Blohowiak is back for his third season of blogging, while Porcaro gets his first go at it. Today is their ninth entry for the 2012 season.
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Well, that first half of the season sure did fly by. I know it’s a cliché, but time really does fly by. This is the only season this team will play together. With that being said, going forward I think it is important for us to cherish every moment and every opportunity we get to go to battle with each other. We have to continue to work hard and continue to improve ourselves individually and as a team each day.
This past week went well. We knew we were going to get tested mentally and physically by playing four games in four days. In our minds, we feel like we should have won all four, but instead we got three, which is good.
We currently sit tied for second in the Horizon League standings. This week we have an excellent opportunity to gain ground when we go and travel to Wright State. But first we have to finish our homestand against Wisconsin Lutheran. With a big conference series ahead, it can be very easy to overlook Wisconsin Lutheran. We have to make sure that doesn’t happen. We have to bring the same focus to the field that we would bring against any conference opponent. If we do that and take the game one pitch at a time, good things will happen.
Things are definitely starting to come together. The bats are waking up, the starting pitching continues to grind and keep us in ballgames, and the bullpen has been very steady. Like I said before, we just have to push ourselves every day so we can become the best team we can possibly be.
Alright, now time for some fun. More introductions.
STOP! HAMMERTIME!!! This is redshirt freshman outfielder Sam Hammer, AKA Jose Canseco. Whatever weight room you lift in, chances are Hammer has been in there. Hammer lives in the weight room. He enjoys flexing and looking at himself in the mirror after he’s done with a set of curls. Hammer subscribes to all the health and fitness magazines. Those keep him busy on the long bus rides. Who knows, one day you might see him on the cover of Men’s Health.
BARWEEEZLE (Eric King voice)! This is freshman outfielder Dan Barwick. Barweezy is redshirting this year. Danny is a chill dude who provides a lot of snacks on the bench. He comes prepared to the games. Barwick takes pride when he has to chart during the game. His charts are very neat and precise. He definitely is one of the best charters in the nation this year. While scrolling through his Facebook pictures, I learned that Dan likes to make funny faces/poses in photos. Or maybe they’re unintentional and that’s just him being Barweezy. I’ll let you guys be the judges.
This little guy right here on the left is freshman centerfielder Luke Meeteer. Sorry Luke, but it looks like your dad still has ya! Maybe Hammer can give you some tips on how to make your biceps bigger? Luke is right up there with Hammer when it comes to most time spent in the weight room. Luke came from Middleton High School where he also played football. Luke’s a fun guy to have around and we’re glad he’s a Panther.
Drewpyyyyyyy!! This is junior outfielder/catcher Drew Pearson, the final member of the Mustard House. Don’t let the nerd look fool ya, Drew is respected on the streets. He’s a ruff ryder. Drew has one of the best personalities on the team. He likes to have a good time and make jokes. But when it’s game time, it’s all business. Drew is notorious for pinch-hit home runs. I think he has three, maybe four, in his career here. Back in his Racine Hitters days, one scout said he hit a ball 500-plus feet. Why he wasn’t on the cover of Sports Illustrated instead of Bryce Harper is beyond me. Drew is also one of the biggest Packer fans on the team, and probably the biggest Aaron Rodgers fan. To this day, Drew still argues with the guys that he could rush for 100 yards behind Alabama’s offensive line against an SEC team.
Only a few more introductions left. I’ll finish those next week.
It’s time for my man Blow to do the typing…
Paco thoughts… Congrats to Bubba Watson on getting that green jacket… that shot on the second playoff hole was unreal… It’s really weird seeing Prince in a Tiger uniform… For those of you who think Brauny is going to have a down year, you’re crazy… Go Bucks! #fearthedeer #bucksplayoffpush
Time sure does fly by. I’m almost 23 years old (birthday at the end of this month) and I hardly remember 10 years of it. I feel as if it was only yesterday that we were running hills at St. Mary’s before school even started. To think we are already four Horizon League series’ into this year is crazy. To think even more about how we’re two or three hits away from having one loss in the league is even more telling. But hey, that's baseball I guess.
Last week was good for us. Stritch gave us a good game and we won a Horizon League series, our weekend goal. I know the feeling is that we should have swept Butler, but for the second-straight weekend that feeling goes unfulfilled. We attained our goals however, and if we continue to win series, we will be in a good spot in the league.
This upcoming weekend versus Wright State is really going to test us. Having swept us last year in our only three meetings, we have a chip on our shoulder and are seeking revenge. Not only do we want revenge we kind of need it. Wright State is riding on an ever-present high at the plate (50+ runs in the last 3 games) and it's our job to bring them back down to reality.
If anyone is capable of doing that it is us, and we are more than happy to take on that challenge. The games this weekend are available for live stream on the Horizon League Network. HERE IS THE SCHEDULE AND LINKS. For those of you who are unable to make it this weekend you should definitely check that out!
Now for the highly anticipated, nationally-syndicated, portion of our blog, the introductions. This week I’ll introduce a couple freshmen, Dillion Engle and Jake Tuttle. 
First off this is Dillon “Eagle” Engle. (@3fourDEagle). He was born in raised in Atlanta (if I remember correctly) and actually moved to West “Dirty” Allis not too long ago where he went to school at Nathan Hale. I’m sure he is not very happy with the picture I have chosen, however, this captures his manliness the most.
Believe it or not, just like Semmelhack, he is good at not taking embarrassing pictures (as you’ll see Tuttle is bad at) or not posting them on social media outlets. He has a few tattoos and may be accused of being addicted to getting them, as many tattoo-getters are. If you are roaming campus you are more than likely going to see Dillon donning some sort of flat-brim hat with his Dr. Dre Beats blaring music for all to hear. I’m not sure if he has as many hats at our very own Mark Strey however, the variety of hats I have seen Dillon in suggest that he has a stockpile somewhere. Dillon is a very obedient person, whereas if you ask him to do something he will for sure do it. He is a sponge of sorts and is soaking up anything and everything the coaching staff and older guys has to say and we are very appreciative of his receptiveness this year. With that being said, we firmly believe that if MySpace ever makes a comeback it will begin with Dillon at the forefront, mirror picture and all.
The guy on the right in this now famous picture is Jake Tuttle, aka Jake “Pain Train” Tuttle. (@kingtut_13) Tuttle is quite the character and from the get go he has been some sort of a wildcard. The first ever email that he sent me had the most astounding comments in it (screen shot below) and coming from this guy is quite the statement.
Ever since that day, we have been trying to get that same fire out of him. Jake loves being a younger guy on the team as you will see him at practice sprinting around gathering up balls and bases for us to use in our PFP’s. He is somewhat of a ladies man as well, as his charm is like Victoria's Secret to girls. I just did a double-take at this picture and I couldn’t help but laugh, its classic. (and we’ve all been guilty of taking pictures, showered in pink, embracing the closest of our friends). Jake is a very happy person and you can see it with every step he takes. In all seriousness he does really enjoy coming to practice everyday and playing the game that he grew up loving. We enjoy having him around and is always a breath of fresh air when he unleashes the pain train. (ITS COMING...WOO! WOO!)
Quick thoughts from Blow....
Everyone should take table tennis class with Linda Leaf....Ryan Braun hits the ball hard in literally every at-bat and its scary....good luck to the Bucks as they push for the playoffs...but I am in the minority that believes that they should leave Milwaukee and we should bring in an NHL team....my cellphone carrier is getting the iPhone!!!!!....Good luck to all of our fellow student athletes this spring as they fight for championships as well! The SAAC association here at UWM is doing great things for the community, I urge all student athletes to join! Have a great Wednesday! Go Panthers!
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