2015 Division 3 Preseason Rankings

Honorable Mentions

Stevens Point Pacelli

Deerfield

10. Mineral Point

The Pointers finished 2nd in the SWAL last season, but were ultimately upset in the first round of the playoffs by Cuba City. They will have a good core of experienced players coming back this spring. Four all-conference players return in total. Among them are first teamers Tarek Oellerich, Sy Staver, and Turner Poad. Point struggled in nonconference play last year (they went 1-4), so they’ll need to improve on that this year if they want to make a run in the postseason.

9. Markesan

The Hornets won the Trailways North Conference last year and won 18 games before losing in the sectional semifinals to Racine St. Catherine’s. This spring they have six starters back, including three all-conference players. Unanimous 1st team all-Trailways pitcher Casey Ryan will lead the pitching staff, while the infield duo of Cody Ryan and Hector Aguinaga will be important pieces of the Hornets’ offensive and defensive efforts.

8. Mondovi

The Buffaloes were a surprising team last year in Division 3. They won the Dunn-St. Croix Large Division and totaled 19 victories in the season, but not many expected them to reach the state tournament. However, that’s exactly what they did, and they gave Wisconsin Heights, the eventual state champs, a real run for their money. It’s true that graduation hit Mondovi pretty hard, but they have four returning starters and some fresh faces who are ready to pick up the slack. Jake Ede (.452 batting average, 22 RBIs), Sawyer Hayes (.347 average), and Blake Purdy (.315 average) will attempt to carry the load offensively. Pitching may be an issue for the Buffaloes. They only have two returning pitchers, Ede (7 innings pitched) and Clay Dziekan (5.25 ERA in 21 innings) will need to give some stability on the mound if Mondovi is going to be successful.

7. St. Mary Central

The Zephyrs won the Olympian Conference fairly handily last season, and then went on to lose in the regional finals. Five all-conference players return from that team, including 1st team catcher Trevor Hogenson and 1st team infielder Griffin Jack. Mac Blashka will be their ace this year and will look to continue the team’s good pitching performance from last year, when they only gave up more than four runs twice.

6. Athens

The Blue Jays made it to the sectional semifinals last season after narrowly missing out on the Marawood North conference championship. Six all-conference players return a year ago, highlighted by 1st team all-state outfielder and Akron commit Shane Coker (.646 batting average last year). Besides Coker, Tony Thurs and Lane Tessmer are the other returning 1st team all-conference players for Athens. They’ll be hoping to challenge Chequamegon in the Marawood North this spring.

5. Oconto

The Blue Devils have been the most consistent team in Division 3 over the last two years. They won the state title back in 2013 and finished as state runner-ups last season. Graduation took a fair few of their players from last year, but they still have five starters back in the fold this spring, including some good young talent. Junior Grant Frazer (.368 batting average, 1.23 ERA) will be key to the team’s success again this year. Brandon Bahde (.470 average, 24 stolen bases) was one of Oconto’s best players last year, and he’s back for his senior year this time around. On the mound, only Frazer and junior Sawyer Koch (2.76 ERA) return with varsity experience, so some fresh faces will need to step up if the Blue Devils are to compete for another state tournament berth.

4. Marathon

The Red Raiders won 17 games and the Marawood South last spring before crashing out of the playoffs in an 11 inning thriller in the first round. Five all-conference players are among the six-plus returning key contributors this year. Isaac Barber and Ryan Gassner, both 1st team all-Marawood players, will be some of the players Marathon will rely on to retain their conference crown.

3. Chequamegon

The Screaming Eagles won 18 games last season and claimed the Marawood Noth conference title before losing in the sectional semifinals to Cumberland. This spring they will have five all-conference players back, including first teamers Wyatt Juneau and Sam Lehman. Chequamegon looks primed to defend its conference championship if they can get the same level of play from their key guys as last year.

2. Neillsville

The Warriors have an incredible 7 all-conference players back from last season’s 22-win sectional finalist team, including 3 first teamers. Neal Matson (last year’s co-Cloverbelt East Player of the Year) and Nolan Matson will be some of the many terrific players to take the field this spring for Neillsville. They're the favorites to defend their conference crown this year.

1. Lake Country Lutheran

What more can be said about the Lightning’s 2014 season? They went 32-0 and won the Division 4 state title. This year they have six guys with significant starting experience back, including five everyday starters. All of them batted over .300 last year. First baseman CJ Teske (.510 batting average, 31 RBIs, .820 slugging percentage), shortstop Jake Hall (.431 average, 35 RBIs, 15 stolen bases), third baseman Andrew Buran (.463 average, 42 RBIs), and centerfielder Jacob Budnik (.418 average, 28 RBIs, 13 stolen bases) all posted incredible numbers last spring, and they should do the same this year. On the mound, Ben Wilkins (1.16 ERA in 48.1 innings) will likely be their ace, and Teske (0.00 ERA in 11.1 innings) will provide another solid option in the rotation. Even though LCL is playing in Division 3 now, they should be able to compete for another state championship.

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