GAME OF THE WEEK (May 12–May 18)

TRACK & FIELD: 

Six Rivers Conference Championships, Monday, May 16, 3:30 p.m. (at UW–Platteville)

     UW–Platteville will host the annual Six Rivers Conference Track and Field Championships Monday afternoon, beginning at 3:30 in this week’s McDonald’s swnews4u.com Game of the Week.

     The Benton/Scales Mound/Shullsburg tri-op is looking to sweep both the boys and girls SRC titles for a fourth straight year. In 2012 River Ridge swept the team titles.

     Last year the BSMS girls crushed the competition, doubling up runner-up River Ridge 255–125.5. Coach Paul Raley’s BSMS girls are once again favored to outpoint the Lady Timberwolves for this year’s title.

     The BSMS boys won last year’s title by 41 points outscoring Albany 178–137. The Albany boys have finished second at conference each of the past two years. The Benton tri-op is again favored to claim this year’s Six Rivers crown, but is expected to be challenged by Cassville and Albany.    

Southwest Wisconsin Conference Championships, Tuesday, May 17, 4 p.m. (at Spring Green)

     River Valley will host this year’s SWC Track and Field Championships, Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. A year ago Dodgeville/Mineral Point swept the team titles, ending the Platteville’s 15-year reign as conference champs. The Platteville boys are favored to regain their SWC title, while Dodge/Point is expected to face a challenge from the Hillmen in the race for the girls crown.

Southwestern Wisconsin Activities League Championships, Tuesday, May 17, 4 p.m., (at Muscoda)

     The SWAL conference meet will begin at 4 p.m. on Tuesday at the Riverdale Sports Complex in Muscoda. Cuba City is expected to win the boys title, while the Lady Cubans and Darlington figure to contend for this year’s girls’ crown.

GOLF:

Southwest Cup, Saturday, May 14, 9 a.m. (at Dodge–Point Country Club)

      The six teams of the Southwest Wisconsin Conference will combine to take on the best golfers from the eight teams of the Southwestern Wisconsin Activities League in the annual Ryder Cup-style match play tournament between the two conferences. This year’s event is shifting sites from the Lancaster Country Club, where it has been played since its inception nearly a decade ago, to the Dodge–Point Country Club. The top eight players in each conference (based on season-long individual conference standings) will play head-to-head. The next eight players in each conference will pair up in groups of two for a set of four-best ball matches, while players ranked 17–24 will pair up to play four best shot matches. The SWC has dominated the event for most of its existence, but the SWAL holds the Cup after winning the 2015 event, 9–7. The SWC won the previous year 10.5–5.5.

BASEBALL: 

Platteville (9–7, 5–2 SWC) at River Valley (12–2, 4–2 SWC), Thursday, May 12, 5 p.m.    

     Platteville is the midseason surprise of the Southwest Wisconsin Conference. After going winless (0–10) in SWC play a year ago – and just 3–18 overall – the Hillmen are are currently 5–2 and in second-place in the conference with three games to play. A win over the twice-beaten Blackhawks Thursday would keep the Hillmen in the hunt for this year’s SWC crown and set up a huge rematch with league-leading Prairie du Chien (14–1, 5–1) on Tuesday. River Valley beat Platteville 10–1 on April 21.

Darlington (11–4, 8–1 SWAL) at Riverdale (11–5, 7–2 SWAL), Friday, May 13, 4:30 p.m. 

     Friday’s showdown will play an integral role in deciding this year’s SWAL champion. The Redbirds can gain a two-game lead over the Chieftains with a win. Riverdale can force a tie atop the standings. Riverdale senior Elijah Cannon struck out a state record 25 batters as the Chieftains topped Darlington 4–0 in 10 innings two weeks ago.

SOFTBALL:

River Valley (14–4, 8–0 SWC) at Platteville (15–2, 7–1 SWC), Thursday, May 12, 5 p.m.

     Today’s game with league-leading River Valley, is a must-win for coach Becca Lowe’s Platteville softball team. The second-place Hillmen were 10-runned 12–2 by the Blackhawks two weeks ago on April 26. In order to earn a split of this year’s Southwest Wisconsin Conference title, Platteville must find a way to solve Valley ace pitcher Kylie Hoffman, the reigning SWC Player of the Year and limited the Blackhawks’ offensive attack.

Belmont Tournament, Saturday, May 14, 9 a.m.

     Belmont’s Bond Park will play host to a loaded six-team tournament on Saturday. The Six Rivers West-leading Braves (14–5, 9–0 SRW) will welcome SWC-leading River Valley (14–4, 8–0 SWC), second-place Platteville (15–2, 7–1 SWC), Cuba City (11–6, 8–3 second-place in the SWAL), as well East Dubuque, Ill. The winner of Saturday’s tournament, as well as every other team will be tournament tested after this weekend as the WIAA Tournament fast approaches.

Belmont (14–5, 9–0 SRW) at Highland (13–6, 8–2 SRW), May 16, 5 p.m.

     The Braves can put a strangle hold on the race for this year’s Six Rivers West title with a win over second-place Highland on Monday. Belmont defeated the Cardinals 13–3 on April 26.