2014: A Season in Review

With the final Wisconsin team wrapping up its season this week, another chapter has been written in the history of Wisconsin baseball. Let’s take a look back at an eventful 2014.

Sun Prairie made history in the spring, becoming the first WIAA Division 1 baseball program to win three straight state championships. The Cardinals beat Kimberly 5-2 in a thrilling state championship game.

Jefferson completed a historic season of their own by taking the Division 2 state championship. The Eagles pitched eight no-hitters throughout the season, and showed off their might in a 10-0 victory over Viroqua in the title game.

Wisconsin Heights capped off a season of ups and downs by capturing the Division 3 championship. The Vanguards defeated the defending state champions, the Oconto Blue Devils, 6-0 in the title game.

Lake Country Lutheran staked their claim in the history books by going a perfect 32-0 and winning the Division 4 crown. They dominated their opposition all season, but McDonell Central pushed them to their limits in an 11-inning thriller of a title game.

WBCA Spring State Player of the Year Mitch Stalsberg showed off why he earned that title by putting his name in the history books in his state semifinal performance. Stalsberg struck out 21 Ripon Tigers, a state tournament record.

Brookfield Central capped off a terrific year in the WIAA summer baseball season, capturing a state championship with a 9-2 victory over Homestead in the final. The championship was the school’s 4th overall title in baseball.

In the summer, the Plover Black Sox American Legion team dominated all year long en route to a Class AAA state title. The Black Sox went undefeated in the state tournament, which was a double-elimination format competition. The Menasha Twins had a 20 game win streak snapped at the Class AA state tournament, but rebounded to win the state championship. Waupun Post 210 won its 2nd straight Class A state title with an 11-0 win over Denmark.

Plover reached the Great Lakes Regional Final, 2 games away from reaching the American Legion World Series. Waupun Post 210 also reached the final of their national regional tournament. Several travel teams also enjoyed success at national tournaments.

The sport of baseball is growing at all levels in Wisconsin, and 2014 was great evidence of that.