Morning State Sports Briefs: Aaron, Crandall put on Braves Honor Roll at Miller Park

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MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee Braves’ legends Hank Aaron and Del Crandall were inducted last night into the Braves’ Honor Roll at Miller Park.

The 78-year-old Aaron held the Major League home run record for years until Barry Bonds claimed it during the last decade. He was not on hand for last night’s ceremony, but his accomplishments were duly noted. Aaron was a 21-time All-Star – and he played his final two seasons with the Brewers, retiring with in 1976 with 755 home runs. He still holds the Major League career marks for RBI’s, extra base hits, and total bases. Crandall was an eight-time All-Star for the Braves in the 1950’s-and-60’s and won four Gold Gloves as a catcher. He also helped Milwaukee win the 1957 World Series. And Crandall managed the Brewers from 1972-through-’75. Current Brewers’ skipper Ron Roenicke was on hand to watch Crandall get inducted. He said the two used to talk a lot in California when Roenicke was the bench coach with the Angels.

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The two last-place teams in the National League Central Division will square off tonight in Milwaukee, when the Brewers host the Chicago Cubs. Both teams are 13-18, and both should be well-rested after having yesterday off. The cellar is a difficult place for both teams to be in – especially the Brewers, who have aspirations of winning their second straight Central Division title. Reigning MVP Ryan Braun says it’s not early in the season anymore, and the Brewers have yet to be consistent. But he says the team should be all right, once the newest regulars gel into the lineup. He’s talking about infielders Travis Ishikawa and Cesar Izturis, who were thrust into the lineup at first base and short after season-ending injuries to Mat Gamel and Alex Gonzalez. The starting rotation has also had to make adjustments following Chris Narveson’s season-ending shoulder injury. Two major cogs from last year’s Brewer team continue to struggle. All-Star second baseman Rickie Weeks is batting .164. And Nyjer Morgan, who hit .304 a year ago, is now at .192. Third baseman Aramis Ramirez has gotten out of his slump, but he’s only at .219. And slugger Corey Hart has been without an RBI in his last 12 games. Left-hander Randy Wolf will start for Milwaukee tonight against Cubs’ right-hander Matt Garza.

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UW-Eau Claire is in fourth place going into today’s fourth-and-final round of the NCAA Division III women’s golf tournament in Angola, Indiana. The Blugolds are 78-over-par, 10 strokes behind first-place Methodist. Carroll College of Waukesha remains last among the 19 teams in the national field. They’re at 168-over after 54 holes. Catherine Wagner of Eau Claire is still the leader among the individuals. She took over the lead after Wednesday’s second round, and is now at nine-over-par 225 – one stroke ahead of Emily Bachert of Centre College. Mary Welch of Stevens Point is tied for 13th at 17-over.

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UW-Eau Claire won its opening game yesterday in the NCAA Division III softball tournament. The Blugolds defeated Fontbonne 6-1 in the first round of the Bloomington, Illinois regional. Eau Claire will play top-seeded Illinois Wesleyan this afternoon in the winner’s bracket of the double-elimination regional. Wesleyan beat Saint Norbert 4-1 in their opener yesterday. Saint Norbert will play Fontbonne today, and the loser will be eliminated. Meanwhile, Carthage lost to Anderson of Indiana 9-1 yesterday at Bloomington. Carthage plays Benedictine this afternoon, and the loser of that game will be sent home. Also today, UW-River Falls opens play in another regional at Pella, Iowa. The Falcons will take on host team Central College of Iowa in their first round.

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UW-Green Bay was eliminated yesterday from the Horizon League softball tournament. The sixth-seeded Phoenix were the victims of a no-hitter by Loyola’s Brittany Gardner in a 2-to-nothing decision. And then Green Bay fell to Youngstown State 8-4 in the loser’s bracket of the double-elimination tourney. Gardner threw the sixth no-hitter in league tournament history, and the first since 2006. Green Bay did manage to walk five times against Gardner, who struck out eight. The Phoenix ended their season 23-28 overall.

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The only Wisconsin team in the Northern Athletics Conference baseball tournament lost its opening game yesterday. Edgewood College of Madison fell to Benedictine, 10-3 in Oshkosh. Tim Gindville went 2-for-4 with a homer for Benedictine. Ryan O’Dell doubled, singled, and scored twice for Edgewood. Three other games were played in Fond du Lac yesterday. Aurora topped Rockford 9-3. Concordia-Chicago topped Rockford 6-3. And Aurora crushed Dominican 11-1 in eight innings. The six-team double-elimination tournament continues today. Conference tournaments also begin today in the WIAC and the Midwest Conference.

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