2017 Division 1 Preseason Rankings

The 2017 WIAA spring baseball season is right around the corner. The first day for official practice is Mar. 20, with opening day following on Mar. 28. Who are the preseason favorites to hoist the state championship trophy in June? Read on for Wisconsin Baseball Central's 2017 preseason rankings.

Honorable Mentions

Kenosha Tremper

Bay Port

Sun Prairie

West De Pere

Appleton North

Chippewa Falls

Middleton

10. Green Bay Preble

The Hornets went 24-6 and reached the state semifinals for the first time in school history last spring. They lost a lot of talent to graduation, but should have enough left to compete for another conference title this season. Their depth will be on the mound, where they’ll have three future college players suit up. Reigning FRCC co-Player of the Year and Madison College commit Jarrett Scheelk (7-2, 1.49 ERA) will team up with Judson University commit Griffin Summers (6-3, 1.44 ERA) and Minnesota State commit Will Conard (4-0, 1.23 ERA) to form a prolific rotation. Their lineup will need to be retooled though, as they will only have three starters back. Scheelk (.318 batting average) batted cleanup last year, and Summers (.333) provided a solid bat at the bottom of the order. The only other starter that will be back is Iowa Lakes CC commit Jayden Adrians (.250). If the Hornets can replace the gaps left in their lineup, they will be primed for another successful season.

9. Oconomowoc

The Raccoons started lasted season with a 14-1 record, but limped to an 18-9 clip to end the year. They still managed to reach the sectional finals though, and they will have the majority of that team back. Oregon State commit Zach Clayton (.422 batting average) is one of the top players in the state, and Marian commit Sean Meyer returns as a first team all-conference infielder. Overall, they’ll have six starters back. They will be led by a pair of UW-Oshkosh commits on the mound: Jonah Landowski (a second team all-conference pick) and Alec Esenther. Which Oconomowoc team will show up this year—the one that went 14-1, or the one that closed with a 4-8 stretch? Only time will tell, but the talent is there for it to be the former.

6. Westosha Central

The Falcons won 18 games last year but got knocked out of the playoffs in the regional finals by eventual state champion Burlington. They will have eight starters returning this season, including second team All-Wisconsin infielder and McHenry County JC commit Tanner Bykowski (.488 batting average, 37 RBIs) and third team All-Wisconsin catcher and Creighton commit Garrett Gilbert (.398 average, five home runs). UW-Stevens Point commit Trent Jones (.321) and juniors Bryce Biedryzcki (.356) and Josh Leslie (.345) also bring back good bats for Westosha Central. They also have practically everyone back on the mound. Senior Parker Krumm had the best season last year, going 6-0 with a 2.14 ERA. Jones went 1-2 last year, but posted a 3.75 ERA. Sophomore Austin Glidden (3-1, 4.24 ERA) and Carthage commit Bryce Edwards (2-2) also return. The Falcons have the talent to snatch a Southern Lakes Conference title and make a deep postseason run this year.

7. Arrowhead

Last year’s state runners-up got hit hard by graduation and a coaching change, so there will be a new look for the Warhawks this spring. They have three starters returning from last year’s 29-3 team, including first team All-Wisconsin catcher and Indiana commit Jeff Holtz (.452 batting average, 40 RBIs), who will be arguably the best position player in the WIAA this spring. Winona State commit Tanner Williams (.438) and Jack Becker (.309) are the only other returning starters. On the mound, Derek Crawley (6-1, 1.62 ERA) is the only pitcher back with significant varsity experience. There are definitely holes to fill from last year, but a school with a talent pool like Arrowhead’s should find ways to compete every year.

8. Wausau West

The Warriors were incredibly close to reaching the sectional finals last year, but lost in extra innings to Green Bay Preble in the semis. They will have five starters returning from that 18 win team. Two first team all-Wisconsin Valley Conference selections return in Zach Pearson (.436 batting average in WVC play) and Payton Nelson (.357 average in WVC). Winona State commit Logan Grunenwald (.314 average in WVC) is also back. On the mound, they’ll have two honorable mention all-conference pitchers back—Chandler Fochs (1.24 ERA in WVC) and Grant Hill (2.76 ERA in WVC). There’s a lot to like about this Warriors squad, which is one of the favorites alongside Stevens Point to win the WVC this year.

5. Burlington

The defending Division 1 state champs will return to the field this year with plenty of familiar faces, despite the loss of some star power. Our Player of the State Tournament last year, Dale Damon (.477 batting average, 35 RBIs), returns as the top hitter in the Demons’ lineup. They’ll have five starters back overall, including leadoff man and UW-Whitewater commit Zach Campbell (.440) and catcher Aaron Sturdevant (.421). There will be some big holes to fill on the mound, and that could make or break the Demons this year. Last year’s ace, Wichita State commit Jacob Lindemann, will not pitch this year after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Campbell (2.25 ERA) and Derek Koenen (6.21 ERA) are the only two returning players who started a game on the mound last year, and they both only started twice.

2. Kenosha Indian Trail

The Hawks entered the postseason with a 22-3 record and a No. 1 ranking last year, but were shocked in their first playoff game by Wilmot. They will have a lot of talent back from last year, but they’ll need to replace Los Angeles Dodgers prospect Gavin Lux, who was taken in the first round of the 2016 MLB Draft. Even after losing a player like that, the Hawks still have an abundance of star power. Third team All-Wisconsin outfielder and Kent State commit Nick Elsen (.396 batting average, 38 RBIs) will team up with Bradley commit Kyle Antos (.369, 24 RBIs) and Auburn commit Ryan Hoerter (.400, 33 RBIs) to lead a powerful lineup. The Hawks have five college commits in their program overall. Hoerter, who will be going to Auburn for his pitching, should be one of the top fireballers in Wisconsin this spring. Last year he went 8-0 with a 1.17 ERA. Elsen (4-0, 0.79 ERA) also saw time on the mound last year. Indian Trail looks reloaded and ready to put last season’s stunning conclusion behind them.

4. Eau Claire North

The Huskies posted their best season since winning the state title in 2011 last year. They won 23 games and made it to the state tournament before falling in the quarterfinals. They will have the majority of that team back this spring. Third Team All-Wisconsin selection Zac Stange (.459 batting average), Indian Hills CC commit Tanner Halvorson (.423) and John Bickle (.352) will lead a powerful lineup that returns five starters. Halvorson (8-2, 1.92 ERA) will also be the team’s top returning pitcher, and Ryan Venne (4-1, 0.90 ERA) will also contribute. Overall, three of their top five pitchers are back. Look for the Huskies to be dominant in the Big Rivers Conference.

3. Kimberly

The perennially great Papermakers will once again have aspirations of winning a state championship this spring. They have reached the state semifinals in three consecutive seasons, and finished as state runner-up in 2014 and 2015. They will have six returning starters this season, highlighted by Wisconsin football recruit Danny Vanden Boom (.333 batting average, six home runs). Concordia (Wis.) commit Drew Johnson (.322), sophomore Zach Lechnir (.293), Zach Carney (.362) and Ryan Carney (.287) will be big contributors in the lineup. Vanden Boom (6-1, 1.44 ERA) should assume the role of ace on the mound, but beyond him there isn’t a lot of varsity pitching experience back. Kimberly always reloads, though, and they should be playing deep into June again this year.

1. Janesville Craig

The Cougars will begin the season with the most talented and experienced team in Wisconsin. They’ll have seven starters back from last year’s 26-3 team that reached the state quarterfinals, including four college commits. A slew of Big Ten commits will lead the way in junior Jacob Campbell (Illinois, .303 batting average last year) and senior Jack Blomgren (Michigan, .375 average), and sophomore Dan Blomgren (Michigan). Utility man Austin Kraus (.376) and infielder Noah Berghammer (.351) were two of the team’s top hitters last year, and they’re also back. Creighton commit Evan Spry (8-2, 1.68 ERA) returns as the team’s ace, and the Cougars only graduated one of their top six pitchers from last year. Craig is the preseason favorite to win the 2017 Division 1 championship.

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