Travis Welsch

WELSCH

Posted By: June Brewer Welsch (email)
Date: 12/21/2007 at 14:20:13

From Muscatine Iowa Journal May 16, 2001
Welsch hits .364 at UNI

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - Travis Welsch of Muscatine has enjoyed an outstanding junior baseball season at the University of Northern Iowa.

The infielder has compiled a .364 batting average (third-best on the team) with 33 RBI (fourth), 11 doubles and a triple for the Panthers (30-26). He also has been successful on 17 of 20 stolen base attempts.

Travis is the son of Clayton and Corrine Welsch of Muscatine.
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Taken from Muscatine Iowa Journal May 30, 2001
Welsch finishes at .357

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - Travis Welsch of Muscatine finished the baseball season with a lofty .357 batting average in helping Northern Iowa University to an appearance in the NCAA Division I tournament.

After being named to the Missouri Valley Conference second team, Welsch was named to the league's all-tournament squad.

A junior shortstop, Welsch started 55 games for the Panthers. He banged out 80 hits to moved into UNI's top-five for career hits with 206. His 17 stolen bases this season led the Panthers. He had 12 doubles and drove in 33 runs.
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From Muscatine Iowa Journal June 6, 2002
Welsch to sign with Cubs today
MUSCATINE, Iowa - Growing up in a household full of St. Louis Cardinals fans, Travis Welsch opted to be different.

Wednesday, Welsch got the ultimate dream of a lifetime fullfilled when he was drafted by his favorite major league baseball team, the Chicago Cubs in the 27th round.

"Being picked by the Cubs came as a complete surprise,'' Welsch said Wednesday night. "I had been in contact with about 10 teams, but Chicago was not one of them.

"The four main teams that I figured would take me would be either the Angels, Giants, Mariners or Dodgers. They all had told me I was on their board."

Welsch, who recently wrapped up a brilliant four-year collegiate career at the University of Northern Iowa, said there will be no negotiations.

"I talked to them on the phone after I was selected and I told them I would sign with them on Thursday," Welsch said. "Their regional scout is going to be in Davenport to scout the River Bandits, so I'll meet him there and sign the contract.

"Being picked in the 27th round, I really have no power to negotiate. I really have no choice, it's either sign or go get a job, and I'm not ready for that yet. Money really isn't a concern, I'll take what they offer me."

The 5-foot-10, 175-pound Welsch, the Panthers' shortstop the last three years, finished with five career UNI records - most hits (295), runs scored (197), official at-bats (806), hit by pitch (34) and sacrifices (27).

He matched his career batting average by hitting .366 the past season as the Panthers went 30-25. He had 19 doubles, two home runs and 44 RBI.

"Travis was a major factor in the success of the Northern Iowa baseball program the last three years,'' said head coach Rick Heller. "He has been a consistent performer for three years, and we are extremely happy and proud of him."

The Cubs project Welsch as a second baseman, but that is no surprise to the former Muscatine High School all-stater.

"I knew I was playing out of position the last three years, but I played shortstop out of necessity,'' said Welsch. "I guess I did OK because they kept me there, but I know second base is where I'll probably play."

Welsch was one of three Northern Iowa players taken in the draft - pitcher Josh Habel was taken on Tuesday and catcher Alexander Dvorsky went earlier Wednesday. That makes six UNI players drafted the last two years.

"That says a lot about our program,'' said Welsch. "We play in one of the best conferences in the nation and that helped get us noticed."

It also helped that the Panthers made the College World Series last year and Welsch played a big part in the team making it to Omaha.

"That was definitely a lot of fun and the highlight of my career,'' said Welsch. "That was our main goal again this year, but we just didn't have the consistent effort."

Once Welsch signs on the dotted line, he'll be headed to the Cubs' training facility in Mesa, Ariz. He'll either stay there with the Cubs' rookie team or head to Boise, Idaho, with the short-season rookie team.

"I'm hoping they send me to Boise because that's a little higher,'' said Welsch. "There will be more of the college-age players there."
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Taken from Muscatine Iowa Journal Feb. 11, 2003
MUSCATINE, Iowa - Muscatine High School will induct two new members into the Muscatine Sports Hall of Fame Friday night during intermission of the Muskie boys basketball games against Davenport West.

Brandon Welsch and Travis Welsch will become the newest members honored.

Brandon Welsch, Class of '96, excelled in two sports for the Muskies. A three-year starter in soccer, he was named the team's outstanding defensive soccer player his senior year and played on the Muskies' first team to qualify for the state tournament.

Basketball, however, was Brandon's real passion. He finished his senior year as the Muskies' third all-time single season scoring leader, was first team all-state and named to the Dr. Pepper Iowa All-Star game.

Following high school, Brandon was a member of the 1996-1997 University of Iowa basketball team, playing in 10 games that season. He transferred to Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, playing on the national championship team while averaging over 20 points per game in the tournament.

Brandon continued playing at Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh where was a two-year starter with a 33-24 team. He finished seventh in the nation in free throw accuracy his senior season.

Brandon and his wife Lindsay live in Muscatine. Brandon currently is coaching with Muscatine boys basketball head coach Terry Youngbauer.

Travis Welsch, also a two-sport star, played football and baseball for the Muskies before graduating in '98. In football, Travis held nearly all pass receiving records for the Muskies.

A great hitter and second baseman, Travis set the school record in batting average, hitting .589. He was a first-team all-state selection in both football and baseball.

After graduation, Travis played at the University of Northern Iowa. He set the following school records in his college career: combined sacrifices, hit by pitches, official at-bats, runs scored and career hits. He was named to the Missouri Valley first team, three-time scholar athlete and third team Academic All-American.

Following the 2002 season, Travis was drafted by the Chicago Cubs, played last summer for the Class A Lansing Lugnuts and will go to spring training in a few weeks.