Of course, what do you expect when the forecast is made in April, months before the beginning of the regular season?  So why do it?  Simple…it’s a fun exercise to analyze a schedule once it comes out, even though we all know that we don’t know the exact makeup of any of the 53-man September rosters.

With all those qualifications, here goes:

9/8, at SF: 49ers 34, Packers 28

9/15, at GB: Packers 30, Redskins 20

9/22, at CIN: Packers 27, Bengals 17

10/6, at GB: Packers 31, Lions 28

10/13, at BAL: Ravens 24, Packers 21

10/20, at CLE: Packers 38, Browns 17

10/27, at MIN: Packers 28, Vikings 17

11/4, at GB: Packers 27, Bears 20

11/10, at GB: Packers 31, Eagles 24

11/17, at NY: Giants 31, Packers 24

11/28, at DET: Packers 34, Lions 30

12/8, at GB: Packers 24, Falcons 21

12/15, at DAL: Packers 30, Cowboys 24

12/22, at GB: Packers 28, Steelers 13

12/29, at CHI: Bears 24, Packers 21

That adds up to 12-4, which should result in another NFC North Division title.  Agree? Disagree? Feel free to post your comments below. 

BOYS STATE TOURNAMENT

Some have referred to this as the “Notre Dame Invitational.”  In other words, there’s defending state champ Green Bay Notre Dame…and everyone else.  Still, let’s not forget ND was a heavy favorite last season, but still needed overtime to dispatch Wausau West in the title game.  This year’s field consists of seven perennial powers and one newcomer: the Whitefish Bay/Nicolet/Shorewood Co-Op.

Quarterfinals:

Verona (25-2-0) vs. Wausau West (14-9-1)

The Wildcats lost a lot of talent from the team that made it to the state semifinals in 2012, but head coach Joel Marshall has been able to re-load, and the new players have contributed up and down the lineup, especially freshman goalie Alex Jones (14-1-0, 1.73 GAA).  Still, while Verona boasts the more impressive record, West has played the tougher schedule.  The Wildcats played only one state tournament team this past regular season, losing 7-0 to Notre Dame, while the Warriors skated against ECM, ND, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin Rapids, & Superior, posting a 2-4-1 record in those games.  This West club may not have the firepower of past teams, but head coach Pete Susens has great depth: 11 Warriors have scored in double-digits, led by Kevin Conley (17-13-30) & Marshall Oja (5-15-20).
Prediction: West 4, Verona 2.

Wisconsin Rapids (18-8-0) vs. Green Bay Notre Dame (24-1-1)

The Red Raiders outscored three postseason opponents 12-0, but the talent level of the opposition goes up dramatically when Rapids skates against defending champion Notre Dame.  The Tritons aren’t unbeatable–they did lose to Novi Catholic Central of Michigan–although they haven’t lost to a Wisconsin team this season.  ND has very balanced scoring, with nine players posting 20 or more points this season, led Brett Gruber (27 -29-56) & Mason Appleton (19-25-44).  Rapids goalie Tyler Gilbert (2.40 GAA) figures to be tested early & often.   
Prediction: Notre Dame 6, Wisconsin Rapids 1.

Eau Claire Memorial (20-6-1) vs. Whitefish Bay/Nicolet/Shorewood (22-4-1)

ECM started 0-2-1, but the Old Abes are back where they expect to end each season.  Memorial’s making its fourth straight trip to the WIAA state tournament, but this year’s team hopes to end the trend of heartbreaking overtime losses at the Coliseum.  ECM played a tough schedule this season, and those challenges should have the Abes very prepared for what they’ll face at state.  Memorial can score in transition, but the team has also become much better at creating offense by holding the zone and cycling the puck.  For ECM to be successful, they’ll need production out of their three top players, Jacob Bresser (39-23-62), Brady Bollinger (24-32-56), & Charley Graaskamp (20-34-54).  Beyond that, the Abes will need junior goalie Alex Geving (2.58 GAA) to play well like he’s done over the latter half of the season.  WNS has a solid tender in Sean Leahy (1.90 GAA), a top-line defender in Thomas Aiken (8-41-49), and a big-time scorer in Djordje Torbica (31-26-57).   The Storm has been opportunistic all season in scoring 121 goals, but can they get odd-man rushes against a good backchecking team like ECM?
Prediction: ECM 4, WNS 2

Fond du Lac (22-3-2) vs. Superior (18-7-1)

Never judge a Superior team by its record, since the Spartans play in a conference with Duluth-area powers.  Jason Kalin’s club is a typical Superior team: plenty of quick skating forwards who are dynamic playmakers, led by Aaron Miller (31-34-65), Aaron Wakefield-Zubiate (14-31-45), & Tyler Nystrom (22-17-39).  Fond du Lac can counter with a couple of high-scoring forwards in Michael Wilson (31-40-71) & Jack Nejedlo (25-44-69).  These two played once during the regular season, with the Spartans beating the Cardinals, 3-1.  I expect a higher scoring game on a bigger sheet of ice, but with the same team winning.
Prediction: Superior 6, Fond du Lac 4.

Semifinals: Notre Dame 5, Wausau West 3.  EC Memorial 4, Superior 3.
Championship: Notre Dame 6, EC Memorial 4.

GIRLS STATE TOURNAMENT

Central Wisconsin Storm (24-1-1) vs. Onalaska Co-Op (22-4-0)

A rematch of the 2012 championship, won by the Storm over the Hilltoppers, 6-2.  Central Wisconsin is now coached by former assistant Jana (Jurkovich) Wimmer, but the Storm still has great depth and plays excellent team defense.  Onalaska counters with the most prolific scorer in the history of Wisconsin girls HS hockey, junior Theresa Knutson, who’s put up mind-boggling numbers this season (70-14-84).  Can the Storm stymie Knutson in back to back seasons at state?  Or will this one turn out like the regular season matchup (a 5-1 win by the Hilltoppers)?
Prediction: CWS 4, Ona 3.

Hayward/Spooner (20-4-1) vs. University School of Milwaukee Co-op (20-5-1)

After a sectional final loss in 2011 to eventual state champ St. Croix Valley, the Hurricanes turned the tables on the Fusion in a sectional final last season to advance to state.  Now, the program looks to take that next step by winning a game at state.  Hayward has great depth, a solid goalie in Sarah Miley (1.67 GAA), a sniper in sophomore Aly Tremblay (37-23-60), and a potential superstar in sophomore defenseman Holly Turnbull (10-36-46).  The Hurricanes defense figures to get a test from Wildcats sophomore forward Nina Andersen (31-14-45).
Prediction: Hayward 3, USM 1.

Championship: CWS 3, Hayward 2.  

Agree? Disagree? Add your comments below.  Or, we can chat about it at the Coliseum.

-BOB BRADOVICH

With that, we forge ahead, and take a stab and predicting what will happen in the girls basketball postseason.

Division 1

Regional Quarterfinals: Hudson over Wausau East

Regional Semifinals: Superior over Hudon, EC North over Wausau West, DC Everest over Marshfield, Chippewa Falls over EC Memorial

Regional Finals: ECN over Superior, CF over DCE

Sectional Semifinals: CF over ECN, Oshkosh North over Stevens Point

Sectional Final: Oshkosh North over Chippewa Falls

Other sectional winners: DePere, Verona, Oak Creek

Division 2

Regional Quarterfinals: River Falls over New Richmond, Ashland over Sparta, Menomonie over Tomah

Regional Semifinals: Onalaska over River Falls, Rice Lake over La Crosse Central, La Crosse Logan over Ashland, Holmen over Menomonie

Regional Finals: Onalaska over Rice Lake, Holmen over Logan

Sectional Semifinals: Onalaska over Holmen, New London over Hortonville

Sectional Final: New London over Onalaska

Other sectional winners: Notre Dame, Monona Grove, New Berlin Eisenhower

Division 3

Regional Quarterfinals: Northwestern over Osceola, Amery over Cumberland, St. Croix Falls over Somerset, Prescott over Altoona, Durand over Ellsworth, Chetek-Weyerhaeuser over West Salem, G-E-T over Black River Falls

Regional Semifinals: Ladysmith over Northwestern, Baldwin-Woodville over Amery, Hayward over SC, Barron over Spooner, Neillsville over Prescott, Durand over Arcadia, Bloomer over C-W, Aquinas over G-E-T

Regional Finals: Ladysmith over B-W, Barron over Hayward, Neillsville over Durand, Bloomer over Aquinas

Sectional Semifinals: Ladysmith over Barron, Neillsville over Bloomer

Sectional Final: Neillsville over Ladysmith

Other sectional winners: Kewaunee, Lakeside Lutheran, Oostburg

Division 4

Regional Quarterfinals: Melrose-Mindoro over Augusta, Osseo-Fairchild over Whitehall, Stanley-Boyd over Unity, Grantsburg over Webster, Boyceville over Spring Valley, Flambeau over Cadott

Regional Semifinals: Mondovi over Mel-Min, Fall Creek over O-F, Colfax over S-B, Regis over Grantsburg, Elk Mound over Boyceville, Cameron over Flambeau

Regional Finals: Mondovi over Fall Creek, Colfax over Regis, Cameron over Elk Mound

Sectional Semifinals: Mondovi over Onalaska Luther, Colfax over Cameron

Sectional Finals: Cuba City over Mondovi, Colfax over Marathon

Other sectional winners: Algoma,  Markesan

Division 5

Regional Quarterfinals: Eleva-Strum over Alma/Pepin, Blair-Taylor over Elmwood, C-FC over Gilmanton, Plum City over Independence, Assumption over Granton, Lincoln over New Lisbon, Loyal over Greenwood, Port Edwards over Marshfield Columbus, Shell Lake over Washburn, Siren over Solon Springs, Luck over Birchwood, Mellen over Mercer, Drummond over Frederic, Winter over Bayfield, Owen-Withee over Rib Lake, Gilman over Cornell, Prentice over Bruce, Thorp over Lake Holcombe, Clayton over New Auburn, Glenwood City over Turtle Lake, McDonell Central over Prairie Farm, EC Immanuel Lutheran over Clear Lake

Regional Semifinals: Eleva-Strum over Blair-Taylor, Plum City over C-FC, Assumption over Lincoln, Loyal over Port Edwards, South Shore over Solon Springs, Luck over Siren, Mellen over Drummond, Northwood over Winter, Owen-Withee over Gilman, Thorp over Prentice, Clayton over Glenwood City, ECIL over McDonell

Regional Finals: Eleva-Strum over Plum City, Assumption over Loyal, Luck over South Shore, Northwood over Mellen, Owen-Withee over Thorp, Clayton over ECIL

Sectional Semifinals: Assumption over E-S, Luck over Northwood, Owen-Withee over Clayton

Sectional Final: Assumption over Seneca, Owen-Withee over Luck

Other sectional winners: Wausau Newman, Heritage Christian

Agree?  Disagree? Feel free to post your picks and/or comments below.  Otherwise, we can discuss at the Resch Center.

-BOB BRADOVICH

Division 1

Regional quarterfinals: Wausau West over Chippewa Falls

Regional semifinals: Superior over Wausau West, ECN over ECM, Hudson over Marshfield, DC Everest overWausau East

Regional finals: ECN over Superior, DCE over Hudson

Sectional semifinals: DCE over ECN

Sectional finals: Oshkosh North over DCE

Other Sectional winners: Germatown, Sun Prairie, Milwaukee Hamilton

Division 2

Regional quarterfinals: Menomonie over New Richmond, Tomah over Sparta, LC Logan over Ashland

Regional semifinals: Onalaska over Menomonie, River Falls over Holmen, Rice Lake over Tomah, LC Central over LC Logan

Regional finals: Onalaska over River Falls, Rice Lake over LC Central

Sectional semifinals: Onalaska over Rice Lake, Rhinelander over Antigo

Sectional finals: Onalaska over Rhinelander

Other Sectional winners: Pulaski, Waunakee, Wisconsin Lutheran

Division 3

Regional quarterfinals: Osceola over St. Croix Falls, B-W over SCC, NW over Cumberland, Spooner over Ladysmith, Altoona over Bloomer, Neillsville over BRF, West Salem over Ellsworth, Arcadia over Chetek-Weyerhaeuser

Regional semifinals: Barron over Osceola, Amery over B-W, Hayward over NW, Somerset over Spooner, Aquinas over Altoona, Prescott over Neillsville, GET over West Salem, Durand over Arcadia

Regional finals: Barron over Amery, Somerset over Hayward, Aquinas over Prescott, Durand over GET

Sectional semifinals: Barron over Somerset, Aquinas over Durand

Sectional finals: Aquinas over Barron

Other Sectional winners: Little Chute, Lodi, East Troy

Division 4

Regional quarterfinals: Boyceville over Flambeau, Cameron over Webster, Regis over Spring Valley, Cadott over Stanley-Boyd, Osseo-Fairchild over Wis. Heights, Mondovi over Riverdale, Necedah over Melrose-Mindoro

Regional semifinals: Grantsburg over Boyceville, Unity over Cameron, Elk Mound over Regis, Cadott over Colfax, Onalaska Luther over O-F, Mondovi over Whitehall, Fall Creek over Bangor, Augusta over Necedah

Regional finals: Grantsburg over Unity, Elk Mound over Cadott, Hurley over Abbotsford, Auburndale over Marathon, Onalaska Luther over Mondovi, Fall Creek over Augusta, Cuba City over Belleville, Southwestern over Mineral Point 

Sectional semifinals: Elk Mound over Grantsburg, Auburndale over Hurley, Fall Creek over Onalaska Luther, Cuba City over Southwestern

Sectional finals: Elk Mound over Auburndale, Cuba City over Fall Creek

Other Sectional winners: Amherst, Dominican

Division 5

Regional quarterfinals: Drummond over LCO, Siren over Mellen, Frederic over South Shore, Solon Springs over Winter, Washburn over Butternut, Shell Lake over Birchwood, Bayfield over Northwood, Luck over Mercer, Clayton over Lake Holcombe, EC Immanuel Lutheran over New Auburn, Prairie Farm over Rib Lake, Thorp over Clear Lake, Bruce over Gilman, McDonell over Glenwood City, Prentice over Owen-Withee, Turtle Lake over Cornell, Elmwood over Granton, Blair-Taylor over Alma/Pepin, Greenwood over Independence, Eleva-Strum over New Lisbon, C-FC over Lincoln, Gilmanton over Loyal, Marshfield Columbus over Plum City

Regional semifinals: Drummond over Siren, Solon Springs over Frederic, Washburn over Shell Lake, Luck over Bayfield, Clayton over EC Immanuel Lutheran, Thorp over Prairie Farm, McDonell over Bruce, Turtle Lake over Prentice, Elmwood over Blair-Taylor, Eleva-Strum over Greenwood, C-FC over Gilmanton, Marshfield Columbus over Port Edward

Regional finals: Drummond over Solon Springs, Luck over Washburn, Clayton over Thorp, Turtle Lake over McDonell, Elmwood over Eleva-Strum, Marshfield Columbus over C-FC

Sectional semifinals: Drummond over Luck, Clayton over Turtle Lake, Elmwood over Marshfield Columbus

Sectional finals: Clayton over Drummond, Elmwood over Cassville

Other Sectional winners: Green Bay NEW Lutheran, Randolph

Agree? Disagree?  Feel free to post your picks and/or comments below.  One thing is for sure, it promises to be a very interesting boys basketball postseason.

See you at an area gym, and later, at the Kohl Center.

-BOB BRADOVICH

BOYS HS HOCKEY
Chippewa Falls Sectional

Eau Claire Memorial is a deserving one seed, but this Old Abes team has been somewhat inconsistent throughout the season.  ECM has yet to overcome its habit of taking bad penalties, and if the Abes don’t clean that up during the playoffs, they could be turning in their gear sooner than they’d like.  Still, no other team can match the firepower that ECM can put on the ice.  If Memorial can stay out of the penalty box and avoid defensive lapses, this is the strongest team in the sectional.  Still…this is no easy skate through the brackets.  The key game in this entire section is the regional final between Chippewa Falls & Rice Lake.  The winner of that one may have enough momentum to pull two more upsets and wind up at state.

Regional semi’s: Ashland over EC North (I’d love to pick the Huskies because of goalie Bryce Kamenick’s ability to steal a game, but without much offensive support (ECN averages 0.92 goals/game), I just can’t do it), Marshfield over Medford

Regional finals: ECM over Ashland, Chequamegon/Phillips over Hayward, Rice Lake over Chippewa Falls, RMB over Marshfield.

Sectional semi’s: ECM over C/P, Rice Lake over RMB

Sectional final: ECM over Rice Lake

Menomonie Sectional

Here, I’m not going according to form, but with the team that seems to be playing its best hockey at the end of the season: Hudson.  The Raiders won their last four games, and eleven of their last twelve.  Hudson has two solid goaltenders in Josh Mattis and Mac Alboreo, to go along with stars in blue liner Daniel Tripicchio and forward Michael Hommes…and plenty of depth.

Regional semi’s: River Falls over Barron, Siren Co-Op over Baldwin-Woodville, Menomonie over Spooner

Regional finals: Superior over River Falls, New Richmond over Amery, Hudson over Siren, Somerset over Menomonie

Sectional semi’s: Superior over New Richmod, Hudson over Somerset

Sectional final: Hudson over Superior

Other sectional winners: Stevens Point, Verona, Wisconsin Rapids, GB Notre Dame, Kettle Moraine Co-Op, Fond du Lac

GIRLS HS HOCKEY

Hayward Sectional

I’m tempted to get a coin and flip it to make my picks in this sectional.   Don’t be surprised if there are more than a few upsets.  For example, either Eau Claire/Altoona or Chippewa Falls/Menomonie is capable of making a run–and St. Croix Valley is a solid #2 seed.  Still, Hayward is the defending sectional champ, the Hurricanes have the most talented roster top to bottom, and they’ll have home ice advantage through the sectional final.

Regional finals: Hayward over New Richmond, ECA over CF/M, WSFLG over Hudson, SCV over Superior

Sectional semi’s: Hayward over ECA, SCV over WSFLG

Sectional final: Hayward over SCV

Other sectional winners: Central Wisconsin, Onalaska, Brookfield Co-Op

Agree? Disagree? Feel free to add your comments and/or picks below.

See you at the rink.

-BOB BRADOVICH

Boys HS Hockey:

Tuesday 2/5 : Eau Claire Memorial at Rice Lake

Thursday, 2/7:  Rice Lake at Chippewa Falls

Friday, 2/8: Eau Claire Memorial at Hudson

The Big Rivers Conference title comes down to the final week of the regular season.  Hudson begins the week in 1st place at 8-1-0, followed by 8-2-0 Memorial, and 7-3-0 Rice Lake. Even though the seeds are set for next week’s WIAA  playoffs, coaches want their teams to have momentum heading into the postseason.  It’s interesting to note that Hudson will visit Eau Claire North on Thursday night, and will have be right back on the ice the following day at 5:00 P.M. to host ECM.

Boys HS Basketball

Friday, February 15: Colfax vs. Elk Mound

Round one of this Dunn-St. Croix Conference showdown went to the Mounders, who came away with a 3-point win road win on January 10.  Last season, these two split during the regular season.  There could very well be a third meeting between Colax and Elk Mound, as both the Vikings and Mounders will be in the same regional within the WIAA Division 4 Durand Sectional.

Friday, Februay 15; Clayton vs. Turtle Lake

The unbeaten Bears have had just one close game all season.  That came on January 17, when the Lakers took Clayton to overtime, before the Bears prevailed, 46-44.  Turtle Lake will have home court advantage for the rematch.   These two could see each other again in the postseason, as both the Bears & Lakers are in a a loaded regional within the Division 5 Spooner Sectional that includes McDonell Central and Thorp.

Saturday, February 16: Fall Creek vs. Augusta at Neillsville, Cloverbelt Conference 1st-place game

A pair of local rivals will board buses and head east for a very intriguing game betweem conference champions.  At the time of this writing, the Crickets have run the table in the Western Cloverbelt, while the Eastern Cloverbelt-leading Beavers have only one blemish on their record.  This could be the first of two meetings betwen the teams, since they’ll both be in the WIAA Division 4 Wisconsin Dells Sectional.

Girls HS Basketball

Friday, February 8: Eau Claire North vs. Chippewa Falls

No team in the Big Rivers Conference has been able to knock off North so far this season.  The deep and talented Huskies have a chance to take a step closer to a BRC title, but the Cardinals will look to avenge a 63-52 loss at the Doghouse back on January 11.

Thursday, 2/21, Cameron vs. Clayton

The unbeaten Comets haven’t had a close call this season, as each one of their thirteen wins has been by double digits.   Still, it’s worth noting that in the first meeting this season between Clayton and Cameron, the Comets led by 2 at the half and by 3 after three before pulling away for a 12-point win.

-BOB BRADOVICH

Three losses by a grand total of 13 points is hardly ”humiliating,” in my book.  Save that word for Rose Bowl blowouts: 1992-Washington 34, Michigan 14.  2002-Miami 37, Nebraska 14. 2008-USC 49, Illinois 17.   Better yet, direct your derison to those those Big Ten football programs that haven’t had a sniff of Pasadena since 1990:  Michigan State, Minnesota, Indiana.

The Badgers are now 3-3 in Rose Bowls in the “Alvarez era,” and all six of those games came down to a final drive.  There’s no shame in playing a close game against a quality opponent in a January 1 bowl in what’s arguably college fooball’s best venue.

For those of us who remember the lean years of Wisconsin football, six Rose Bowl trips in a 20-year span is something to celebrate.  Here’s hoping that new head coach Gary Andersen can get the Badgers back to Pasadena.

-BOB BRADOVICH

In the words of comedian W.C. Fields, “Things happened.”

Just as I was sitting down at my work computer that day to log onto the blog site, word came out that head coach Bret Bielema was leaving Wisconsin for Arkansas, touching off a whirlwind of activity, which has subsided, for the moment, after the hiring of Gary Andersen from Utah State.

After the Badgers loss at Penn State, who could have forecasted any of this?  Did anyone see the 70-31 beatdown of Nebraska coming?  Did anyone see Bielema and most of his staff leaving?  Who out there expected Barry Alvarez to be on the sidelines for the Rose Bowl?  Was there a meteorologist that foresaw a 12/19 Madison blizzard that would postpone the formal introduction of the new head coach?  Once again, truth trumps fiction.

First of all, let’s give the former staff its proper credit for keeping the team together during some trying circumstances this season, and major props for the decision to hold a few things back in the Ohio State & Penn State games, while emptying the playbook in the Big Ten Championship.

As far as Bielema’s leaving, I don’t have a problem with his departure.  It’s simply the nature of the business in major college athletics.  His tenure at Wisconsin was relatively good–certainly not the disaster that some doom-and-gloom forecasters predicted, and certainly good enough to parlay his success in Madison to a better-paying gig.   Bielema had the unenviable task of following Barry Alvarez, and for a lot of UW loyalists, the pupil never measured up to the teacher, either in the charm category, or the Rose Bowl wins category.  Despite not being able to win over a portion of the fan base, Bielema didn’t seem to have that problem in his own locker room when it came to connecting with players.

Alvarez has gone on record as saying his legacy won’t be affected by the outcome of the upcoming Rose Bowl, but Barry’s not going to be a mere figurehead as the Badgers get ready to face a very strong Stanford team.  He’s far too competitive and proud for that to happen.    Alvarez may be a good delegator, and while he’ll let the coordinators develop their game plans, Barry’s fingerprints will be all over those plans.  And when it comes to leading the team, Barry’s voice will be the loudest and most clear.

The athletic director seems fairly proud of his hire of Gary Andersen, and for good reason.  The AD found an up-and-coming coach who fits the Alvarez profile (defensive roots, likes  running the football, good recruiter, runs a clean program) without breaking the bank–Andersen will earn $900,000 less this season than what Bielema was scheduled to make.

I’ve never been too interested in someone “winning” a news conference–coaches are ultimately judged on winning games.  Still, Andersen was impressive in his first opportunity to speak to the media as Wisconsin’s head coach.  He came off as very articulate, prepared, sincere, straightforward, and humble.

Consider this comment Andersen made prior to taking questions from the media: “Hopefully, we can deflect this back to the young men and let them go win a Rose Bowl.”

It’s been a very interesting few weeks for Wisconsin football, and there figures to be more of the same in the days prior to the Rose Bowl, not to mention what comes after as the Andersen regime begins for the Badgers.

See you in Pasadena.

-BOB BRADOVICH

Of course, the one letter in question is “C,” the same letter which once adorned my baseball cap when I played.  A few years ago, I actually brought my old “C” cap to the alumni game, along with a uniform from back in the day.  However, once arriving at Mel Taube Field, I ditched both for the updated versions.

Why?  Two reasons: A) the new caps and uniforms look much better, and 2) the old cap and uniform REALLY dated me as an old alum. 

(If you’re wondering about the A) and 2) reference above, that’s intentional…it’s an homage to former baseball coach Bob Sullivan, who once divided us into Team A & Team 2 for an intrasquad game “back in the day,” but if you either A) heard me tell this story before, or 2) read this blog two years ago, you’ve already figured it out.) 

On Saturday, October 6, I was the oldest living alumnus actually playing in the game, which says any number of things, including, but not limited to:

            -most of my teammates have long since quit the game of baseball

            -I will probably have to be dragged off the field before I quit playing

            -I enjoy being back on the Carleton campus

            -non-stop baseball story-telling in the dugout

            -free bratwurst after the alumni game

            -seeing fellow alums, meeting the new players

            -a chance to hang around afterward for the homecoming football game

All of the above are reasons why the actual outcome of the alumni game is irrelevant.  For the record, the varsity shut out the alumni, 7-0, or something like that.   In this blog two years ago, I crowed about my RBI base hit.  Last year, I complained about the varsity pitchers walking me three times.   Consider the challenge accepted by the youngsters, who retired me in all four plate appearances this time around–although I would claim one “well-hit,” in Coach Sully’s vernacular.

Coach Sully did show up for a few innings, which was a treat for myself, Jeff May ’88, and J.R. Bauman ’89. And, as always, there was yet another “small world” moment, when Jeff May told me he was the brother-in-law of Eau Claire Memorial H.S. boys hockey coach Mike Schwengler, which meant Jeff has driven past my house in EC many times. Who knew?

What I do know is that any day playing baseball is a good day…even a 37 degree day, because it got Sully and I talking about a chilly doubleheader in 1980 vs. UMD at Duluth’s Wade Stadium, at which it snowed the entire time.   I can remember those games distinctly, and in my mind’s eye, can picture our team, wearing the blue caps with a maize block “C” on the front, with pinstriped, pullover, polyster “CARLETON” jerseys.  It really doesn’t seem like that long ago…but of course, it is.

To the young guys on the varsity: time passes quickly, gentlemen.  Enjoy college, and the fact you get to play baseball. If you can, play the game as long as you’re physically able.  You’ll be rewarded.  To the alums: let’s do this again.

As always, big thanks to Carleton head coach Aaron Rushing, for organizing yet another successful alumni baseball game. 

Until next year…

-BOB BRADOVICH ’82

WEEK 5
Hudson at Eau Claire Memorial
The Raiders have rolled to four straight impressive wins, led by smooth operating quarterback Mike Hommes, and will look to keep it going at Carson Park, against an Old Abes team that features a stingy defense and a developing ground game.

Rice Lake at Menomonie
The Warriors will need to string some wins together to keep their playoff hopes alive, but it won’t be easy on the road against a Mustangs team that’ll be looking to crank it up after a surprisingly close win at River Falls.

Osceola at Durand 
Following a winless 2011, the surprising Chieftains have reeled off four straight wins.  The Panthers, meanwhile, were expected to be Somerset’s main challenger in the Middle Border, and have not disappointed. Durand features one of the area’s most prolific players, in the dynamic Jake Weber.

Cumberland at Northwestern
The two unbeaten teams in the Heart O’North collide on the shores of Lake Superior.

WEEK 6
Independence/Gilmanton at Cochrane Fountain-City
The surprising Indees, after just one win in 2011, head on the road to face one of the Dairyland Conference’s preseason favorites.

WEEK 7
Somerset at Durand
The Spartans have won or shared the Middle Border Conference seven of the last eight years.   Can Durand use home field advantage in slowing down Somerset?

WEEK 8
Hudson at Menomonie 
The game of the year in the Big Rivers…it’ll be one of the state’s big games if both teams come in unbeaten.  The Raiders have had the Mustangs’ number in recent years–will that trend hold up?

Eau Claire Regis at Stanley-Boyd
The Ramblers take their high-powered ground game on the road to face an Orioles team that has started the season with four shutouts.

Cameron at Grantsburg
The Comets could be unbeaten when they travel to Grantsburg to play the Pirates.

Any other games you’re looking forward to seeing?  If so, add your comments below. 

-BOB BRADOVICH