2017 Division 3 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

Oconto

Elk Mound

Crandon

10. Pacelli

The Cardinals won 26 games and the Central Wisconsin Eight Conference title last spring, and reached the sectional semifinals. Four all-conference players will return this year. First teamer Andy Tepp and second teamer Jake Thomas should be two of the top players in the conference this season. Sophomores Nate Helms and Zach Zimmerman are both back after successful freshman seasons. Pacelli is the favorite to win the CW Eight Conference title again this season.

9. Durand

The Panthers went 20-9 last spring and reached the sectional finals but ultimately fell just short of the state tournament. They will have four starters back this season, including a few of their top hitters. Viterbo commit Reid Hansen (.365 batting average, 32 stolen bases), Josh Biesterveld (.338) and Brett Schlosser (.284) are back in the mix for Durand. Biesterveld (32.1 innings pitched, 3.68 ERA) is the lone pitcher returning, so some new arms will need to step up for the Panthers. If they do, Durand will compete for another Dunn St. Croix Large Conference title.

8. Darlington

The Redbirds went 15-5 in the regular season last year, but got upset in their first playoff game. They will have most of the team back for this spring, including first team all-conference selections Hayden Hardyman and Jesse Sturtz. Will Schwartz was named honorable mention all-conference last year as well. Sturtz and Ryan Glendenning both return with a lot of pitching experience. Darlington should be able to build on last year’s impressive showing with their experienced roster.

7. Unity

The Eagles made their first ever appearance at the state tournament last year after winning 22 games. They will have four starters back this season, and a nice collection of pitchers. Hunter Pederson (.357 batting average), cleanup hitter Logan Hendrickson, Finlandia commit Austin Donahue (.308) and Cody Ince (.258) all will return to the lineup. Pederson (8-1, 1.14 ERA) was one of the team’s top pitchers last year, and Dylan Stenberg (1-0, 2.92 ERA) also brings back pitching experience. There will be holes to fill, but the Eagles have a solid foundation and the experience of a state tournament run to build on.

6. Lourdes Academy

The Knights won 17 games last spring and earned a No. 2 seed in the postseason, but got upset in their first playoff game. They will bring back several members of that team this season, including three first team all-conference players. First team infielder Evan Ganther (.321 batting average) and outfielder Michael Spanbauer (.317) will lead an offense that is also made up of Sam Gelhar (.300) and Jack Brooks (.250). Gelhar (6-0, 1.19 ERA) and Spanbauer (30 innings pitched) were two of the team’s top pitchers last year as well. The Knights are the favorites to win the Trailways North Conference.

5. St. Mary Catholic

The Zephyrs went undefeated on their way to winning the state championship last year in one of the most impressive seasons for any team in recent memory. They will have four starters returning this spring that will try to keep the winning streak going. Ryan Conn (.303 batting average), Eli Neuman (.375), Christian Jack (.330) and Peyton Jack (.276) all have starting experience. The Zephyrs will have big holes to fill on the mound, but Conn (5-0, 1.25 ERA) was their No. 3 pitcher last year and should see a bigger role this time around. If the next wave of Zephyr players can fill in for last year’s seniors without too many growing pains, St. Mary Catholic should be dangerous again.

4. Regis

The Ramblers won 15 games a year ago and advanced to the sectional semifinals before seeing their season come to an end. They will have five all-conference selections returning this spring, including first teamer and Minnesota-Duluth commit Paul Petit. Second team all-conference picks Matt McCann and Jacob Salonek will also be back. With pretty much the entire lineup coming back intact, Regis should challenge for the Cloverbelt West Conference title this spring.

3. Cochrane-Fountain City

The Pirates won 22 games and a share of the Dairyland Conference last year, but were eliminated from the playoffs in extra innings in the regional finals. They will have most of that team back this year, including five starters who earned all-conference honors. Tristan Schmidtknecht (.411 batting average), Devin Zonick-Greenwald (.354), Cole Nisbit (.286), Matt Oldendorf (.352) and Brad Schowalter (.283) all bring back experience. Schmidtknecht (7-1, 1.49 ERA) should be their ace this year, and Oldendorf (4-1) should get a lot of time on the mound too. Another Dairyland title is definitely within reason for the Pirates this year.

2. Lake Country Lutheran

The Lightning tallied 23 wins last season, but were denied their goal of three consecutive state championships when they were eliminated from the playoffs in the sectional semifinals. The majority of their lineup returns this year. Leading the way will be seniors Joe Lipsky (.418 batting average), Ezra Heinritz (.352) and Ryan Nehls (.280), junior Jon Rossing (.402) and sophomore Tyler Brandenburg (.405). Nehls (8-3, 0.97 ERA) should be their ace again this year, with Rossing (3-0) and Brandenburg (3-0, 3.94 ERA) seeing time on the mound as well. The Lightning have a great roster that’s capable of returning to the state tournament after a one year hiatus.

1. Coleman

The Cougars won 24 games last spring, but got knocked out of the playoffs by eventual state champion St. Mary Catholic in the sectional semifinals. They will have seven starters back from last year’s dominant team, including second team All-Wisconsin pitcher and St. Cloud State commit Matt Osterberg (11-1, 0.53 ERA). They’ll also have Gunnar Patz (.458 batting average), Austin Tachick (.420), Donovan Salewski (.370) and Cole Woulf (.369) back, among others. None of their returning starters batted below .270 last year. The Cougars are in position to win a lot of games again this season, and they should be in the state title hunt when June comes around.

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