Baseball

May 15, 2000

MENOMONIE - UW-Stout centerfielder Brad O'Connell (Jr, Elk Mound) was named to the first team of the 2000 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) baseball team. Three other Blue Devils were named as honorable mention.

O'Connell finished the season hitting an a team-high .400, going 58-for-145. He broke single season records in stolen bases (26 in 26 attempts) and home runs (15). O'Connell also led the team in runs scored (53, two short of the school record), doubles (12), total bases (119), at bats (145), slugging percentage (.821), hits (58), stolen bases and attempts (26), games played (37), on base percentage (.467), runs batted in (46), home runs (15), and total plate appearances (166). From center field, O'Connell had a .933 fielding percentage and gunned down four runners.

The season proved to be a breakout season for the junior, who had sat the majority of the last three seasons - including his redshirted first season - due to injuries.

Named to the honorable mention squad were first baseman JR Dachel (Sr, Bloomer), pitcher Scott Meyer (Sr, Austin, Minn) and third baseman Dave Rueber (Jr, Afton, Minn).

Meyer finished the season with a 6-6 overall record, pitching in a team-high 76.2 innings with a team-high 41 strikeouts and allowed only 13 walks. Meyer posted a 4.46 earned run average.

Rueber, a transfer from Iowa Lakes Community College, gave Stout stability at the third base side and also offered a strong bat. Rueber hit .365, going 46-for-126 with 41 runs scored, seven home runs and 39 RBI, second behind O'Connell. On the basepaths, he was a perfect 7-for-7 in stolen bases.

The Blue Devils finished the season at 19-17-1 overall.

May 12, 2000

MENOMONIE - He put aside the Dodger blue and will once again don the UW-Stout Blue Devil blue. Joe Vavra has been named as the 24th head coach of the UW-Stout baseball program.

Vavra, who spent 13 years In the Los Angeles Dodger farm system as a coach and five years before that as a player, played three season at Stout for retiring coach Terry Petrie from 1980-82.

"This is a great opportunity to take over a program that has had great success and make an impact locally and in the baseball program," Vavra said. "We will go into the program with a lot of energy. I am looking forward to utilizing the resources the university has available.

"I see this as a rare opportunity because I attended Stout and now I am able to come back with a great background."

"We are ecstatic about being able to bring in Joe Vavra," Steve Terry, UW-Stout athletic director, said. "The wealth of experience and connections throughout the baseball world Joe has can only help to bring enhanced prestige and visibility to our program."

Vavra will be remembered as the most dominant shortstop in Stout

baseball history. He was the Blue Devils' leading hitter in 1980, 81 and 82

and the team MVP in 1981 and 82, the same years he was named all-district.

He was an honorable mention All-America selection in 1982. Vavra appears in the top ten of six Stout career records, including the top batting average (.402). He was inducted into the UW-Stout Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995.

Vavra was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1982 in the eighth round and worked his way through the farm system before illness took him off the playing field while playing AAA. Vavra stayed with the Dodgers as a coach, manager, instructor, director and coordinator at various levels in the Dodgers' system.

While Vavra spent much of his career working with the younger talent where he garnered five manager of the year titles. In 1989 and 1994, Vavra was named Baseball America magazine's "Short-A Season manager of the year." In 1995, Vavra was named as the Dodgers' major league base running and bunting coach, where he has had the opportunity to coach the likes of Mike Piazza, Pedro Martinez, Eric Young and Roger Cedeno.

Vavra believes local fans will like the style of baseball he will bring to the Stout program.

"We will be real aggressive," Vavra said. "I don't like to sit back and let it come. I am a fundamentalist when it comes to baseball. I don't like to see us beat ourselves."

Active in community events, Vavra has developed and conducted more than 400 amateur clinics for all ages around the world.

"I have had the opportunity to enhance and impact several young men's lives from around the world," Vavra said. "It's time to try to be able to do that in our own area."

Community plays a large role in the big picture Vavra sees for Stout baseball.

"I see us opening this to the Stout community," Vavra said. "I am aiming to jazz up the program and will try to get the school and the fans involved. We must get the community involved. They will see the fun and want to be involved."

"It's a new era," Vavra said. "Terry (Petrie) is passing on the baton. I'm into a solid program, but I can add onto it. With the level I have been at, hopefully I can make an impact."

A native of Chippewa Falls, Vavra has resided in Menomonie for most of his coaching career. Vavra and his wife Lesa have three sons, Tanner, Treysen and Terrin.

May 11, 2000

MENOMONIE - Brad O'Connell (Jr, Elk Mound) broke UW-Stout single season home run and stolen base records and led the Blue Devils in 15 offensive categories. O'Connell was named the Blue Devils' most valuable player of the year.

Catcher Eddie Young (So, La Crosse) was named the most improved, shortstop Brock Meyer (Fr, Lyle, Minn) was the rookie of the year and first baseman JR Dachel (Sr, Bloomer) received the best defense award.

O'Connell finished the season hitting an a team-high .400, going 58-for-145. He broke single season records in stolen bases (26 in 26 attempts) and home runs (15). O'Connell also led the team in runs scored (53, two short of the school record), doubles (12), total bases (119), at bats (145), slugging percentage (.821), hits (58), stolen bases and attempts (26), games played (37), on base percentage (.467), runs batted in (46), home runs (15), and total plate appearances (166). From center field, O'Connell had a .933 fielding percentage and gunned down four runners.

Young finished the season batting .376, going 44-for-117, with nine doubles, two triples, two stolen bases and 35 RBI.

Meyer, a true freshman, hit .304, going 24-for-79 with four doubles, a triple and 12 RBI. Meyer stole four bases.

Dachel finished his career hitting .367 this season, going 47-for-128, with 10 doubles, two triples and seven home runs. Dachel stole eight bases.

Matt Lunde (So, Eau Claire) posted a 5-1 overall record and had a team-high 3.86 earned run average. Scott Meyer (Sr, Austin, Minn) led the team in strikeouts with 41.

The Blue Devils finished the season at 19-17-1, 6-8 in the WIAC. This marked the final season in the 30-year career of Terry Petrie, who retires from the program with a 537-401 overall record.

2000 UW-Stout Baseball Team Awards
Most Valuable Player - Brad O'Connell, Jr, Elk Mound; Most Improved Player - Eddie Young, So, La Crosse; Rookie of the Year - Brock Meyer, Fr, Lyle, Minn.; Best Defense - JR Dachel, Sr, Bloomer

Statistical Awards
Batting average - Brad O'Connell, Jr, Elk Mound, .400 (58/145); Runs batted in - Brad O'Connell, Jr, Elk Mound, 46 RBI; Stolen bases - Brad O'Connell, Jr, Elk Mound, 26/26; Fielding percentage - Eddie Young, So, La Crosse, .974; Slugging percentage - Brad O'Connell, Jr, Elk Mound, .821 (119 total bases); Top earned run average - Matt Lunde, So, Eau Claire, 3.86 ERA; Most strikeouts by a pitcher - Scott Meyer, Sr, Austin, Minn, 41 strikeouts

May 9, 2000

MENOMONIE - After a rocky start, the UW-Stout baseball team made sure they would send out retiring coach Terry Petrie on a winning note as the Blue Devils swept Hamline University, 8-4, 10-4, Tuesday, May 9 at Nelson Field.

After taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning of the first game, the Blue Devils (19-17-1) gave up three back-to-back-to-back singles and Hamline (10-24) took a 3-1 lead. Stout tightened the gap when Brock Meyer (Fr, Lyle, Minn) drove in a run.

The Blue Devils would manufacture runs in the fifth and take the lead when Dave Rueber (Jr, Afton, Minn) picked up an RBI. JR Dachel (Sr, Bloomer), playing on an injured ankle, stole home to give the Blue Devils the lead. Brad O'Connell (Jr, Elk Mound) gave Stout what would be the game winning runs in the sixth with a two-run home run to center field as the Blue Devils scored four runs. The home run was his 15th of the season.

In the nightcap, Stout took advantage of four Hamline errors in the third inning to score six runs.

On the day, Dachel was 3-for-6 with two RBI. Rueber had four RBI on the day, going 2-for-4.

Petrie finished up his coaching career with a 537-401 overall record.

May 15, 2000

MENOMONIE - UW-Stout's Cara Fenhouse (Sr, Superior) finished out her four-year softball career by being named as a third team selection to the Great Lakes All-Region Softball team.

The Blue Devils' catcher, Fenhouse, a first team all-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) choice, hit .346, going 46-for-133 with 25 runs scored, 14 doubles, four triples, two home runs, 28 runs batted in and stole 18 bases. From the catchers' crouch, Fenhouse gunned down 20 runners attempting to steal.

The Blue Devils also announced their team awards, and Fenhouse was named the co-most valuable player along with shortstop Angie Pinnow (Jr, Bruce).

Freshman first baseman Dyan DePas (Waunakee) snagged the rookie of the year award and the defense award. DePas batted .318 going 41-for-129 with 15 RBI and 17 stolen bases and recorded a fielding percentage of .980, committing only six errors in 298 chances.

Freshman pitcher Jill Coyle (Spring Lake Park, Minn), who made 22 appearances, earned the most improved player award. Coyle started 12 games, finishing with a 6-7 overall record, and picked up her first career shutout.

Jill Tetu (So, Maplewood, Minn) was named the most dedicated player, Sarah Kokke (Fr, Galesville) received the spirit award, senior pitcher Rebecca Zimmerman (Fall Creek) received the team leader award and Kristin Liberty (Sr, Tomahawk) earned the super-sub award.

Statistical Leaders
Batting average - Angie Pinnow (Jr, Bruce) .396 57-for-144; Slugger - Angie Pinnow (Jr, Bruce) 57 hits, 13 doubles, 3 triples, 9 home runs, 103 total bases, .715 slugging percentage; Runs batted in - Angie Pinnow (Jr, Bruce) 35; Stolen bases - Angie Pinnow (Jr, Bruce) 33-for-38; Top earned run average - Rebecca Zimmerman (Sr, Fall Creek) 3.64 ERA

May 15, 2000

MENOMONIE - The UW-Stout men's track team will wrap up their regular schedule as they try to qualify more individuals to the 2000 NCAA Division III Track and Field Championships, May 25-27 at North Central College in Naperville, Ill. The Blue Devils will be at the Leo Schnurr Invitational Tuesday, May 16, in La Crosse, then will have one last chance with a meet at the University of Minnesota, Saturday, May 20.

Women's Track & Field

May 12, 2000

MENOMONIE - Sara Pivec (So, Coon Rapids, Minn) broke the UW-Stout indoor shot put, earned indoor All-America honors in the shot, finished second in the indoor and outdoor shot put at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) meet and reached the provisional qualifying mark for the outdoor shot put. For her efforts, Pivec was named the most valuable performer for the Blue Devil women's track and field team.

Distance runner Ellen Everson (So, Blair) was named the most improved, Jennifer Turner (Sr, Eden Prairie, Minn) earned the Blue Devil spirit award, Michelle Abramczak (Jr, Stanley) earned the dedication and determination award. Abramczak, Pivec and Alison West (So, Cadott) were named captains for the 2001 season.

Pivec consistently broke the indoor shot put mark throughout the season, nailing the current record of 43-feet, 2-inches, when she finished fourth at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships. Pivec hit the outdoor qualifier in the shot put when she finished second at the conference meet.