolen base records, going 5-for-5 in one game, stealing 46-for-50 in 1996 and stealing 93-of-100 for her career. Brion, the lead-off hitter for much of her career, reached base 220 times and successfully stole a base every 2.4 times on base. In her final season, she had 11 games with multiple stolen bases.

When she graduated, Brion owned single season records for batting average (.500), at-bats (166), runs scored (47), hits (77), home runs (4) and slugging percentage (.727). Many of her career records still stand, including batting average (.444), runs scored (131), hits (187), doubles (32) and home runs (6). Of her 187 career hits, 50 were multiple base hits.

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Men's Track & Field

April 9, 1998

JASON LEHMAN TAKES THREE EVENTS AT ST. THOMAS INVITATIONAL

ST. PAUL, Minn. - UW-Stout's Jason Lehman (Sr, Bruce) took first in three events at the St. Thomas Invitational Thursday, April 9 in St. Paul, Minn.

Lehman captured the shot put in an NCAA Division III automatic qualifying distance of 52-feet, 10.75-inches. Lehman improved on his provisonal qualifying distance in the discus, throwing the plate 160-10. Lehman won the hammer throw in 157-7.

The 4X 400-meter relay team of Troy Wyatt (Sr, Byron, Minn), John Boldt (Sr, Hartland), Chris Valois (Sr, Anoka, Minn) and Billy Busch (Jr, Dickeyville) took first with a provisional qualifying time of 3:16.90, a stadium record.

Valois had a good meet, placing second in the 400-meter dash (49.45), despite running in the slower heat.

Stout scored the majority of their points in the field events.

Kevin McCulley (Fr, Fond du Lac) racked up a few points for the Blue Devils, placing seventh in the shot put (47-9) and sixth in the javelin (145-10). Corey O'Donnell (Sr, Chippewa Falls) was fourth in the hammer (141-11) and sixth in the discus (145-3).

Jamie Buchholtz (Fr, Bloomer) battled the winds to place fourth in the pole vault (14-6), Sean Fagan (Jr, Janesville) was fifth in the triple jump (41-3.25) and Aaron Scheffer (Humbird) was seventh in the long jump (20-3).

On the track, Ryan Geier (Fr, McFarland) was sixth in the 400 (50.81), John Boldt (Sr, Hartland) was seventh in the 200 (22.15) and Travis Fliehr (Fr, Chippewa Falls) was seventh in the 400-hurdles (59.60).

As a team, Stout placed fifth with 82.67 points.

The Blue Devils will be at the Carleton Invitational Saturday, April 18.

St. Thomas Invitational team results

1. North Dakota State 246.67; 2. St. Thomas 113.33; 3. UM-Duluth 101.17; 4. St. Cloud State 94; 5. UW-Stout 82.67; 6. Gustavus Adolphus 40; 7. Mankato State 38; 8. Bethel 11; 9. U of Minnesota 10; 10. UW-Eau Claire 8; 11. Augsburg 4

Individual results
(First place, all Stout finishers)

100: 1. Anthony Garnett (NDS) 10.46; 11. Joe Johnson 11.20; 15. Chris Valois 11.32; 16. Dan Reinert 11.34; 17. Joe Verstegen 11.38; 21. Sean Fagan 11.63; 24. Jim Staska 11.89; 200: 1. Anthony Garnett (NDS) 21.57; 7. John Boldt 22.15; 11. Billy Busch 22.65; 13. Joe Verstegen 22.75; 18. Dan Reinert 23.14; 25. Scott Shilha 24.04; 27. Cabal Yarne 24.80; 400: 1. Aaron Dewald (NDS) 49.00; 2. Chris Valois 49.45; 6. Ryan Geier 50.81; 800: 1. Heith Janke (NDS) 1:55.37; 20. Eric Hanson 2:06.63; 22. Josh Webb 2:08.50; 1500: 1. Not available; 13. Paul Gilles 4:10.88; 15. Bryan Ott 4:11.69; 16. Eric Hanson 4:12.34; 17. Steve Peterson 4:12.47; 20. Chris Stevens 4:16.00; 23. Jeff Jenson 4:18.99; 25. Jamie Block 4:22.07; 26. Josh Webb 4:22.99; 32. Kyran Hamill 4:49.57; 5000: 1. Jon Wirth (NDS) 15:06.59; 12. Jason Donovan 16:48.51; 14. Joshua Peters 17:05.91; 110-hurdles: 1. Luke Pfeifer (NDS) 14.42; 18. Aaron Sheffer 16.54; 23. Travis Fliehr 17.31; 400-hurdles: 1. Mark Warder (UST) 53.71; 7. Travis Fliehr 59.60; 3000-steeplechase: 1. Joey Keillor (Man) 9:27.36; 13. Joe Anderson 10:41.75; 14. Ethan Webinger 10:45.65; 16. Todd Johnson 11:04.55; 4X100-relay: 1. North Dakota State 41.22; 6. Stout 43.09; 4X400-relay: 1. Stout 3:17.00
Pole vault: 1. Jed Bergstrom (SCS) 15-0; 4. Jamie Buchholtz 14-6; 8. Chad Beiler, Cory Grenier 14-0; 14. Bob Cahow 13-6.25; Long jump: 1. Kholen Thammaliangay (NDS) 21-11.50; 7. Aaron Sheffer 20-3; 9. Sean Fagan 19-11; Triple jump: 1. Steve Wenzel (UST) 44-9.50; 5. Sean Fagan 41-3.25; Shot put: 1. Jason Lehman (Stout) 52-10.75a; 7. Kevin McCulley 47-9; 8. Jim Nehring 47-4.25; 12. Shane Swope 43-9; Discus: 1. Jason Lehman (Stout) 160-10p; 6. Corey O'Donnell 145-3; 12. Shane Swope 127-3; Hammer: 1. Jason Lehman (Stout) 157-7; 4. Corey O'Donnell 141-11; Javelin: 1. Tate Tobkin (NDS) 203-7; 6. Kevin McCulley 145-10; 11. Chad Beiler 127-0; 15. Jim Nehring 115-6.

April 7, 1998

PAUL GILLES, JAMIE BUCHHOLTZ NAMED WIAC ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

MENOMONIE - Two members of the UW-Stout men's track and field team were named Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) athletes of the week.

Paul Gilles (Sr, Plum City) was named the conference's track athlete of the week, and Jamie Buchholtz (Fr, Bloomer) was named as the field athlete of the week.

Gilles led a trio of Stout runners to sweep the top three places in the 3000-meter steeplechase at the UW-Stout Outdoor Track and Field Invitational. April 4. Gilles ran a provisional qualifying time of 9-minutes, 17-seconds, which at the time was the second best time in the country.

Buchholtz automatically qualified to the NCAA Division III Track and Field Championships next month by taking first at the Stout Invitational in the pole vault. Buchholtz's height of 15-feet, 9.75-inches matched the automatic mark and was nine inches higher than his nearest competitor. The vault was also the highest mark of a Stout freshman. Buchholtz also finished second in the triple jump (41-1).

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Women's Track & Field

April 9, 1998

KATIE JACOBSON MEETS PROVISIONAL QUALIFYING TIME IN 1500

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Katie Jacobson (Jr, Eau Claire) finished second in the 1500-meter run in a high provisional qualifying time of 4:40.64 at the St. Thomas Invitational Thursday, April 9 to lead a short-handed UW-Stout women's track and field team.

With only nine Blue Devils competing, Stout finished eighth of eight teams against mostly NCAA Division II schools.

Jennifer Turner (Fr, Eden Prairie, Minn) placed fifth in the hammer throw (118-3) and Michelle Abramczak (Fr, Stanley) was sixth in the 400-meter hurdles (1:10.32). Katie Kuffel (Fr, Minneapolis, Minn) was seventh in the 800 (2:27.18) and Katy Olsen (Jr, Rice Lake) was eighth in the 1500 (4:53.25).

The Blue Devils will be at the St. Olaf Invitational Saturday, April 18.

St. Thomas Invitational team results

1. North Dakota State 289; 2. St. Thomas 123; 3. Gustavus Adolphus 110; 4. UM-Duluth 64; 5. Mankato State 63; 6. St. Cloud State 62; 7. U of North Dakota 30; 8. UW-Stout 20

Individual Results
(First place, all Stout finishers)

400: 1. Jamie Lubitz (UST) 1:00.71; 14. Michelle Beckman 1:08.70; 800: 1. Jenny Behrens (NDS) 2:18.83; 7. Katie Kuffel 2:27.18; 14. Jennifer Bahr 2:35.27; 1500: 1. Codi Lehr (NDS) 4:35.79; 2. Katie Jacobson 4:40.64; 8. Katy Olsen 4:53.25; 10. Jennifer Bahr 4:59.20; 23. Tanya Miller 5:34.11; 100-hurdles: 1. Carey Meinert (SCS) 14.67; 13. Michelle Abramczak 16.82; 400-hurdles: 1. Nicole Sickels (Man) 1:04.07; 6. Michelle Abramczak 1:10.32; 10. Michelle Beckman 1:20.57
Shot put: 1. Melissa Ring (GA) 40-3.50; 10. Jessica Gjertsen 33-5.25; 13. Jennifer Turner 30-4.25; Discus: 1. Diandra Koehler (NDS) 135-6; 7. Jessica Gjertsen 107-7; Hammer: 1. Charla Evenson (NDS) 140-2; 5. Jennifer Turner 118-3; 11. Jessica Gjertsen 93-9

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Blue Devil Football

April 8, 1998

JEFF APSE NAMED STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING ALL-AMERICAN

MENOMONIE - UW-Stout's Jeff Apse (Jr, Oakdale, Minn) has been named a 1998 All-American by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Apse, a defensive lineman on the Stout football team, was nominated by Stout strength and conditioning coach Duane Naatz.

"Jeff's attitude and work ethic has helped take our football and strength programs to a new level," Naatz said. "He exemplifies power."

The award program recognizes outstanding male and female athletes who have excelled in their strength training and conditioning program. Selection is also based on community involvement, academic achievement and leadership qualities.

Apse, 6-foot, 2-inches and 240-pounds, bench presses 400-lbs., squats 595-lbs and does the power clean at 340-lbs. Apse has a vertical jump of 25 inches and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.89 seconds.

A marketing education major, finished the football season with 16 total tackles, five for losses of 16 yards, and recorded three quarterback sacks. The Blue Devils finished with a 6-4 overall record, 5-2 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC), good for second, their best finish since 1965.

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