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Oh Minnesota. Along with your 10,000 plus lakes, supposedly, some noticeable accent (Minnesot-ah), and your lackluster love for hockey, you brought about a very interesting trip. Midweek games are never as simple and efficient as this one seemed to be. We boarded the Lamers bus and departed to Waukesha, as we would be flying out of Cripes Field. Oh yea, forgot to mention that we would be flying charter for this trip. The 20-minute bus ride was full of anxiety due to the fear or inexperience of flying, in small 9-seat planes nonetheless. We arrived at the airfield and pulled right up onto the tarmac. We unloaded our bags and observed the situation.
There were five possible planes that we speculated about. One had dual propellers, three of them had one propeller and the final one was a jet-looking one, the only one a handful of us really wanted. The pilots came out and boarded the dual propeller plane. Our coaches, trainer Chad Henneberry, SID Chris Zills and senior Ben Long all packed up and walked on. After we cheered their take off, the other three boarded soon thereafter. As the propeller fired up and gained speed, which might I add is quite impressive, junior Sam Sivilotti was more than ready stating “there's no turning back”. In our plane, which seated nine, were seniors Tim Patzman, Zach Hoch, Jordan Herbert and Jeff Gordon; juniors Doug Dekoning, Cole Kraft, Sam Sivilotti and Chad Pierce; and me, sophomore Greg Blohowiak. As we made the final turn into our approach of the strip Sam was intent on holding hands as if we were on a rollercoaster. Opposed to popular belief, we did so, and before we knew it we were 2000 feet in the air and ascending.
The hour-long ride was surprisingly smooth, with only a patch of turbulence at takeoff and for a minute right before landing. As all four planes landed in different time intervals in St. Paul, Minn., we congregated in the shack of a private passenger area and waited for the bus. Our bus picked us up and we continued on, only in anticipation of playing Big Ten foe Minnesota. Our first destination on this trip was for food, as we were all hungry. We stopped at a local Old Country Buffet, typically, and went at it like the Ryans a few days before. The food was never ending and filling, as expected, and we definitely needed some time to digest this.
We did a great job of planning this out, as suspect as that sounds, but we found an hour and 15 minute period to go and walk about the mammoth Mall of America. We arrived at the mall with full bellies and with full energy ready to tackle any store or rollercoaster we could. We all split up and made our ways to different areas of this large mall. A couple of us went on the rollercoasters in Camp Snoopy, some of us, well actually one of us, spent 20 dollars in singles attempting to win an iPod touch from a string cutting, 3% odds of winning, money-sucking machine, at which he definitely did not prevail. After the hour was up we boarded the bus with new video games, hats, fresh pants and some sweet or sour candy and headed for the glory, or despair, of the Metrodome.
The Metrodome is a beast of a stadium, both fielding the Minnesota Twins, until this year, and the Vikings, who we loathe, but we weren’t impressed. Most of us have either been there or have played there before and aside from the conditions of the field, which can range from firm to spongy, the place is quite nicely, a dump. We walked in and got our bags tagged and continued toward our locker room. The same locker room that have housed such greats as Derek Jeter, Cal Ripken Jr., and Nolan Ryan. We got dressed in the echo of music and prepared for batting practice. Finishing our pregame routines as well as batting practice comes as second nature now after the first four games of the year. With everything set and ready to go for gametime, we lined up for a beautiful rendition of the star spangled banner, and put the helmets on for the first pitch.
First Inning: With emotions running high, and the memory of last year's loss looming (final score: 12-2), we were excited to engage in rivalry battle with Minnesota. The Gophers gave the nod to a freshman pitcher, Kevin Kray, who is expected to make an immediate impact within their program. Nonetheless, we were not intimidated. Cole Kraft, leadoff hitter and starting shortstop, stepped into the box and immediately got down two strikes. As percentages would dictate, hopes of getting a hot start turned into a battle immediately. Cole battled his way back to an even count at 2-2 before lacing an opposite field double down the left field line. Doug Dekoning followed with a walk and set the table for a big inning. After making a few quality pitches, we were only able to squeeze one run out of the top half of the first.
Following that half, Lucas Annen toed the rubber for us, and preceded to take the Gophers down in 1-2-3 fashion.
Second Inning: After a strikeout and pop out, Jon Capasso continued his hot hitting with a single through the left side. With two outs, Kray threw a wild pitch with Shaun Wegner at the plate, advancing Capasso to second. Wegner then proceeded to hit a single past the third baseman, advancing Capasso to third. Cole Kraft then came back to the dish with runners on first and third. Making it easy on the Panthers, Kray balked advancing Wegner to second and scoring Capasso. Kraft then struck out to close out the inning.
Looking a two-run deficit in the eye, the Gophers - who were heavy favorites - came to bat looking to cut into it. Annen got the first hitter as he fouled out down the right field line. Kyle Knudson, returning from double hip labrum surgergy, then walked for Minnesota. A single through the right side followed, advancing Knudson to third. After a sharp ground ball hit down the first baseline and a diving stop by first baseman Ben Long, the Gophers were able to escape a double play and plate their first run of the game advancing the runner to second.
Annen then gave up a hard hit ball to third base, where Dan Buccholz sacrificed his body and wore the one-hopper to his chest. Although just a single, this spectacular defensive play kept runners on first and second allowing Annen to get out of the inning after getting a force out at second base.
As the game continued, the Panthers battled back and forth with the Gophers until the fifth. UWM proceeded to score two in the third and fourth while Minnesota put up one in the third and four in the fourth.
Going into the fifth inning the game looked as if it was going to come down to the wire. Head coach Scott Doffek rallied his troops before the top half of the fifth, calling a brief team gathering in the dugout, reinforcing logical intent and aggressiveness in the box. This seemed to spark both sides of the baseball. Offensively the Panthers erupted for three runs in both the fifth and the sixth while adding one in the eighth. Supported by Dekonning’s three run bomb in the fifth that resembled a big league shot, the Panthers never turned back. Cuyler Franzke and Greg Blohowiak then stifled the Gophers offense only allowing two hits the rest of the way. Frustrated and flustered, the Gophers began to unravel, unlike the Panthers. UWM continued to play stellar defense behind Franzke and Blohowiak while closing out the game.
For the first time since 1998, UWM beat the Gophers. Not only was it the first win of the year for the Panthers, it was a win that means more to both programs. Typically, both teams recruit the same players and whenever a team can leverage themselves against the other it is crucial in attracting players to their respective universities. The Panthers, glowing with excitement, were now able to meet parents, friends and relatives that were in the stands. Following the hugs and kisses the Panthers headed back up to the locker room where we showered and took our seats in the locker room as Coach Doffek gave his post game analysis. We basked in the glory of the victory as we received our post game meal, Jimmy Johns - always tastes better after a victory.
Walking through the loading dock, where memorable videos of Brett Favre and other greats have been taken walking into the Metrodome, we boarded our bus back to the airport feeling as if we were big leaguers leaving town for another city. We headed back to the airport preparing for our departure back to Waukesha. Boarding the planes once again, the uneasiness of flying set back in. We boarded our nine-seaters and took our seats hoping for a smooth flight. Upon take off, the uneasiness settled. With a collective group of guys that like to have a good time, we filmed the third episode of “The Panther Life” that provided much excitement and the best episode yet.
Almost an hour later, around 11:30 we landed safely in Waukesha. Continuing to recap both the game and the flight, we waited for our teammates to land. As they landed the rest of the team ran onto the bus as the frigid Wisconsin air was almost unbearable. Our Lamers bus then took us back to the East Side of Milwaukee where our campus is located. Ready to get home and sleep in our own beds, players departed the bus and headed home preparing to leave for the Austin Peay Invitational at 2:00 p.m. Thursday.
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