Pioneers honor Burr before twinbill
April 18, 2009
What defines an all-American? On Saturday, UW-Platteville's Tera Burr demonstrated.
Beginning the play on second base, Burr moved to third on a ground ball to the pitcher by Katie Lenz, but instead of stopping when the throw went to first, Burr accelerated around third and just beat the throw to the plate.
It would be nice if the story had a happy ending, that Burr's hustle led to the winning run. It did not; in fact, it was the only Pioneer run in an 11-1 blowout loss to UW-River Falls that completed a doubleheader sweep. (The Falcons won the first game 16-6).
That kind of determination is what has made Burr the best player in Pioneer history, and why the lone senior was showered with more gifts than a kid at Christmas prior to the first game.
Burr was saluted on Senior Day and celebrated for a career that has made her the UWP career leader in just about every offensive category, including runs, hits, doubles, and home runs. She had two hits in each game, giving her 197 career hits. Only 10 players in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference history have ever recorded 200. Burr's .449 career average is the best in the entire history of the WIAC.
So while the Pioneers gave her gifts, Burr gave the young team a demonstration on how to play hard each and every play.
The Pioneers actually led the first game 3-0, with first-inning hits by Chantal McReynolds, Burr, Megan Pozezinski, and Jordan Johnson and a bases-loaded walk by Lenz.
The Falcons answered with a seven-run fourth inning, getting two-run singles by Cassie Peterson and Rachel Mathias. Pozezenksi homered for the second straight day in the fifth inning, but Mindy Rudinger crashed a three-run shot in Falls' sixth.
In the second game, UWRF jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning and went on to the 11-1 win. The Falcons banged out 14 hits, giving them 33 for the twinbill.
Dennis and Arlene Walter were honored before the doubleheader in the annual J.W. Day Memorial. Jenny Walter was the Pioneers' starting shortstop until being killed by a drunken driver in her junior year, 1997. The family has remained big supporters of the Pioneer program.
The Falcons improved to 17-13 overall and 5-7 in the WIAC, while the Pioneers fell to 5-25, 0-12.
UW-Platteville plays host to UW-Stevens Point in the final home games Wednesday at 3 p.m.
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