The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater baseball team has won the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Division III national championship twice in their 38 seasons. Their first NCAA win was in 2005. “The Warhawks, 45-7, were ranked number one in the ABCA (American Baseball Coaches Association)/Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll the last six weeks for [the] regular season, while setting school records for victories and winning percentages.” [1] Overall, 2005 was a great year for the baseball team for they won seven out of the eight total national champion games [2], and the high of that win continued into the next season. However, the Warhawks would not win another NCAA national championship until 2014.
The year 2014 was an amazing one for UW-Whitewater athletics. Both the football and basketball teams won their NCAA national championship titles earlier that year and so when the baseball team won their NCAA national championship title, UW-Whitewater became the first school in NCAA history to win all three championships in one year. [3] The Warhawks beat Emory University 7-0, to clinch the College World Series. Warhawk pitcher Scott Plaza was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Division III World Series because he threw seven hits and nine strikeouts in the game shutout. [4] The team completed the National Championship with 8 wins and zero loses, as well as an All Time NCAA Championship Record of 75-47. [5] The team was welcomed home with a ceremony at Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium and took the traditional parade through town on a fire truck. [6]
[1] Tom Fick, “Reinhard Named National Pitcher of the Year: Four Warhawks earn all-American Honors,” Whitewater Register (Whitewater), June 1, 2005.
[2] “Baseball NCAA Championship History,” Baseball, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Athletics, effective July 18, 2022, baseball NCAA championship history (PDF) – University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Athletics (uwwsports.com).
[3] Justin St. Peter, “Baseball: UWW wins world series, completes trifecta,” Royal Purple (Whitewater), May 28, 2014.
[4] Justin St. Peter, “Baseball: UWW wins world series, completes trifecta,” Royal Purple (Whitewater), May 28, 2014.
[5] “Baseball NCAA Championship History,” Baseball, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Athletics, effective July 18, 2022, baseball NCAA championship history (PDF) – University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Athletics (uwwsports.com).
[6] “Welcome Home for Champs,” University of Wisconsin Whitewater Athletics (Whitewater), May 27, 2014.