Purple reign! Whitewater wins championship in football, basketball & now baseball



WHITEWATER (WITI) -- The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks are national champions. Again! For the first time in history, the UW-Whitewater football, basketball and baseball teams won the national championship during the 2013-2014 season.

The UW-Whitewater baseball team defeated Emory University 7-0 on Tuesday, May 27th at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton to win the 2014 Division III National Championship.

It's the second national championship for the baseball team in program history.



UW-Whitewater's right-handed starter, Scott Plaza threw a complete game shutout with nine strikeouts to secure the title.

"It's an incredible feeling. It hasn't completely hit me yet," Plaza said.

"Best feeling I've ever had! This is why I came to Whitewater -- to win a national championship. I was in the backseat of the bus holding (the trophy) the whole way. It's a good way to go out," third baseman Jared Fon said.

Entering the game on Tuesday Emory scored 46 runs in their first five games of the World Series, and no pitcher lasted longer than four and two-thirds innings.

Plaza and the Warhawks ended all of that.

Plaza pitched UW-Whitewater's first shutout in 22 games across six World Series appearances -- and was named the World Series' Most Outstanding Player.

Additionally -- every single UW-Whitewater batter collected a hit in the game -- and the team totaled 13.

UW-Whitewater winning the national championship in football, men's basketball and baseball in the same academic year -- the first time in any division the feat has been accomplished.

"That's what Wisconsin-Whitewater is all about. Our athletics are incredible -- and people are starting to realize that. If anyone wants to win a championship -- this is the place to be," Plaza said.

"The school is already on the map -- just a bigger spot on our back for other teams trying to compete with us now," Fon said.



The Warhawks returned to the Whitewater campus with a national victory and trophy in hand.

The team has a legion of fans -- and their families are so proud of their accomplishments.

"It's like a dream come true for these kids," Fon's mother, Barb said.

The UW-Whitewater baseball team had an 11-game winning streak -- going undefeated in the World Series.

This is Whitewater's second national baseball title.