SOFTBALL
The Blue Devils (27-16, 9-5) wrapped up their most successful season since 1995 last week at the WIAC Tournament, April 30-May 1, going 1-2 in the tournament. The Blue Devils defeated UW-La Crosse, 6-4, then lost to eventual tournament champion, UW-Superior, 6-2, and UW-Eau Claire, 5-4.

BASEBALL
The Blue Devils (8-24, 5-15) will close out the home schedule this week when they host Waldorf College, Wednesday, May 5 at 1 p.m. Earlier this season, Stout lost, 2-1, to Waldorf in a rain-shortened five inning contest. Blue Devil coach Craig Walter attended and played at Waldorf. Stout will wrap up the season at UW-Superior with doubleheaders, May 7-8. Last week: The Blue Devils picked up their first sweep of the season, dowing Division II Upper Iowa, 15-1, 5-3, May 2. Player of the week: Corey Endreas, Sr, Spencer, Wis.; Pitcher of the week: Matt Christman, So, South Milwaukee, Wis.

WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD
The Blue Devils will be at the WIAC Championships, May 7-8. Last week: Stout was at the WIAC Qualifier at UW-La Crosse, April 30. Track athlete of the week: Lindsay Enger, Fr, Blue Earth, Minn.; Field athlete of the week: Marci Schachtner, Jr, Deer Park, Wis. (Clear Lake)

MEN'S TRACK & FIELD
The Blue Devils will be at the WIAC Championships, May 7-8. Last week: Stout was at the WIAC Qualifier at UW-La Crosse, April 30. Track athlete of the week: Dave Hanson, Sr, Sun Prairie, Wis.; Field athlete of the week: Nick Onesti, So, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.

TENNIS
The Blue Devils wrapped up their season with a 9-0 loss at Martin Luther College, April 28.

Softball

May 1, 2004

RIVER FALLS - UW-Eau Claire scored two runs in the top of the seventh to defeat UW-Stout, 5-4, in the WIAC softball tournament, eliminating the Blue Devils, Saturday, May 1 in River Falls.

Stout (27-16) carried a 4-1 lead into the sixth inning when Eau Claire (26-16) scored two runs, then tacked on two more in the seventh inning on a double by Steph Farenbaugh.

Eau Claire took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Farenbaugh tripled in a run. Stout answered back in a big way in their half of the third when Kaela Wold (Jr, Altoona) cracked out a three-run home run. Courtney Zafft (So, Rochester, Minn) gave Stout the 4-1 lead with an RBI single to center field in the fifth inning.

Both teams knocked the ball around, with Stout pounding out 10 hits to Eau Claire's nine. Wold was 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Zafft was 2-for-4. Farenbaugh, Emilee Planert and Shannon Wing each collected two hits apiece for the Blugolds.

The loss puts an end to one of Stout's most successful seasons ever. Only the 1995 (34-17) team earned more wins (34) and had a better winning percentage (.667). The 2004 team had a winning percentage of .628. The winner of the WIAC tournament will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III tournament.

April 30, 2004

RIVER FALLS - Courtney Zafft  (So, Rochester, Minn) hit a grand slam home run in the fifth inning to give Stout a 6-4 win over UW-La Crosse in the first game of the WIAC Tournament, but the Blue Devils could not find their bats in the second round, falling, 6-2, to UW-Superior, in the second game, Friday, April 30 in River Falls.

With Stout trailing 3-2 in the fifth, Zafft delivered her first collegiate home run to push the Blue Devils up, 6-3, but clearing the bases. Melissa Coon (So, Cudahy) and Erin O'Connell (Jr, Altoona) drove in runs earlier in the inning to put Stout (27-15) on the board.

In the second round, Superior (30-7) jumped all over the Blue Devils in the first inning for five innings - aided by two errors - then added their final run in the second inning.

Stout finally got on the board in the third inning when O'Connell and Kim Caswell (Sr, Stanley) each drove in a run. Wold finished with three hits, while O'Connell, Caswell and Cassie Tock (Fr, Sparta) each had two hits.

Stout will play UW-Eau Claire, Saturday, May 1 at 9 a.m. in attempt to work their way back into the championship game through the loser's bracket.

April 26, 2004

LA CROSSE - Erin O'Connell (Jr, Altoona) hit a walk-off, two-run home run in the eighth inning to give Stout a 2-0 win over UW-Whitewater,  Monday, April 26, in the first game of the delayed WIAC Cluster Tournament. Stout then finished off the tournament with a 3-1 win over UW-Platteville.

Neither Stout or Whitewater got much going early. Stout (26-14, 11-5) stranded runners on second base in the second and third innings, while the Warhawks (24-12, 10-6) left two on in the fourth. Stout left two in the sixth and both teams went down in order in the seventh.

Blue Devil pitcher Megan Donley (So, Fridley, Minn) got two groundouts and a strikeout to get out of the eighth. With two outs in the eighth, Melissa Coon (So, Cudahy) drew a walk, setting the stage for O'Connell's seventh round tripper of the year, this perhaps her most dramatic. 

Donley tossed her seventh shutout of the year, but was outdueled in regulation by Whitewater pitcher Dana Jakoubek, who struck out 10. Jakoubek held Stout to only two hits, the home run to O'Connell and a lead-off single to Kaela Wold (Jr, Eau Claire) in the second inning.

Heather Novalany (Jr, Cottage Grove, Minn) broke a scoreless tie in the Platteville game with a one-run double to right center in the fourth inning. Kim Caswell (Sr, Stanley) drove in the second run in the inning. Jamie Gorges (Jr, New London) doubled in Stout's final run in the fifth. Platteville (13-21, 3-12) scored their only run of the game in the fifth inning on a Blue Devil error.

Novalany had one of her strongest hitting games of the season, pounding two doubles in going 2-for-3. O'Connell was 3-for-4 with a double. Wold also had a double and eventually scored. Donley ran her record to 21-12 in her 29th complete game of the season.

The wins broke a four-game losing streak for Stout and the Blue Devils came up just short in their bid for the conference regular season title, finishing second, their highest finish in regular season play since the two-division WIAC returned to one division. Stout finished first in the West Division of the WWIAC in 1998 with a 7-1 record.

May 2, 2004

FAYETTE, Iowa - UW-Stout recorded their first sweep of the season as they downed Upper Iowa, 15-1, 5-3 in eight innings, Sunday, May 2 in Fayette, Iowa.

Jim Foreman (Sr, Apple Valley, Minn) was 4-for-5 in the opener, while Corey Endreas (Sr, Spencer) was 3-for-4 with three RBI. Jake Riek (Sr, Boyceville) was 2-for-4 with three RBI and a home run.  Joe Huiting (Sr, Little Chute) coasted as he went the distance for the win, scattering five hits, striking out four and walking none.

Trailing 1-0, Stout exploded for nine runs in the fourth and six in the fifth in a 19-hit attack. Stout sent 13 to the plate in the fourth and 11 in the fifth as they got all of their runs in those two innings. Seven Blue Devils had two or more hits

In the nightcap, Stout (8-24) trailed, 3-1, and tied the score in the seventh with two runs and snagged the win for Matt Christman (So, South Milwaukee) with two runs in the top of the eighth.

Endreas hit an RBI double and Riek followed up with an RBI single to knot the game at 3-3 in the seventh. Tim Nielsen (So, Rosemount, Minn) got things going in the eighth with a lead off double, and was moved to third by Greg Meinertz's (Jr, La Crosse) single. Nielsen scored on a wild pitch for the eventual game-winning run and Meinertz moved all the way to third. Jon Kroening (Sr, Ladysmith) scored Meinertz on a sacrifice fly. Kroening was 3-for-3 in the game, while Nielsen and Meinertz each lashed out two hits.

Stout will host Waldorf College, Wednesday, May 5 at 1 p.m. The Blue Devils will be at UW-Superior, May 7-8 to wrap up the season.

April 30, 2004

ST. PAUL, Minn - UW-Stout took a short-lived 1-0 lead before falling 5-1 to fourth ranked St. Thomas, Friday, April 30 in St. Paul, Minn.

The Blue Devils (6-24) got their only run of the game in the sixth inning when Jake Riek (Sr, Boyceville) scored from third base following an error. The Tommies (26-6) scored two runs off hard-luck pitcher Jon Severson (Jr, Hayfield, Minn) in the bottom half of the inning, then tagged on a single run in the seventh and two more in the eighth. Severson pitched seven innings, striking out four and walking one before giving way.

Todd Brunclik (So, Birchwood) got two of Stout's four hits on the day, going 2-for-4.

April 30, 2004

LA CROSSE - Laura Verdegan (Jr, Tony) won the triple jump and was second in the 400-hurdles, while Lindsay Kjolsing (Fr, Mankato, Minn) was third in the 100-meter dash at the WIAC Qualifier at UW-La Crosse, Friday, April 30.

Verdegan jumped 38-feet, 7.75-inches to win the triple jump and finished at 1-minute, 4.82-seconds in the 400-hurdles. Kjolsing finished in a time of 12.70 seconds in the 100-meter. Verdegan was fourth in the high jump (5-1.25) and Kjolsing was sixth in the 200-meter (26.58).

Ann Schachnter (Jr, Somerset) was third in the shot put (42-8). Camelle Meyer (So, Plainview, Minn) was fourth in the javelin (110-8).

Stout will be at the WIAC Championships, May 7-8 at UW-Eau Claire.

WIAC Qualifier
Individual Results (First place, all Stout finishers)
100: 1. Shelly Gotto (La Crosse) 12.66; 3. Lindsay Kjolsing 12.70; 12. Ashley Juleff 13.50; 20. Kristen King 14.20; 200: 1. Marie Burrows (SP) 26.07; 6. Lindsay Kjolsing 26.58; 19. Ashley Juleff 28.09; 27. Kristen King 29.51; 29. Kristen Becker 30.47; 400: 1. Nadine Pieski (Osh) 59.59; 13. Sara Manion 1:08.68; 14. Shelby Tabery 1:09.13; 15. Kristin Becker 1:09.97; 800: 1. Megan Craig (SP) 2:15.79; 9. Lindsay Enger 2:22.06; 12. Stephanie Nichols 2:23.52; 28. Amanda Rau 2:38.51; 1500: 1. Missy Buttry (Wartburg) 4:31.66; 24. Leah Karaliunas 5:23.27; 28. Katie Heard 5:30.41; 31. Becky Werner 5:49.64; 32. Heather Sassman 6:04.13; 5000: 1. Jill Robertson (Wartburg) 18:47.48; 10. Terra Dahlheimer 20:05.81; 12. Jodi Welhoefer 21:39.00; 100-hurdles: 1. Sarah Schettle (Osh) 15.30; 17. Attalia Young 18.40; 400-hurdles: 1. Shannon Zweifel (RF) 1:03.99; 2. Laura Verdegan 1:04.82; 12. Tracy Oostdyk 1:13.40; 17. Attalia Young 1:18.09; 3000-steeplechase: 1. Julia Rudd (LX) 10:35.30; 6. Carly Mann 13:18.12; 4x100-relay: 1. La Crosse 48.22; 4. Stout 49.95; 4x400-relay: 1. La Crosse, 3:52.94.

High jump: 1. Alyssa Leonard (LX) 5-3.25; 4. Laura Verdegan 5-1.25; 8. Carrie Petersen 4-11.50; 13. Camelle Meyer 4-9.50; 13. Becky Monyhan 4-9.50; Pole vault: 1. Angela Hilgers (LX) 12-11.50; 15. Molly Klinger 8-6.25; Long jump: 1. Becky Clarke (SP) 16-7; 15. Ramona Vann 15-1.50; Triple jump: 1. Laura Verdegan (Stout) 38-7.75p; 9. Sam Strunk 33-2.50; 10. Ramona Vann 32-7; Shot put: 1. Robyn Jarocki (Osh) 47-8; 3. Ann Schachtner 42-8; 12. Bonnie Nutt 36-10.50; Discus: 1. Diane Slinden (Unnattached) 165-5; 6. Marci Schachtner 130-0; 14. Ann Schachtner 115-8; 16. Bonnie Nutt 112-7; 24. Kim Randt 108-3; Hammer: 1. Robyn Jarocki (Osh) 176-0; 14. Marci Schachtner 140-5; 22. Kim Randt 121-9; 25. Bonnie Nutt 106-2; Javelin: 1. Becky Clarke (SP) 126-3; 4. Camelle Meyer 110-8.

Men's Track & Field

April 30, 2004

LA CROSSE - UW-Stout's Dave Hanson (Sr, Sun Prairie) won the 400-meter hurdles at the WIAC Qualifier at UW-La Crosse, Friday, April 30.

Hanson won the event in an NCAA Division III provisional qualifying time of 53.30-seconds, a full second in front of the second place finisher.

Nick Onesti (So, Wisconsin Rapids) cleared 15-feet in the pole vault for the first time this season, placing third (15-1). Ryan Kawski (Fr, Stevens Point) was fifth in the discus (149-6).

The Blue Devils will be at the WIAC Championships, May 7-8 at UW-Eau Claire. 

WIAC Qualifier
(First place, all Stout finishers)
100: 1. Ben Dorsey (LX) 10.81; 15. Steve Wenhardt, Sam Werner 11.38; 24.Aaron Santama 11.55; 36. Dustin Berglin 11.78; 37. Brad Hoerth 11.79; 200: 1. Eric Walton (Osh) 22.20; 17. Steve Wenhardt 23.00; 23.Scott Barthel 23.32; 400: 1. Tony Marcinek (LX) 48.94; 800: 1. Matt Legal (SP) 1:53.78; 20. John Ullrich 2:00.78; 24. Mark Kempen 2:02.30; 27. Mitch Schlough 2:04.82; 28. Dan Yudchitz 2:05.85; 1500: 1. John LeRoy (Osh) 3:53.22; 23. John Maresh 4:10.65; 24. Brett Heimstead 4:11.63; 28. Todd Dexheimer 4:15.13; 29. Dave Huber 4:20.13; 31. Nate Lynch 4:21.14; 33. Nate Haeny 4:26.43; 5000: 1. Jason Fast (Osh) 15:08.75; 21. Jim Trudeau 16:29.68; 26.Chad McNutt 17:53.36; 110-hurdles: 1. Derek Toshner (LX) 14.55; 15. Patrick Gantert 16.23; 400-hurdles: 1. Dave Hanson (Stout) 53.30p; 5. Derek Gonzenbach 55.90; 19. Patrick Gantert 59.82; 3000-steeplechase: 1. Tyler Frock (WW) 9:20.16; 4x100-relay: 1. Stevens Point 42.50; 2. Stout 43.06; 4x400-relay: 1. Stout 3:19.28; 

High jump: 1. Ryan Shepard (SP) 6-4.75; 17. Brad Hoerth 5-7; Pole vault: 1. Dan Schultz (PV) 15-11; 3. Nick Onesti 15-1; 6. John Geiger 14-7.25; 8. Andy Smith 14-7.25; 13. Pat Doty 13-7.25; Triple jump: 1. 47-11.25; 9. Ryan Carpenter 43-8; 15. Zak Germo 39-11.25; Shot put: 1. John Schuna (EC) 58-1.25; 14. Chad Kingsbury 44-10.75; Discus: 1. John Schuna (EC) 157-9; 5. Ryan Kawski 149-6; 18. Chad Kingsbury 122-11; Hammer: 1. Jeremy Wendt (WW) 215-2; Javelin: 1. Mark Wierzu (SP) 178-1; 

Updated: May 3, 2004