By JEFF BROWN
Of the Tribune staff

Whether or not UW-L can actually challenge WSUC kingpin UW-Oshkosh remains to be seen.

``Last year we were beating Oshkosh for six innings,'' said UW-L coach Mike Stuhr, whose team was 21-14 a year ago.

``They came back to win, but we proved something to ourselves. Our kids see themselves playing with those teams. On paper, things look pretty good. You still have to go out and do it.''

UW-L will spend the first 10 days of its 1997 season in the temperature friendly confines of the Atlanta, Ga., area. UW-L, which is scheduled to fly out of La Crosse this afternoon, will open its season Sunday at Southern Tech University in Marietta, Ga.

The Eagles will play 11 games in seven days, then return to La Crosse March 16. Included in the southern swing will be a game with NCAA Division I Georgia State University.

UW-L, which finished second to UW-River Falls in the WSUC's Northern Division a year ago (9-3), is certainly a favorite this season. Ohm, a sophomore who has already attracted the attention of pro scouts even though he isn't eligible for the draft until after next season, is a big reason why.

Ohm, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound right-hander, earned first-team All-WSUC honors a year ago after compiling a 4-1 record and 3.89 ERA.

``He's got a lot of ability and a great work ethic,'' Stuhr said. ``His fastball is in the mid-80s (mph), and his slider is his best pitch. When he is on with that, it is a devastating pitch.''

Rounding out the Eagles starting pitching staff will likely be sophomore Jamie Ziembo, junior Jerry DeLong, and either Ted Bauer, Tim Sires, Jared Manske or Matt Kroening. DeLong is a former Aquinas standout who spent two years at Normandale Community College. Manske is coming off Mississippi Valley Conference MVP honors while playing for Central.

Toss in Cory Anderson, who set a UW-L career record for saves by collecting seven last year alone, and UW-L's pitching staff appears talented and deep.

``I think we are much deeper than we were a year ago,'' Stuhr said. ``We did lose Andy Hanson, who left school for the military. But we also have Manske, Sires and DeLong.''

UW-L's everyday lineup includes three All-WSUC performers in shortstop Kelly Olson, outfielder Bill McClone, and outfielder-designated hitter Matt Goebel. Goebel set a UW-L single-season record for hits last year with 55.