2017 WIAA Summer Baseball Preseason Rankings

The 2017 WIAA summer high school baseball season begins on May 15. 50 teams will take the field with hopes of winning a state championship on July 21. Our preseason rankings for the upcoming season are below.

Honorable Mentions

Homestead

New Holstein

Pius XI

Kiel

10. Kewaskum

The Indians were 16-11 last year, getting knocked out of the playoffs in the regional finals by state champion Menomonee Falls. They could finish near the top of the North Shore Conference this year, as they’ve got six starters returning, three of whom were all-conference picks. First team all-NSC outfielder Tony Steger is joined by honorable mention catcher Jared Chesak to spearhead the offense. Second team all-conference pitcher Cole Suprenant should anchor the rotation, where a handful of contributors return. Kewaskum has the goods to improve on its 16 win total from last summer.

9. Pewaukee

After going 23-10 last summer and reaching the sectional finals, the Pirates could have a similar run this year. They’ll have five starters returning, including a couple of their top hitters. Sophomore David Bell hit .394 as a freshman with 18 RBIs last season. Senior Carl Renz mashed his way to a .367 average with 13 extra-base hits. Other key returners include Patrick Tomfohrde (.260 average, 16 RBIs) and Steele Beatty (.236 average, 22 RBIs). On the mound, they’ll have two of their top three pitchers back. Tomfohrde went 5-2 with a 2.62 ERA last year, and Renz was 4-4 with a 4.36 ERA. If they can find some more pitching, the Pirates should challenge Greendale for the Woodland West title.

8. Marquette University

The Hilltoppers won 27 games last summer, but finished just short of a state title. They lost to Menomonee Falls in the state championship game. They lost almost all of their starters from that team, but the unpredictable nature of summer ball rosters has smiled on Marquette this summer. Their only returning starters, Peter Ahn (a Michigan State commit) and Ryan Hecht (Colby College commit), will be joined by a pair of two other Division 1 recruits who are joining from the travel ball circuit in Zac Nogalski (UW-Milwaukee) and Patrick Sisk (Furman). Other players could see increased roles this season, including Brandon Hafemann, a St. Mary’s (Minn.) commit, and Parker Panich, a Greenville College recruit. Despite heavy roster turnover, the Hilltoppers can still field a strong team this season.

7. Muskego

The Warriors were the champions of the Classic Eight Conference last summer, but fell one game short of reaching the state tournament at the hands of Oak Creek in the sectional finals. They will have three starters coming back this year, but they’ll be bolstered by some players returning to high school baseball. First team all-conference picks Ryan Zizzo and Alex Kalisnig are joined by second teamer Frankie Cistaro and honorable mention selection Rob Zolecki in forming the core of the squad. With Concordia commit Kyle Hammitt and McHenry County JC commit Michael Lehner also in the mix, Muskego should compete for another conference title this year.

6. Oak Creek

The Knights won 31 games last year and reached the state semifinals before being knocked out by Marquette. They will have three of their top four hitters returning this summer. Louisville commit Alex Binelas and outfielders Luke Posig and Ben Stanke all hit over .450 during the regular season and regional playoffs last year. However, those three are the team’s only returning starters, so there are holes to fill. There are some talented players ready to fill those holes, like Concordia commit Dylan Fluegel and Marian commit Alex Behr. Fluegel is the only pitcher returning with significant experience, but he pitched well last summer with a sub-2 ERA. Binelas could see his role on the mound enhanced this season. Oak Creek always fields a solid team, and this year should be no different.

5. Greendale

The Panthers went 22-9 last summer, getting bounced from the playoffs in the sectional semifinals by Muskego. They’ll have five returning starters this season, two of whom were all-conference selections. Reigning Woodland West Player of the Year Logan Rezash (batting average over .400) and second team all-Woodland West Mitchell Gnadt are back as established performers. The team will also get a big boost from some players returning to high school ball from travel baseball. Northern Kentucky commit Griffin Doersching is one of the top power hitters in Wisconsin, and he should provide a lot of pop to the Panther lineup. Greendale should battle with Pewaukee for the Woodland West title again this summer.

4. Waukesha North

The Northstars posted a 21 win season last year, but got eliminated from the playoffs in the sectional semifinals by Pewaukee. They will have seven starters returning this summer. Two first team all-conference picks are back in James Winters and Dylan Conrad. Second teamers Taylor Anderson and Logan Kozak are also back. All in all, they have six all-conference selections returning. North has the ability to challenge for the Classic Eight title again this season.

3. Plymouth

The Panthers were 19-11 last season and reached the sectional semifinals before being taken out by state tournament qualifier New Holstein. They’ll have virtually everybody back this year, including two players with all-state honors. Second team all-state infielder Jake Steinhardt (.421 batting average, 15 extra-base hits, 37 RBIs) and honorable mention all-state pick Derek Schweiger (.388 average, 25 RBIs) will highlight an experienced offense. Other returning key contributors include Taylor Struve (.368 average), Will Birckholz (.279 average) and Sam Miller (.279 average). Plymouth mainly used a four man rotation on the mound last year, and all of those players are back. Schweiger (51.1 innings, 2.59 ERA), Steinhardt (46.1 innings, 3.32 ERA), Holden Riley (39.1 innings, 3.20 ERA) and Jack Nytes (23 innings, 1.83 ERA) form a solid pitching staff. The Panthers are the early favorite to win the Big East Conference.

2. Menomonee Falls

The Indians have won two consecutive state titles, and they’ve got a serious shot at winning a third. The champs will have six returning starters this summer, including shortstop Nick Gile (batting average over .400 last season), catcher Ryan Spalding (batting average over .300), utility man Jake Sutherland (batting average over .300) and third baseman Tommy Howard (batting average over .300). On the mound, they’ll have two of their top three pitchers back. Logan Roble posted a sub-2 ERA in over 30 innings last year, and Piontek has significant pitching experience too. The Indians are the early favorites in the Greater Metro Conference.

1. West Bend West

The Spartans won 27 games last summer and fell one game short of the state tournament in the sectional finals. They have almost their entire roster returning from a year ago. Eight starters are back and will make for a formidable lineup. They have three first team all-state players returning. The offense will be led by UW-Milwaukee commit Jack Thelen, Oklahoma commit Anthony Schlass and Purdue commit Evan Albrecht. Reigning North Shore Conference Player of the Year and first team all-state pitcher Nathan Burns, an Oregon State commit, will anchor the pitching rotation which returns everybody from last year. The Spartans are loaded with talent and have a proven pedigree of success. They’re our preseason favorite to win the 2017 state title.

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