SPECIAL TO TCBB
Written by Zach Thiel
Time is running out for men’s college baseball at University of Wisconsin La Crosse. Due to budget cuts the administration as of June 10th has decided to end their division three baseball program immediately unless $50,000 can be raised by September 1st. The first hurdle will allow play for the upcoming season; however an additional $375,000 will need to be raised by May 2010 to keep baseball at the school over the next 5 years. La Crosse has developed a long list of notable athletes over the years, to name a few: Brewers pitcher Jerry Augustine, Brewers/Huntsville Stars/Team Italy’s catcher Vinny Rottino, first baseman Craig Kusick, NFL lineman Tom Newberry and NFL WR Bill Schroeder.
To any current Eagle player or future athlete looking to play baseball at Wisconsin La Crosse this news is devastating. Baseball to these kids is a huge part of their lives with many continuing to play over summer vacation for state teams in the area. How many of these kids’ dreams of making it to the next level will end with this decision unless they transfer schools, thus ending relationships with their teammates, friends, and forcing them to start their collegiate baseball careers over? Unfortunately all life’s lessons are not necessarily learned in the class room, that virtues such as team work, commitment, loyalty, leadership, competition, endeavor, perseverance, personal sacrifice, time management among many others are an everyday part of a student athlete’s life.
