WIAA State Spring Baseball Tournament Preview: Division 1
Monday, June 12th, 2017 -- 11:12 AM
The 70th Annual Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Spring Baseball State Tournament will take place Tuesday-Thursday, June 13-15, at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute. Here's a preview of the Division 1 Field.....Tuesday, June 13
Division 1 Quarterfinals - 8 a.m.
Game 1 - Arrowhead (21-4) vs. Burlington (21-4)
Game 2 - Beloit Memorial (18-10) vs. Sun Prairie (22-6)*
Division 1 Quarterfinals - 1 p.m.
Game 3 - Eau Claire North (21-2) vs. Green Bay Preble (29-0)
Game 4 - Waunakee (18-8) vs. Kimberly (19-7)*
Division 1 Semifinals - 6 p.m.
Game 5 - Winner of Game #1 vs. Winner of Game #2
Game 6 - Winner of Game #3 vs. Winner of Game #4*
Thursday, June 15
Division 1 Final - 6:05 p.m.
LAST YEAR: Burlington won the Division 1 championship with a 6-4 victory over Arrowhead in the title game.
THE DIVISION 1 FIELD: Defending champion Burlington is making its fourth appearance in the State Tournament. Prior to last season, the Demons’ experiences included losses in the semifinals in 1991 and in quarterfinals in 2005. They are the champions of the Southern Lakes Conference this spring, and they trounced Waterford 11-0 in five innings to win the sectional final hosted at Burlington. Last year’s runner-up Arrowhead returns for its third appearance in the State Spring Tournament. The only appearance other than the Warhawks’ experience last year was in 1957, which resulted in a loss in the first round. However, the Warhawks made seven appearances in the State Summer Baseball Tournament between 1973 and 2009, with the later resulting in their second State title. The other came in 1979. The Warhawks also recorded runner-up finishes in 1973, 1975 and 2006. They finished in a three-way tie with Catholic Memorial and Oconomowoc for the top spot in the Wisconsin Little Ten Conference standings this season. They beat Milwaukee Riverside/Golda Meir 11-1 in six innings to win the sectional final held in Milwaukee. Sun Prairie qualifies for the State Tournament for the 14th time and for the fifth time in the last six seasons. The Cardinals have been crowned champions eight times, which leads the membership. They won the Class A title in 1974 and added Division 1 championships in 1994, 1997, 2005, 2006, and three in a row from 2012-14. They blanked Oconomowoc 5-0 in the sectional final hosted by the Cardinals. They finished runner-up to Janesville Craig in the Big Eight Conference this spring. Eau Claire North is making its second consecutive appearance in the State Tournament and its 12th experience overall. The Huskies won the State title in 2011 and have finished runner-up three times, in 1981, 2002 and 2005. They edged Eau Claire Memorial 3-2 to win the final of the Stevens Point Sectional to earn their berth in the tournament field. The Huskies finished atop the standings in the Big Rivers Conference this year. Kimberly will appear in the State Tournament for the fourth year in a row and for the 11th time overall. The Papermakers won the Division 1 title in 2007 and the Class B championship in 1989. They have finished runner-up five times, including 1988, 1993, 2008, 2014 and 2015. The Papermakers tied Hortonville for the championship in the Fox Valley Association this spring, and they are the winners of the Kaukauna Sectional following an 8-3 win over Oshkosh North in the final. Waunakee will experience its ninth State Tournament, with its most recent appearance coming in 2013. Their furthest advance in the tournament has been to the semifinals on a number of occasions and most recently in 2010. They finished tied for first place with Baraboo in the North Division of the Badger Conference this season and defeated Tomah 10-2 in the sectional final played in La Crosse to advance to the State quarterfinals. Beloit Memorial advances to the State Tournament for the seventh time and for the first time since 1993. The Purple Knights won the State title in 1965 when the tournament featured one division. They placed sixth in the Big Eight Conference this spring and advanced through the Verona Sectional with a 2-1 win over Verona in the final. Green Bay Preble is back in the final field of eight for the second year in a row and for the third time overall. The Hornets’ fell in the quarterfinal round in 2002 and in the semifinals last season. They advance to State this season through the Wausau West Sectional following a 6-0 shutout over De Pere in the final. They are the reigning champions of the Fox River Classic Conference this season.
FINALS AIRED LIVE ON FS WISCONSIN: Watch the WIAA State Spring Baseball Championship finals of Divisions 3 and 4 live on FS Wisconsin and the Divisions 1 and 2 finals on the FS Wisconsin Plus Channel. Check local cable listings for the channel in your area.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.