Eagles not satisfied with second place
Most coaches will say it was a great season, coming off losing a championship.
After all, only one team was better.
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse went to its first-ever College World Series championship last season. And lost. And that doesn’t sit very well with the team.
“Second place is sometimes worse than a lot of other places,” said UW-L coach Chris Schwartz, whose team won the WIAC conference tournament over the weekend. “You’re so close and it’s within your grasp, and it just didn’t happen.”
The Eagles were swept by Suny Cortland in the best-of-3 series championship last season.
At 1:15 p.m. Wednesday at Copeland Park, they start the journey to get back. The top-seeded Eagles (31-8) open the Midwest Regional against eighth-seeded Beloit (27-12).
Nationally, UW-L is ranked fourth heading into the regional, winning 13 of its last 15 games.
The defending champions, Cortland, retain the No. 1 spot with a 37-5 record. Randolph-Macon (32-6-1) is ranked No. 2, while Trinity (35-7), the team UW-L defeated to get to the championship, is ranked third.
UW-L has made the national tournament four of the last five seasons and five times in school history.
In the regional, the Eagles are 8-7 all-time, going 5-1 last year in advancing for the first time ever.
Tournament passes cost $15 for adults, $10 for youth/senior/student. Per-day tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for youth/senior/student.
The front gate to Copeland Park will open one hour prior to the start of the first game for spectators.
UW-La Crosse Midwest Regional Schedule
at Copeland Park, La Crosse
Wednesday
10 a.m. – The College of St. Scholastica, Minn. (#4 seed) vs. Saint John’s University, Minn. (#5)
1:15 p.m. – UW-La Crosse (#1) vs. Beloit College, Wis. (#8)
4:30 p.m. – North Central College, Ill. (#3) vs. Luther College, Iowa (#6)
7:45 p.m. – Concordia University-Chicago, Ill. (#2) vs. Kalamazoo College, Mich. (#7)
Thursday
10 a.m. – Loser Game #1 vs. Loser Game #2
1:15 p.m. – Loser Game #3 vs. Loser Game #4
4:30 p.m. – Winner Game #1 vs. Winner Game #2
7:45 p.m. – Winner Game #3 vs. Winner Game #4
Friday
10 a.m. – Winner Game #6 vs. Loser Game #7
1:15 p.m. – Loser Game #8 vs. Winner Game #5
4:30 p.m. – Winner Game #7 vs. Winner Game #8
7:45 p.m. – Winner Game #9 vs. Winner Game #10
Saturday
Noon – Winner Game #12 vs. Loser Game #11
3:30 p.m. – Winner Game #11 vs. Winner Game #13
Sunday
TBA – Game #15 – Winner Game #14 vs. Loser Game #14 (if necessary)