2018 Preseason All-Wisconsin Teams
Beloit Turner's Mitch Seager (Spencer Flaten/Wisconsin Baseball Central).
Wisconsin continues to produce high-level talent on a yearly basis, but who's the best of the best? We'll find out soon enough—opening day of the 2018 season is March 27—but as usual, we're taking an early look ahead. These are our preseason All-Wisconsin team selections for the upcoming season. The teams are chosen by our staff based on a variety of factors, including stats from the previous year, quality of competition, overall talent and potential to improve this spring. Last year's stats carry the most weight in the selection process.
After the season, we will release our postseason All-Wisconsin teams, along with the winners of our Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year and Newcomer of the Year awards. Players who are not included on the preseason All-Wisconsin teams are still eligible to receive postseason honors.
Notes: The designated hitter position is given to a position player who warrants selection for the team, but whose normal position is filled. When N/A is listed under college commitment, it means it is unknown if the player has made a commitment.
Janesville Craig's Jacob Campbell (Spencer Flaten/Wisconsin Baseball Central)
Arrowhead's Jeff Holtz (Alex Cheban/Wisconsin Baseball Central)
Prescott's Peter Brookshaw (Spencer Flaten/Wisconsin Baseball Central)
Preseason First Team All-Wisconsin
| Name | Position | School/Grade | College Commitment | 2017 Stats | Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacob Campbell | Catcher | Janesville Craig/Senior | Illinois | .463 BA, 10 doubles, 4 home runs, 37 RBIs, 16 stolen bases | He’s got one of the most powerful bats in the state and is elite defensively. |
| Peter Brookshaw | Infielder | Prescott/Senior | North Dakota State | .583 BA, 22 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs, 38 RBIs, 16 stolen bases | He’s the reigning Wisconsin Baseball Central Player of the Year, and is also known for his exploits on the basketball court—see his state championship-winning buzzer beater this March for proof. |
| Colten Schild | Infielder | Fox Valley Lutheran/Senior | St. Louis | .444 BA, 6 doubles, 4 triples, 1 home run, 24 RBIs, 20 stolen bases | His exploits at the plate and on the base paths earned him North Eastern Conference Player of the Year honors last year. |
| Zach Lechnir | Infielder | Kimberly/Junior | Uncommitted | .359 BA, 9 doubles, 15 RBIs, 19 stolen bases | He was the spark at the top of state champion Kimberly's lineup as a sophomore last season, and is primed to take another step forward this spring. |
| Hunter Waldsmith | Infielder | Beloit Turner/Senior | Uncommitted | .505 BA, 9 doubles, 3 home runs, 45 RBIs | He was one of the top run producers in Wisconsin last year, in addition to being a great pitcher. |
| Mitch Seager | Outfielder | Beloit Turner/Senior | Winona State | .521 BA, 14 doubles, 3 home runs, 43 RBIs, 14 stolen bases | A breakout junior season saw him become one of the most dangerous hitters in Wisconsin. |
| Gunner Peterson | Outfielder | Wilmot/Senior | Illinois State | .449 BA, 9 doubles, 4 triples, 2 home runs, 16 RBIs, 22 runs scored, 5 stolen bases | He's a four-year varsity player who has a career .390 batting average entering his senior season. |
| Jaxon Kostka | Outfielder | Regis/Senior | University of Mary | .493 BA, 8 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 25 RBIs, 26 runs, 6 stolen bases | He was one of the driving forces behind Regis' conference title and Eau Claire's American Legion state championship last year. |
| Jeff Holtz | DH | Arrowhead/Senior | Indiana | .452 BA, 14 doubles, 3 home runs, 24 RBIs | He’s actually a catcher, but he’s simply been too good over the course of his career to not be on the first team. |
| Randon Dauman | Pitcher | Columbus/Senior | Ohio | 7-0, 41.1 IP, 0.85 ERA, 72 Ks, 13 hits allowed | Making hitters whiff is his specialty: he averaged almost two strikeouts per inning last year. |
| Jack Brown | Pitcher | Eau Claire Memorial/Senior | Minnesota State | 8-1, 0.84 ERA | He dominated western Wisconsin last spring, highlighted by a one-hitter against second-seeded Chippewa Falls in the sectional semifinals. |
| Jack Washburn | Pitcher | Webster/Junior | Oregon State | 8-0, 59.2 IP, 0.93 ERA, 111 Ks | The son of former major leaguer Jarrod Washburn can touch 90 mph with his fastball, and hitters struggle to catch up. |
Aquinas' Jess Ondell (Spencer Flaten/Wisconsin Baseball Central)
Middleton's Alan Roden (Spencer Flaten/Wisconsin Baseball Central)
Webster's Hunter Gustafson (Spencer Flaten/Wisconsin Baseball Central)
Preseason Second Team All-Wisconsin
| Name | Position | School/Grade | College Commitment | 2017 Stats | Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alan Roden | Catcher | Middleton/Senior | Creighton | .459 BA, 4 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs, 15 RBIs | He's had one of the most consistent bats in the Big Eight Conference since breaking into the Middleton lineup as a freshman. |
| Jess Ondell | Infielder | Aquinas/Sophomore | Uncommitted | .476 BA, 16 doubles, 1 triple, 26 RBIs, 5 stolen bases | He posted some of the best stats in the state as a freshman last spring to win Newcomer of the Year. |
| Christian Jack | Infielder | St. Mary Catholic/Senior | Uncommitted | .458 BA, 8 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 31 RBIs, 33 runs scored, 21 stolen bases | He was one of the best hitters on a team that held the longest winning streak in the nation for most of last season. |
| Hunter Gustafson | Infielder | Webster/Senior | St. Mary's (Minn.) | .518 BA, 10 doubles, 2 triples, 7 home runs, 51 RBIs, 10 stolen bases | The shortstop set school single-season records for hits, batting average, RBIs and on-base percentage last year. |
| Tanner Kohlhepp | Infielder | Eau Claire Memorial/Senior | Tennessee | .310 BA, 12 extra-base hits, 30 runs | The hard-throwing senior is set to be the biggest threat in Memorial's lineup following the graduation of some solid hitters. |
| Carson Holin | Outfielder | Sun Prairie/Senior | Uncommitted | .440 BA, 9 doubles, 3 triples, 25 RBIs | He made the most of his first year with a starting role on varsity last spring. |
| Nick Herbst | Outfielder | McFarland/Senior | Illinois State | .380 BA, 5 doubles, 1 triple, 13 RBIs, 13 stolen bases | The table setter at the top of McFarland's lineup, he can change a game with his bat and his speed. |
| Jaelin Williams | Outfielder | Eau Claire North/Senior | Waubonsee Community College | .436 BA, 7 doubles, 2 home runs, 17 RBIs, 9 stolen bases | He broke through into the Huskies' everyday lineup for the first time last spring, with impressive results. |
| Chandler Fochs | DH | Wausau West/Senior | Western Illinois | .407 BA, 5 doubles, 1 triple, 4 home runs, 28 RBIs | He'll be the main man for the Warriors this year after they lost several talented seniors. |
| Jonathan Zacharias | Pitcher | Notre Dame/Senior | Cornell | 5-2, 58.2 IP, 1.28 ERA, 86 Ks | A four-year varsity player, he turned into a strikeout machine last season, resulting in an Ivy League commitment. |
| Connor Prielipp | Pitcher | Tomah/Junior | Uncommitted | 4-2, 65.1 IP, 1.07 ERA, 87 Ks | The southpaw is one of the top uncommitted prospects in Wisconsin. |
| Jacob Schellpfeffer | Pitcher | Mayville/Senior | Ellsworth Community College | 11-2, 75.2 IP, 0.92 ERA, 104 Ks, 15 BBs | He dominated the competition last year, compiling triple digit strikeouts and rarely issuing walks. |
Oshkosh West's Michael McBriar (Alex Cheban, Wisconsin Baseball Central)
Green Bay Preble's Max Wagner (Spencer Flaten/Wisconsin Baseball Central)
Independence/Gilmanton's Isaac Pape (Spencer Flaten/Wisconsin Baseball Central)
Preseason Third Team All-Wisconsin
| Name | Position | School/Grade | College Commitment | 2017 Stats | Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ian Drays | Catcher | Jefferson/Senior | Northern Illinois | .489 BA, 11 doubles, 3 triples, 1 home run, 30 RBIs, 13 stolen bases | He overpowered the competition on his way to Rock Valley North Player of the Year honors last season. |
| Max Wagner | Infielder | Green Bay Preble/Sophomore | Uncommitted | .404 BA, 10 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs, 14 RBIs, 16 stolen bases | He was one of the best players in a senior-heavy lineup last year despite being just a freshman. |
| Isaac Pape | Infielder | Independence/Senior | UW-La Crosse | .453 BA, 8 doubles, 3 triples, 5 home runs, 32 RBIs, 17 stolen bases | He brought plenty of pop to the Indees' state runner-up lineup last year. |
| Josh Leslie | Infielder | Westosha Central/Senior | Mesa Community College | .416 BA, 11 doubles, 2 triples, 1 home run, 23 RBIs | The shortstop carries a strong bat and has solid defensive tools. |
| Nate DeYoung | Infielder | Xavier/Senior | UW-Milwaukee | .324 BA, 8 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 20 RBIs | An imposing presence in the batter's box at 6-foot-7, he's also got a strong set of defensive tools. |
| Alex Oakley | Outfielder | Sun Prairie/Senior | Uncommitted | .402 BA, 9 extra-base hits, 25 RBIs | The 6-foot-4 slugger batted cleanup for the state runner-up Cardinals. |
| Jake Fietz | Outfielder | De Pere/Senior | St. Cloud State | .373 BA, 9 doubles, 2 triples, 1 home run, 27 RBIs, 13 stolen bases | He was one of the top hitters in the Green Bay area last year. |
| Eli Kramer | Outfielder | Hortonville/Junior | Nebraska | .338 BA, 3 doubles, 2 home runs, 13 RBIs, 30 runs | He hit .338 as both a freshman and sophomore, and has potential to do even better as an upperclassman. |
| Tyler Brandenburg | DH | Lake Country Lutheran/Junior | Uncommitted | .435 BA, 13 doubles, 5 home runs, 37 RBIs, 7 stolen bases | An infielder with loads of power, he can change a game with one swing of the bat. |
| Mitchell Woelfle | Pitcher | Janesville Craig/Junior | Air Force | 7-1, 53.2 IP, 1.43 ERA, 45 Ks | He'll be the undisputed ace on what's expected to be one of the best teams in the state this spring. |
| Brenden Bille | Pitcher | Waupun/Senior | Rock Valley Junior College | 10-2, 62.1 IP, 0.78 ERA, 74 Ks | He capped a dominant junior season by throwing a one-hitter against Mosinee at the Division 2 state tournament. |
| Michael McBriar | Pitcher | Oshkosh West/Senior | Uncommitted | 4-2, 51 IP, 1.24 ERA, 62 Ks, 5 complete games | He has developed into arguably the best pitcher in the highly-competitive Fox Valley Association. |
Honorable Mentions
| Name | Position | School/Grade | College Commitment | 2017 Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connor Manthey | Catcher | Columbus/Senior | Bradley | .429 BA, 9 doubles, 5 home runs, 27 RBIs, 16 runs |
| Derek Baumgartner | Catcher | Almond-Bancroft/Senior | Winona State | .557 BA |
| Jacob Kaiser | Catcher | Catholic Memorial/Senior | Iowa Western Community College | .361 BA, 10 extra-base hits |
| B.J. Konkel | Catcher | Green Lake/Princeton/Sophomore | N/A | .446 BA, 6 doubles, 21 RBIs |
| Jimmy Juergensen | Infielder | Living Word Lutheran/Junior | Uncommitted | .386 BA, 21 extra-base hits, 35 RBIs |
| Luke Dubnicka | Infielder | Arrowhead/Senior | N/A | .493 BA, 6 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 23 RBIs |
| Ethan Kjellberg | Infielder | Elk Mound/Senior | UW-Stout | .420 BA, 7 doubles, 2 home runs, 30 RBIs |
| Drew Hennessey | Infielder | Highland/Junior | Uncommitted | .467 BA, 6 doubles, 5 home runs, 36 RBIs, 28 stolen bases |
| Seth Coker | Infielder | Athens/Junior | N/A | .443 BA, 17 extra-base hits, 31 RBIs |
| Kobe Berghammer | Infielder | Cumberland/Senior | N/A | .375 BA, 12 extra-base hits, 23 RBIs |
| Ryan Beirne | Infielder | West Salem/Senior | N/A | .383 BA, 31 RBIs, 10 stolen bases |
| Caden Uhlenbrauck | Infielder | St. Mary Catholic/Junior | N/A | .506 BA, 6 doubles, 25 RBIs, 19 stolen bases |
| Tanner Peterson | Outfielder | Wilmot/Junior | Illinois State | .338 BA, 7 extra-base hits, 17 RBIs |
| Jacob Savoldelli | Outfielder | Aquinas/Junior | Uncommitted | .351 BA, 3 home runs, 27 RBIs |
| Collin Meyer | Outfielder | Stanley-Boyd/Senior | N/A | .457 BA, 20 RBIs, 25 stolen bases |
| Baron Bucholz | Outfielder | Waupun/Sophomore | N/A | .416 BA, 19 RBIs, 25 stolen bases |
| Alex Tanke | Outfielder | Arrowhead/Senior | Uncommitted | .439 BA, 16 RBIs |
| John Nett | Utility | Kimberly/Junior | Uncommitted | Hitting: .411 BA, 13 RBIs. Pitching: 4-1, 2.12 ERA |
| Levi Schaller | Pitcher | Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran/Senior | N/A | 10-1, 82 IP, 0.60 ERA, 157 Ks, 5 complete games |
| Kyle Gendron | Pitcher | Wilmot/Senior | Winona State | 6-1, 54.1 IP, 1.16 ERA, 46 Ks |
| Davis Zeutzius | Pitcher | Arrowhead/Junior | Uncommitted | 7-1, 47.2 IP, 1.18 ERA, 45 Ks |
| Ben Nordloh | Pitcher | Waunakee/Senior | Uncommitted | 6-6, 58 IP, 1.93 ERA, 57 Ks |
| Tyler Denu | Pitcher | Mount Horeb/Junior | Uncommitted | 6-1, 58.1 IP, 1.20 ERA, 73 Ks |
| Trey Krause | Pitcher | Burlington/Junior | Uncommitted | 7-1, 1.78 ERA |
| Aaron Huebsch | Pitcher | Ithaca/Senior | Winona State | 9-1, 48 IP, 0.44 ERA, 94 Ks |
| Dillon Nowicki | Pitcher | Stoughton/Senior | Michigan | 46 IP, 2.13 ERA, 58 Ks |
| Brennan Dolwick | Pitcher | Lake Mills/Senior | Cincinnati | N/A (1st team All-Capitol North Conference selection) |
| Blake Thiesse | Pitcher | Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau/Senior | Upper Iowa | 6-1, 45.1 IP, 0.77 ERA, 93 Ks |
| Trevor Tietz | Pitcher | Watertown/Senior | Madison College | 4-5, 50 IP, 1.82 ERA, 69 Ks |
| Zach Gustafson | Pitcher | Eau Claire Memorial/Senior | East Carolina | 3-4, 1.56 ERA |
| A.J. Kirsch | Pitcher | Antigo/Senior | UW-Whitewater | 6-0, 37.1 IP, 0.56 ERA, 47 Ks |
| Brady Christianson | Pitcher | Hayward/Senior | Madison College | N/A (Heart O' North Conference co-Player of the Year) |
| Will Wohlt | Pitcher | New London/Senior | UW-Milwaukee | N/A (Bay Conference Player of the Year) |
