Year: 2015

2015 WBA State Finals Set

As previously posted, the field for the 2015 WBA State Finals has been set. This year’s field of eight features seven former state championship teams:

  • CCV Blues (’85 & ’07)
  • Sparta Miller (’98 & ’00)
  • La Crescent Cardinals (’01 & ’06)
  • Whittlesey Reds (’80)
  • Osceola Braves (’03)
  • River Falls Fighting Fish (’11)
  • Prescott Pirates (’14)

The Eau Claire Cavaliers, in their first WBA season, have also qualified for the finals, having tied for first in the Independent League before defeating Menomonie and Spooner in the semi-finals. The Mississippi Valley League’s top three teams are included, along with the #1, #3, and #5 ranked St. Croix Valley League teams. Whittlesey (2nd place rank in the Dairyland League) is the remaining entrant, having finished 10-2 in league play. There will be numerous former state MVP’s playing this weekend– can you name them all? Hope to see you all at the Haugen Ball Park this weekend.

Minutes of Wisconsin Baseball Association

Call to order: The 67th Annual Board of Directors meeting of the Wisconsin Baseball
Association was held at the Hallie Eagle’s Club in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, on
Saturday, April 11th, 2015. The meeting convened at 1:00 PM, President Joe Juza
presiding, and Chris LaBreche, secretary.

Members in attendance: Josh Briggs, Josh Eidem, Burt Ekern, Dave Hanson, Gary
Isensee, Joe Juza, Dan Kraschnewski, Chris LaBreche, Ed Pufall, Michael Roiger, Herb
Scheithauer, Scott Sorenson, Steve Truttman, and Art Zweifelhofer (umpire in chief.)
Members not in attendance: Tim Lee, Dick Leonhard, Jim Nikolay, and Steve Salmi.
Guests in attendance: Paul Juza, Dennis Musil, Brian Smasql, Erik Hill, Keith Pitsch,
Gregg Ulvenes, and Mark Eisold.

Approval of minutes: Moved by Dennis Musil and seconded to approve the minutes of
the 66th Annual (April 13, 2014) meeting. Motion carried.

Officers’ reports:
President Joe Juza commended the River Falls Fighting Fish on their great work hosting
the 2014 WBA State Finals. Vice President Scott Sorenson reiterated the excellent work
performed by River Falls and Chippewa Falls for their work hosting their respective
2014 tournament sites.

Secretary Chris LaBreche submitted and briefly discussed minutes for the 2014 WBA
annual meeting and thanked all the league secretaries and team managers for their help
in submitting timely scores, standings, and manager contact information during the
2014 season & early 2015 pre-season.

Treasurer David Hanson submitted and read the 2015 WBA financial statement and
2014 Tournament Financial Report, both of which were distributed to all meeting
attendees. Moved by Steve Truttman and seconded to approve the 2015 financial
statement. Motion carried.

New Business:
Rotation of WBA State Final Tournament & Final Tournament Dues
Moved by Mike Roiger and seconded to keep the rotation of the State Finals
among leagues as is between 2016 and 2021. (e.g. 2016 – Dairyland, 2017 –
Mississippi Valley, 2018 – Chippewa River, 2019 – St. Croix Valley, 2020 – Upper
13, 2021 – Independent.) The bid price was agreed to remain at $2000. Motion
carried.

Election of Directors
Moved by Mike Roiger and seconded to re-elect Gary Isensee, Chris LaBreche,
Steve Truttman, and Herb Scheithauer to three year directorial terms. Motion
carried.

Moved by Mike Roiger and seconded to elect Tim Lee as a directorial
replacement for Jamie Ziembo, who resigned in 2014. Motion carried.
WBA Tournament Entrance Fees

Moved by Joe Juza and seconded to set final tournament admission prices as
follows: $5 for adults (18 and over), $2 for teenagers (12-17), no fee for children 12
and under. Motion carried.

2015 WBA Playoff Tournament Dates
Moved by Burt Ekern and seconded that the dates for the 2015 WBA semi-finals
shall be Friday, August 7th through Sunday, August 9th; dates for the WBA finals
shall be Friday, August 14th through Sunday, August 16th. Motion carried
unanimously 6-0 by league vote.

2016 WBA Playoff Tournament Dates
Moved by Burt Ekern and seconded that the dates for the 2016 WBA playoffs
shall be as follows: semi-finals between August 12th and 14th, finals between
August 19th and 21st. Motion carried.

2015 WBA Seeding Committee
Moved by Dennis Musil and seconded that the WBA Seeding Committee shall
remain composed of representatives from each playoff site (non-voting) and all
WBA directors. Motion carried.

2015 WBA Seeding Committee Meeting Date
Moved by Gary Isensee and seconded that the 2015 WBA Seeding Committee
meeting shall be held on Sunday, August 2nd at 7 PM at the Hallie Eagle’s Club
(or a nearby available venue if the Eagle’s Club is unavailable.) Motion carried.

WBA Shares for 2015
Noted by Mike Roiger that the WBA shares will drop from 15% of total revenue
to 10%, given that the available checking account balance is now over $3000.

2015 WBA Semi-Final Tournament Bid Auction
The following teams were awarded tournament sites for 2015:
Chaseburg Coon Valley Blues – bid $4500
Haugen Knights – bid $4500
Interwald Woodticks (to be played at Rib Lake) – bid $4500
River Falls Fighting Fish – bid $4500

Adjournment: Moved by Mike Roiger and seconded to adjourn. The meeting was
adjourned at 3:30 PM.