UW-Oshkosh To Honor 1994 National Championship Baseball Team
The UW-Oshkosh baseball program will celebrate the 25th anniversary of its second NCAA Division III championship when members of the 1994 team return to campus Saturday, Sept. 21.
Coaches, players and support staff will be recognized at halftime of UW-Oshkosh's 12 p.m. football game at J. J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium (450 Josslyn Street) against Huntingdon College (Ala.).
UW-Oshkosh's 1994 baseball season was one of domination. The Titans compiled a 41-4 record and completed a 13-game winning streak with a 6-2 victory over Wesleyan University (Conn.) in the championship contest of the Division III World Series held in Battle Creek, Mich.
Freshman Jarrod Washburn pitched all nine innings in the national title game and earned the victory by scattering nine hits with eight strikeouts. The two Wesleyan University runs came in the bottom of the ninth inning and were the first earned scores allowed by UW-Oshkosh in its five World Series games.
Junior designated hitter Craig Pautz went 3-for-3 at the plate, including a third-inning two-run double, while senior third baseman Aaron Richartz, junior shortstop Tim Jorgensen and sophomore outfielder Jeff Zappa contributed two hits apiece.
Zappa led off the national championship game with his 12th home run of the season. The Titans increased their lead to 4-0 with three runs in the third inning and 6-0 with one run in both the fifth and ninth frames.
UW-Oshkosh placed six players on the All-World Series team, including Jorgensen who was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player after hitting .400 (8-20) with three home runs and seven runs batted in. Other Titans named to the All-World Series team were Richartz, junior first baseman Craig Lieder, sophomore pitcher Kevin Mlodik, senior outfielder Brent Pattridge and junior catcher Kevin Ulwelling.
UW-Oshkosh outscored its World Series opponents, 49-7, while hitting .314 with 10 doubles and six home runs. The Titans' pitching staff limited opposing hitters to a .178 average with just four extra-base hits, all doubles.
UW-Oshkosh defeated Ithaca College (N.Y.), 9-2, in its first World Series contest and advanced to the title game with victories of 11-0 over Montclair State University (N.J.), 12-3 over Wesleyan University and 11-0 over Carthage College.
Earlier in the year, UW-Oshkosh won the WIAC championship for the 15th time in 16 years and the Division III Midwest Regional title for the 13th time in 14 seasons.
The key elements to the 1994 UW-Oshkosh team were excellent hitting and outstanding pitching.
UW-Oshkosh averaged nine runs per contest as it recorded a .357 batting average with 87 home runs, the third-highest season total in Division III history.
The statistics were also impressive on the mound as UW-Oshkosh hurlers combined for 279 strikeouts and a 2.35 earned run average in 330 innings pitched. The Titans held their opponents to just 71 extra-base hits and a batting average of only .219.
Jorgensen was named the Division III Player of the Year after hitting .455 with 23 home runs and 64 runs batted in. Richartz also enjoyed a banner season by hitting .416 with 17 home runs and 56 runs batted in.
Mlodik and senior Mike Gasper were both unbeaten in eight decisions and led the pitching staff with their earned run averages of 0.90 and 0.93, respectively. Washburn and junior Tom Petri added six pitching victories each.
Joining Jorgensen as a member of the 1994 Division III All-America team were Gasper and Richartz. Titans receiving Division III All-Midwest Region accolades were Bott, Gasper, Jorgensen, Lieder, Mlodik, Richartz, Ulwelling, Washburn and Zappa.
UW-Oshkosh head coach Tom Lechnir was named the Division III Coach of the Year.
In conjunction with honoring the 1994 baseball team, the current UW-Oshkosh baseball squad will play its annual Black & Gold Game at 9 a.m. at Tiedemann Field. Following the contest, each 1994 team member will receive two FREE tickets to attend UW-Oshkosh's football game against Huntingdon College. A special ceremony will take place at halftime to recognize UW-Oshkosh's accomplishments during the 1994 baseball season. The reunion concludes with a 2:30 p.m. social at The Bar in Oshkosh (825 N. Washburn Street).
The hope is to have as many members of the 1994 team return for this memorable event. If you have any questions regarding the reunion, please contact UW-Oshkosh head baseball coach Kevin Tomasiewicz at (920) 424-1225 or tomasiek@uwosh.edu. Members of the 1994 team should RSVP to Coach Tomasiewicz by Sept. 13.
1994 UW-Oshkosh Baseball Team & Support Staff
Players: Chuck Anderson, Brian Bott, Eric Duren, Mike Gasper, Ryan Hinske, Tim Jorgensen, Craig Lieder, Aaron Luepke, Brad Matzek, Kevin Mlodik, Brad Nerat, Craig Pautz, Brent Pattridge, Tom Petri, Jason Plachetka, Rick Radies, Aaron Richartz, Travis Rosenbaum, Troy Schaefer, Mike Simon, Dan Smet, Rob Stoltz, Kevin Ulwelling, Jarrod Washburn, Jeff Zappa
Head Coach: Tom Lechnir
Assistant Coaches: Chris Delarwelle, Kevin Reichardt
Student Assistant Coaches: Tom Gardner, Don Garvey
Student Athletic Trainer: Jeff Sabel
Equipment Manager: Mike Hildahl
Bat Boys: Lucas Lechnir, Marty Marcellis