2016 WIAA Summer Baseball Preseason Rankings

The 2016 WIAA summer baseball season is nearly here! Teams will soon take the field with the goal of hoisting the state championship trophy at Kapco Park in Mequon on July 22nd. So, which teams figure to be the best of the best this summer? These are our preseason rankings for this summer. Read on to find our top 10 teams in the state!

Honorable Mentions

New Berlin Eisenhower

Greendale

Franklin

Germantown

Homestead

10. Pius XI

The Popes tallied 16 victories last summer and were one game away from reaching the state tournament, but they were ultimately defeated by Pewaukee in the sectional finals. They have seven starters returning this season, including four all-conference position players. Michael Warpechowski (.277 average, 11 RBIs), Gino D’Alessio (.263 average, 28 RBIs) and Alan Jurena (.242 average, 13 RBIs) are just a couple of the players that will make the lineup tick for the Popes. On the mound, Pius XI lost their ace from last year but will have their numbers two through four pitchers returning. Second team all-conference pitcher Chris Mercier (3-1, 49.2 innings, 1.55 ERA) figures to be one of their top pitchers again this summer. Brett Smerz (1-2, 18 innings, 3.11 ERA) and TJ Driver (1-1, 20 innings, 4.90 ERA) will also contribute on the mound.

9. South Milwaukee

The Rockets won 18 games last summer, but they were defeated by Greenfield in a first round playoff upset. They will have seven starters back this year, including first team all-conference picks Ben DeGracie (.430 average, 15 extra base hits, 27 RBIs) and Collin Mahn (.386 average, 22 RBIs). McHenry County CC commit Bryce Brogni (.309 average) also returns this year for the Rockets. Their pitching rotation, which returns all three of their top pitchers, will be anchored by Louisville commit and first team all-conference selection Matt McCarty (4-3, 51.2 innings, 1.08 ERA). Nick Calkins (7-2, 60.1 innings, 1.86 ERA) and Tyler Mauch (4-2, 46.1 innings, 3.32 ERA) will round out the staff. South Milwaukee appears to be in good position to improve on last year’s performance.

8. Sheboygan Falls

The Falcons won 16 games last year and made it to the sectional finals before getting beaten by Plymouth to end their season. They will have almost their entire lineup back this season, as they have eight returning starters. All-conference infielders Ross Krist and Ryan Schmitt are honorable mention all-conference outfielder Joe VanEngen as the team’s top returning hitters. John VanderPloeg, a first team all-conference pitcher last year, will anchor the pitching staff for the Falcons. They’ll also have three other pitchers returning. Falls will play in the newly-founded Big East Conference this summer, and they’re one of the early favorites to win the inaugural crown.

7. Cudahy

The Packers tallied 19 wins and won the Woodland East last summer. They lost in the regional finals to Greendale, but they have the potential to go further this season. They have five starters returning to their lineup, and two of their top starting pitchers are back too. Northern Illinois commit Alex Rodriguez (.430 average, 12 RBIs, 18 stolen bases), Rusty Murphy (.427 average, 34 RBIs), Milwaukee Area Tech commit Sam Wojs (.323 average, 12 RBIs), Nick Steele (.329 average, 24 RBIs) and Alex Valine (.294 average, 20 RBIs) all bring back experience from last year. Brandon Stachowiak (5-0, 39.1 innings, 0.89 ERA) and Wojs (4-1, 34 innings, 3.71 ERA) will headline the pitching staff, but beyond them there isn’t a ton of pitching experience on the team. The Packers will be contenders for the Woodland East again this season.

6. Muskego

The Warriors went 25-4 last year and earned the No. 2 seed in their sectional, but they were beaten by Whitnall in a big upset in their first playoff game. They will have six starters returning this summer to pick up where they left off. Five of those starters earned all-conference honors last year, including first teamers Ryan Zizzo, Bryce Schure, Brett Finke and Ryan Tobin. Pitching will be a major question mark for this team, though. They lost five starting pitchers to graduation, and only have two players coming back with varsity pitching experience. If they can find similar production from their new crop of pitchers, the Warriors will be contenders for another conference title this year.

5. Marquette

The Hilltoppers won 19 games last year and received the No. 4 seed in their sectional before losing to state tournament team Pewaukee in their first playoff game. They’ll have four starters returning from that team, as well as some new additions that should be a big boost to their chances this season. They will have two all-conference infielders back in Peter Ahn and Matt Schwartz. Second team all-conference pitcher Jack Shemanski is also back in the mix. The Hilltoppers will also have Heartland CC commit Connor Kimple suit up for them this year after he took a year off to play travel ball. Kimple is one of the top hitters in Wisconsin’s class of 2016, and he should be a force in Marquette’s lineup. Look for the Hilltoppers to make some noise in the Greater Metro Conference this season.

4. Pewaukee

The Pirates had a 24-11 record last year and made it to the state semifinals before losing to eventual state champion Menomonee Falls. They’ll have five starters returning this summer, and four of their top five pitchers back in the mix as well. Patrick Tomfohrde (4-3, 48.2 innings, 3.30 ERA), Carl Renz (5-1, 44.1 innings, 2.37 ERA) and Ryan Mulvey (6-1, 40 innings, 3.15 ERA) will make for a very solid pitching rotation for Pewaukee. Offensively, the Pirates lost the top four hitters in their lineup, but their five through nine hitters are all back. Shortstop Shaun Campbell (.327 average, 19 RBIs, 15 stolen bases), outfielder Teddie Nevermann (.340 average, 26 stolen bases), infielder Drew Barth (.306 average), Mulvey (.308 average, 18 RBIs) and Tomfohrde (.291 average, 18 RBIs) all bring back valuable experience. The Pirates took second place in the Woodland West last year, but they have what it takes to win it this summer.

3. Oak Creek

The Knights went 27-5 a year ago but were defeated in an extra inning thriller by Franklin in the sectional finals. They will have five starters back this season, including three all-conference selections. Louisville commit Alex Binelas, St. Cloud State commit DJ Ellifson and catcher Gannon Goldensoph will lead a powerful lineup for Oak Creek. Illinois State commit Matt Hamilton, a first team all-conference pitcher last year, figures to be the team’s ace this year. Beyond Hamilton, they will also have two other starting pitchers back. As has often been the case in recent years, Oak Creek is expected to compete for the Greater Metro Conference title this summer.

2. West Bend West

The Spartans went 27-3 last year and earned the top seed in their sectional, but they were upset in the sectional semifinals by Grafton. They will have six starters returning this summer, including Oklahoma commit Anthony Schlass, UW-Milwaukee commit Jack Thelen and 2nd team all-conference infielder Evan Albrecht. Their offense should be good to go, but they will have some uncertainties on the mound. They lost their top two pitchers from last year. Oregon State commit Nathan Burns figures to be their ace this year, but beyond him they don’t have any significant varsity pitching experience on the team. If some new guys can step up, the Spartans will be a force again this year.

1. Menomonee Falls

The defending state champions will have a good chance of defending their title this summer. The Indians have five starters returning to their lineup, and they only lost two pitchers from last year’s staff. Ryan Piontek (5-1, 35.2 innings, 2.75 ERA) will be back on the mound, along with Nick Gile (2-1, 25.2 innings, 2.18 ERA). It will be tough to score runs on the Indians this season. Guys like Zach Kornburger (.376 average, 10 RBIs prior to state tourney), Gile (.352 average, 10 doubles, 28 RBIs prior to state tourney) and Matt Emmer (.319 average, 19 RBIs prior to state tourney) will round out a solid lineup. Boyd Sansone (.283 average, 12 stolen bases) and Josh Schwechel (.263 average, 8 RBIs) also return for the Indians. With the experience of winning a state title already under their belt, Menomonee Falls are the early favorites to win the 2016 crown.

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