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WEST BEND – The current issue of 17th annual yearbook of Baseball Wisconsin 2009 is now available.
The $16 book by Joe Waite and the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association, offers a fabulous preview of the WBCA and amateur baseball in Wisconsin.
“I really took this book up a notch,” said Waite. “There was 97% participation from the schools and coaches and that helped make it better.”
The yearbook has every statistic and record a high school baseball junkie needs including state teams with conference standings from 2008, a complete list of WBCA coaches in the Hall of Fame and a full list of 2009 Wisconsin pre-season baseball rankings.
PLAYERS TO WATCH…
There are 40 athletes from around the state listed in the 2009 Wisconsin Players to watch section.
Some of the top talent includes left handed pitcher Kevin James of Whitefish Bay who has already signed with Boston College. James is one of eight starters and three pitchers returning for coach Jay Wojcinski and the Blue Dukes.
Adam Walker of Milwaukee Lutheran is a fantastic student-athlete defined as a ‘legitimate pro prospect.’ Walker is one of the top hitters for coach Bob Heinkel’s Red Knights and has already signed with Division 1 Jacksonville.
Right handed pitcher Dale Knube of Freedom will help lead the Irish this year. Knube has a 90 mile per hour fastball with “a very good curve and change,” according to coach Adam Fox. The 1st team All-Conference senior has also received a partial academic scholarship and will head to Kansas State in the fall.
And keep your eye on Eric Semmelhack of Oak Creek. The right handed 1st team All-Conference pitcher is returning, along with the rest of the Knights starting lineup, looking to secure the title.
SPECIAL SECTION..
One of the more entertaining surveys in the WBCA yearbook is the piece on jersey numbers.
“Every good baseball man knows that jersey numbers are a part of the history of the game,” said WBCA’s Joe Waite who took an informal poll on numbers across the state.
“The number 19 was the most popular choice among our coaches. Some said it was because of Rockin’ Robin Yount and others really didn’t qualify their decision,” he said.
Many coaches said they picked their number because of Babe Ruth who wore #3, Willie Mays #24, Ron Santo who wore #10 with the Chicago Cubs and even Bo Jackson #8.
Seven coaches who took the poll wore #44, the same number sported by Hammerin’ Hank Aaron.
“Just remember that we are the most fortunate coaches in the world, we get to wear a team uniform,” said Waite. “Imagine football coaches or basketball coaches wearing team uniforms; it wouldn’t be pretty.”
Waite wears #7. “It’s not because of Mickey Mantle, but because of my favorite Brewer Don Money.”
If you have a story about your jersey number send it to judy@prepsonthenet.com.
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