Scorekeeping Apps

Has anyone used a smartphone app to keep score at a baseball game?  I would love to hear people's opinions on ones they have used before.  From what I can tell there are three major apps people use.

• iScore comes from ESPN and also comes in a basketball version.  It currently is available for the IPod touch, IPhone, and Android phones.  
• Pointstreak K-Force is another option for those with Ipod, Iphone, or Ipads.  They make a pc program also to sort through all the data you collect on the go. 

• GameChanger is currently only available for Iphone/Ipod and Ipad but is working on versions for Android and Blackberry phones.  They just added integration with the popular MaxPreps site and also will be used during the Cal Ripken World Series.   

I currently dont have a phone capable of using any of these programs.  I would love to hear in the comments from anyone that has used on of them.  I am putting together my GameChanger scoreboard to try and have on my blog so let me know if you use that so I can add your team.  

Friday's Links

Maryvale Baseball Park, spring home of the Brewers

• Will injuries prevent the Brewers from making a run to the playoffs this year?  I hope not but it is getting worrisome.  Corey Hart is worried he might not be ready for opening day now.  Shaun Marcum left Thursday's game with shoulder tightness.  
• Congratulations to Cody Hanke and the Marathon basketball team on making it to the state finals. 
• The snow is melting in Appleton and the Timber Rattlers open the season on April 7.  
• The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters and the Eau Claire Express will be playing an exhibition game in Marshfield on May 31.  Two dollars from every ticket will go to support the Gary Varsho Baseball League.  
• High school baseball teams can begin practicing on Monday in Wisconsin with games starting before the end of the month in some places. 

Today's Links

Make sure you check out my friends at the Wisconsin College Baseball Network for the most comprehensive source of college baseball news in Wisconsin. 

I am now on Twitter.  Follow me @baseball_wi .


Another great site to check out is Minor League Ball. John Sickels knows so much about minor league prospects. 

Wolves and Rangers

Cardinal Stritch University split a pair of close games with DeSales University.  The Wolves won both games of a doubleheader on Monday against Schreiner University.  Dean Mlachnik has been hot so far this season hitting .500 with 2 HR and 11 RBI.  The Wolves will be in Texas for two more days before returning to Wisconsin.  Their home opener is next Saturday against Trinity International University.

UW Parkside lost last weekend to Wayne State and St Cloud State playing in Evansville,IN.   They dropped a doubleheader to St Cloud State Saturday.  The Rangers picked up the first win of their season Sunday against Illinois-Springfield 9-6.  That afternoon they lost another game to St Cloud State.  They open up at home next Saturday against Quincy University.

Carthage, Concordia and Edgewood

Carthage College won both games of it's season opening twin bill with Muskingum University.  The Red Men lost a pair of one run games yesterday to Marietta College.  The play Rhodes College today and continue their Florida roadtrip through Saturday. Carthage is coached by Augie Schmidt IV. 

Edgewood College stopped in Tennessee to face Div 2 foe Christian Brothers University.  The Eagles kept it close and lost 6-4.  They will continue south to the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.  They will face Ripon College for a doubleheader today.  Ripon opened their season yesterday with a loss to RPI.

Concordia University lost it's season opener to St. Mary's (MN).  The Falcons rebounded to take two from Pitt-Bradford on Saturday.  They play College of New Jersey this morning and Minot State this afternoon.  They will remain in Arizona until Friday.  You still have time to sign up for Concordia's Spring Hitting Camp on March 27th.

Buccaneers and Sabres and Panthers

Beloit College finished up their Florida trip with a loss to Vassar College.  The Buccaneers ended up with a 4-3 record including two blowout victories against Northland College.  Scoring 57 runs in 7 games is pretty impressive, especially considering they didn't have a single home run. 

Marian University has started out 0-2 this spring while playing St. Mary's(MN) and The College of New Jersey in Arizona.  The Sabres face Augsburg College tomorrow for a doubleheader and will remain in Arizona through March 18.  Marian's head coach Jason Bartelt was inducted into the Lakeland College Hall of Fame last October.  He was named All-Conference in each of his three seasons as a player there. 

UWM dropped 3 to the University or Arkansas last weekend despite being ahead or tied in the fifth inning or later of each of them.   This week the Panthers are in California playing in the Jack Gifford Memorial Tournament.  They lost the first two games to San Jose State and UC Davis.  Today's game was a different story as the Panther pitching staff was lights out against Santa Clara.  Chad Pierce had a perfect game into the fifth inning and only gave up 3 hits and walked none in seven and a third innings while striking out 3.  Greg Blohowiak and Kaleb Engelke finished the 3-0 shutout.  Doug Dekoning went 2 for 3 to extend his hitting streak to 13 games.  He has been on fire this season hitting .500 with 2 HR, 13 RBI, and 4 steals.  UWM will finish up their west coast trip tomorrow with a rematch against San Jose State.

Northwoods League Part 1

The Northwoods League has done a lot to improve Wisconsin baseball.  The teams usually sign a few local players to fill up the roster while waiting for some colleges to finish their seasons.  Sometimes those players do enough to earn a spot for the full year.  We are now up to six Wisconsin teams in the Northwoods League.

Carson Park, Home of the Express

The Eau Claire Express have been around since 2005 and are the defending champions.  They were also ranked #1 by Perfect Game  in their ranking of summer league teams.  Pretty impressive considering not too long ago the Northwoods league was considered inferior to the east coast summer leagues.  Follow them on twitter for all the latest news.

In 2007 the Green Bay Bullfrogs started play. They went through 45 different players last year for a variety or reasons but still finished a respectable 39-31.  The Titletown Entertainment Group is hoping to have a new stadium ready in time for the 2012 season.  Follow that link and check out the photo section.  It's going to be a pretty cool looking stadium.  The Bullfrogs recently signed three Wisconsin natives to return this summer.  Paul Hoenecke and Greg Blohowiak are coming from UWM while Joe Betcher is from the University of Illinois-Chicago.  You can follow Green Bay on twitter also. 

Bobby Juan

The La Crosse Loggers were formed in 2003.  The Lumberyard at Copeland Park has pulled in over 100,000 fans each of the last five seasons.  Three out of the last four MLB drafts have had a former Logger taken in the first round.  2010 Gatorade Wisconsin State Player of the Year and La Crosse native Bobby Juan will be coming home to play for the Loggers this summer.  You can receive text alerts from the Loggers.

Founded in 2001, the Madison Mallards blow away the competition when it comes to attendance.  Already averaging almost 6,000 fans a game, look for that number to increase as they renovate their stadium.  The Mallards will have a new field manager this season as they named former Rochester Honkers manager Greg Labbe to the position.  Madison has also unveiled a new mascot and logo for this season. 

Weekend Roundup

Sorry for the hiatus.  I will try not to go that long without posting again. Now on to the news.

• UWM had to contend with the weather even on their trip to Tennessee last weekend.  They dropped two to Illinois State playing in Clarksville, TN.  Their game against Austin Peay was canceled due to weather.  The Panthers are in Fayetteville this weekend taking on the #16 ranked Arkansas Razorbacks.  Two home runs by Doug Dekoning was not enough on Friday as Arkansas won 15-6.  They play again on both Saturday and Sunday.  Also make sure you check out Diamond Chronicles.  Senior Sam Sivilotti and junior Greg Blohowiak, members of the Milwaukee baseball team, are blogging about the season.
   
•  UW Parkside was swept last weekend in their season opening series against Winona State University.  Their games this weekend in Evansville, Indiana against Wayne State and the University of Missouri- St. Louis have been bumped back a day due to weather, and will be played on Sunday and Monday.  
• Cardinal Stritch University finished its opening weekend with a 1-3 record playing against Harris Stowe State University in St.Louis, Mo.  Andy Klein picked up the win striking out 6 and walking 1 in six innings of work.  This weekends games against Indiana University Southwest have been canceled and they will next play March 12 in San Antonio, TX against DeSales University. 
• The Milwaukee School of Engineering has put in a full week of baseball in Florida.  They were 1-6 before yesterday's doubleheader with Hanover.  I can't find results of those games.  
• UW Whitewater took two from Washington University this week.  Daniel Putnam hit .889 with 3 stolen bases while Rob Coe hit .714 with a HR and two steals.  Riley Tincher and Jeff Donovan picked up the wins.  The fifth ranked Warhawks next play on March 17 against St Lawrence.  
• The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are having a Rummage Sale today from 10-3 selling lots of game used jerseys and bats among other things.  Individual tickets also go on sale today.  
• The Beloit Snappers are also selling their game worn jerseys. They have a job fair on March 15 and are looking to fill many positions.
• The Milwaukee Brewers have started out 4-2 so far in spring training.   As they showed last year spring training records dont always match the regular season results.  Check out the Brewerfan.net Power 50 to learn more about Brewer prospects than you thought possible.  
• The Wisconsin Woodchucks of the Northwoods League have signed UWM Panther pitcher and area native Cameron Amsrud to play for them this summer.