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UW-W’s Vodenlich named top coach

UW-Whitewater’s John Vodenlich earned Coach of the Year honors, while five Warhawk players earned first-team honors in All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference baseball voting.

Vodenlich guided the Warhawks to a share of the 2009 title with Stevens Point and Oshkosh with a 15-9 conference record.

It was the Warhawks’ eighth title in the last 10 seasons, and they earned a spot in the NCAA Division III tournament. Vodenlich is in his sixth season as manager and he has a 207-73-1 record.

UW-Whitewater’s Aaron Dott and Kevin Zalnis led the player honorees as repeat first-team selections.

Dott led the WIAC with 98 strikeouts and 11 starts. He was third with 81.2 innings pitched, and an opponent’s batting average of .217. He had five wins and a 3.53 ERA.

He struck out 98, which is the seventh-highest total on the conference’s single-season chart.

Zalnis led the conference with 167 at-bats, while ranking second with 43 RBIs and fourth with eight home runs.

Also earning first-team honors were the Warhawks’ Rob Coe, Jason Hooper and Ben Kuhlmann.

Coe, a sophomore catcher, hit .283 while playing in 41 games. He had 11 doubles, three HRs and 25 RBI.

Kuhlman, a junior second baseman, led the Warhawks with a .321 average. He had 51 hits, including six doubles and six homers. He scored 33 runs and had 24 RBIs.

Hooper, a junior pitcher, had a 7-3 record with a 3.99 ERA.

2009 All-WIAC Baseball Team

First Team

C—Rob Coe, Whitewater, soph.; Ryan Stace, Stout, sr.

P—Aaron Dott, Whitewater, jr.; Jason Hooper, Whitewater, jr.; Joe Lange, Platteville, sr.; Scott Williams, Stevens Point, soph.

1B-OF—Blake Berger, Oshkosh, soph.; Jeremy Richter, Stevens Point, jr.

2B—Kyle Cummings, Stevens Point, sr.; Ben Kuhlmann, Whitewater, jr.

SS—Eric Fritz, Stevens Point, soph.

3B—Jay Fanta, La Crosse, fresh.; Lee Hawkins, Platteville, sr.; Kyle Kannenberg, Oshkosh, jr.; Brandon O’Connell, Stout, soph.

Inf.—Jason Jacobson, Platteville, jr.

OF-Inf.—Kevin Zalnis, Whitewater, sr.

OF—Nolan Fadness, Oshkosh, soph.; Jason Fosler, Oshkosh, sr.; Storm Gram, La Crosse, sr.

Honorable Mention

La Crosse—Ross Benitz, sr., righthanded pitcher; Cory Poppitz, La Crosse, sr., catcher.

Oshkosh—Ryan Demmin, jr., pitcher; Derek Hiroskey, soph., catcher; Kyle Kannenberg, jr., righthanded pitcher; Jeremy Rubens, jr., righthanded pitcher; Ben Sebesta, freshman, outfield.

Stevens Point—Kyle Barry, sr., righthanded pitcher; Cody Koback, freshman, centerfielder; Jeff Zielke, sr., righthanded pitcher.

Stout—Brian Giebel, soph., outfield; Greg Smolinski, jr., designated hitter.

Superior—Sean Cummings, jr., second base; Brett Olson, jr., catcher.

All-Sportsmanship Team

Lance Poppy, La Crosse, jr., first base; Brad Demmin, Oshkosh, sr., first base; Matt Paulus, Platteville, sr., catcher/first base; Jordan Rennicke, Stevens Point, soph., catcher; Ryan Stace, Stout, sr., catcher; Paul Schlangen, Superior, jr., outfield; Nick Rechlitz, Whitewater, jr., second base/shortstop.

Position Player of the Year—Jeremy Richter, UW-Stevens Point.

Pitcher of the Year—Joe Lange, Platteville

Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete—Ross Benitz, La Crosse.

Coach of the Year—John Vodenlich, Whitewater.