2017 Pitcher of the Year finalists
From left to right: Chas Sagedahl (Prairie du Chien), Tanner Halvorson (Eau Claire North), Matt Osterberg (Coleman).
The Wisconsin Baseball Central Pitcher of the Year award will honor the top pitcher in the state. The award is open to players of any year in school. Arrowhead's Ryan Schmitt was named the winner last year. After much deliberation, our staff has chosen 10 finalists for this year's award. The finalists are listed below, in alphabetical order by last name. The winner will be announced on Sunday, June 25.
Randon Dauman, Columbus junior
Dauman went 7-0 on the mound for the Cardinals this season. The Ohio University commit posted a 0.85 ERA and struck out 72 batters in 41.1 innings. That's good for an average of 1.76 strikeouts per inning.
Ben Dragani, Catholic Memorial senior
Dragani won the Gatorade Wisconsin Player of the Year award this spring, and his stats show why. The Michigan commit was 6-2 with a 0.69 ERA in 60.2 innings pitched. He struck out 98 batters on the season.
Tanner Halvorson, Eau Claire North senior
Halvorson was dominant for the Huskies this year. He went 11-1 with a 1.03 ERA in 60.2 innings, and he racked up 88 strikeouts. He's committed to play baseball at Indian Hills Community College next year.
Ryan Hoerter, Kenosha Indian Trail senior
Hoerter put together an unbelievable season for the Hawks this spring. In 57.2 innings, he posted a 0.36 ERA and struck out 96 hitters. He allowed just one earned run in the state of Wisconsin all year. He finished with a 6-1 record. The Auburn commit was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 36th round of the MLB Draft.
Trevor Olson, Chippewa Falls senior
Olson was a strikeout machine for the Cardinals this year. In 54 innings, he punched out 88 hitters and compiled a 1.55 ERA. He went 7-2 over the course of the season. He'll play baseball at Xavier University next year.
Matt Osterberg, Coleman senior
Osterberg had another sensational year for the Cougars. He went 11-1 in 65.1 innings and posted a 0.75 ERA with 122 strikeouts. He only walked 15 batters all season. He'll play at St. Cloud State next year.
Chas Sagedahl, Prairie du Chien senior
Sagedahl proved once again why he's one of the top pitchers in Wisconsin with a fantastic senior season. The lefty went 8-2 in 61.2 innings this year with a 0.68 ERA and 98 strikeouts. He'll play at Southeastern Community College in Iowa next year.
Levi Schaller, Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran junior
By our count, Schaller led the state in strikeouts this year. He put up eye-popping numbers across the board. He was 10-1 in 82 innings with a 0.60 ERA and 157 strikeouts. That's an average of just under two strikeouts per inning (1.9). Hitters had extreme difficulty figuring him out this season.
Jacob Schellpfeffer, Mayville junior
Schellpfeffer was Mayville's workhorse this season. The lefty went 11-2 across 75.2 innings and compiled a 0.92 ERA. He struck out 104 batters, and walked just 15.
Austin Wagner, Fond du Lac senior
Wagner put together a fantastic senior season for the Cardinals. The Ellsworth Community College commit went 7-1 in 55 innings and posted a 1.27 ERA. He compiled 77 strikeouts against some tough competition over the course of the year.
