2017 Division 4 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

Hurley

Wausaukee

Immanuel Lutheran

10. Rib Lake

The Redmen are seeking a third straight appearance at the state tournament, but they’ll have to overcome some losses from a solid senior class last year. Catcher Zane Mencheski (batting average over .300) will be one of the team’s top hitters again this year. Rib Lake’s strength should be on the mound, where they have half of their pitching staff back. Jerod Arkola and Jesus Ontiveros both pitched over 20 innings last year, and Arkola had a sub-2 ERA.

9. Pepin/Alma

The Eagles made it to the state tournament for the first time in history last spring after winning 18 games. They will have to retool their roster a little bit following some losses to graduation, but a solid core remains. They’ll have four starters returning this year, including Tyler Meixner (.319 batting average), Ben Mueller (.240) and Jarrett Pearson (.214). Mueller (7-1, 2.21 ERA) returns as a top pitcher for the Eagles, but there will be holes to fill on the mound. If some new faces can step up, Pepin/Alma should be competitive in the Dunn-St. Croix Small Conference.

8. Ithaca

The defending champion Bulldogs have made it to the state tournament in three consecutive seasons, but this year they’re facing the greatest roster turnover they’ve seen in that span. They will have three starters back from last spring. Luke Oelke (.327 batting average), Caden Moser (.246) and Ryan Granger (.288) return with experience. Oelke (3-0, 1.75 ERA) and Aaron Huebsch (4-0, 2.03) both saw time on the mound last spring, but beyond them there isn’t much varsity pitching experience returning. The Bulldogs will need to reload, but they’re still the early favorites to win the Ridge & Valley Conference.

7. Green Bay N.E.W. Lutheran

The Blazers reached the state tournament for the first time ever last year, and they have most of their roster back this season. Second baseman Brock Reisler (batting average over .350) and outfielders Erik Voskamp (average over .300) and Lucas Bukowski (average over .300) are just a few of the seven returning starters the Blazers have. On the mound, N.E.W. Lutheran will have four of their top five pitchers back. The Blazers went .500 in conference play for the first time ever last year, and they could do better this season if their players continue to improve.

6. Pecatonica

The Vikings were 25-1 heading into the sectional semifinals, but they got eliminated by Catholic Central in that round. They’ll have five all-conference players returning this spring. Their pitching staff should be strong, as first team all-conference pick A.J. Hendrickson and honorable mention selection Carter Ruegsegger should continue their solid play. First team all-conference catcher Cory Linder and honorable mention outfielder Presly Hauser should be important bats in the lineup. There will be holes left by a great senior class last year, but the Vikings should still be a highly competitive team.

5. Independence/Gilmanton

The Indees reached the sectional semifinals last year after winning 15 games, but got knocked out by Hillsboro two games short of the state tournament. They will have eight starters back this spring. Four of them earned all-conference honors. First team picks Isaac Pape and Dayne Keenan figure to be key members of the lineup again. They’ll also have two of their top pitchers back, Sam Killian and Jesse Piontek. The Indees have a roster capable of another deep postseason run this year.

4. Gresham Community

The Wildcats won 16 games and made it to the sectional finals last year before being knocked out of the postseason by Rib Lake. They will have seven starters back this year, including four all-conference players. A pair of first team picks, Derek Bowman and Neal Cerveny should lead the way this year. They’ll have their top two pitchers back in Bowman and Drew Haffner. Gresham has all of the tools needed to improve on last year and break through to the state tournament this season.

3. Rosholt

The Hornets won 16 games last year and got knocked out of the playoffs in the regional finals. They will have five all-conference players back this season, including first team picks Kyle Groshek and Dylan Richter. Caleb Lemancyzk, who earned second team honors, also returns with sophomores Hunter Garski and Tony Kroplodowski (both honorable mention selections). The Central Wisconsin Ten Conference should be highly competitive this year, and the Hornets are among the title contenders.

2. Almond-Bancroft

The Eagles won 19 games a year ago, but were upset in the regional semifinals by Wild Rose. Six starters, four of whom were all-conference picks, will return hoping to improve this year, including first team selection Derek Baumgartner. Second team pick Alec Wiczek made up the heart of the order with Baumgartner, and he’s back too. They’ll have to replace the reigning Central Wisconsin 10 Player of the Year, who graduated last year, but they should be in good hands.

1. Pittsville

The Panthers won 18 games last season and made it to the sectional semifinals before being knocked out by state runner-up Rib Lake. They will have almost their entire lineup and pitching staff back this season. Second team all-conference picks Dakota Landphier (.405 batting average in conference play) and Jacob Neve (.313 in conference) are both back, along with Luke Denniston (.409 in conference), Ryan Zickert (.364 in conference) and Aidan Masanz (.250 in conference). Neve (2-1, 2.25 ERA in conference) and Landphier (2-0 in conference) will return with pitching experience. The Panthers will need to replace their two best players, who both graduated last year, but they’re in good hands with the talent they’ve got.

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