SPASH, West are favorites in WVC baseball race
The last time the Stevens Point Area Senior High baseball team didn’t win a Wisconsin Valley Conference championship, the current group of Panthers seniors were in the sixth grade.
The Panthers have won the past five WVC titles and have not lost a conference game the past three seasons. SPASH is expected to compete for another league championship this year despite returning just three returning starting position players from last year's squad, which posted a 21-4 overall record.
The Panthers return senior outfielder Gus Turner-Zick, last year's WVC co-player of the year and a first team all-state selection by the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association. Turner-Zick, along with SPASH senior pitcher Joe Strigel, a unanimous all-WVC pitcher who had a conference-best 1.86 ERA last year, are a few reasons why the Panthers are one of the favorites this year for the conference season that began this week.
Conference baseball coaches contacted by USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin listed the Panthers overall depth, bolstered by last year's strong junior varsity squad, is a reason why SPASH remains a team to beat. SPASH also returns Cameron Lee, Brady Franz and Tyler Fraflord from a pitching staff which posted a conference-best 2.66 ERA last year.
"SPASH is the team to beat year in and year out," West baseball coach Ryan Whalen said. "They have easily earned that. They are very talented, coached very well and have the culture of winning."
The WVC coaches also list West as one of the conference contenders this season. The Warriors, listed at No. 8 in the Division 1 preseason rankings by wisconsinbaseballcentral.com, finished second in the WVC last season; West was the last team to win a conference title (2011) before SPASH began its current run of titles.
West returns first team all-WVC selections in infielder Zach Pearson and outfielder Payton Nelson, and second-team pick Logan Grunenwald.
West's Paul Weise was a first team all-WVC selection at catcher last year as a junior but suffered a torn knee ligament at the end of the football season.
Grunenwald is one of three key returning pitchers for West, joined by Chandler Fochs and Grant Hill. West had the a WVC-best .354 batting average last year and was second in the conference with a 2.69 ERA.
D.C. Everest shortstop Austin Gilge was an honorable mention all-WVC pick last year and one of 14 juniors on a Evergreens squad that finished third in the conference last year and could be team to watch again this spring.
"I'm not sure they would be considered a surprise," Whalen said of the Evergreens, "but they are a strong baseball community with a dedicated coaching staff."
Wisconsin Rapids returns first team all-conference infielder Nate Jackson and honorable mention outfielder Caleb Krommenakker., who also had the third-best ERA in the WVC as he appeared in six games as a pitcher. Shawn O'Connell, who had a .333 batting average in conference play last year, is a returning starter as well.
Marshfield returns three all-conference selections in utility player Paul Maguire, outfielder Braden Bohman and pitcher Jake Brueggen, who had a 2-2 record and a 4.03 ERA in conference play last season.The Tigers also enter the conference season under first-year coach Jon Bauer.
Wausau East returns four of its top five starting pitchers from last year in Carter Prey, Remi Schleinz, Alex Becker and Kyle Ninneman. Senior Chad Simon, a third baseman and outfielder, had the third-best on-base percentage for the Lumberjacks last year.
Merrill is replacing its middle infielders and centerfielder from last year's team but return all-conference selections in pitcher Ryan Golisch and outfielder Ty Belifiori. Golisch had a team best 32 innings pitched and a 4.59 ERA last year for the Bluejays.
Belifiori pitched in three games last year and had a the second-best on-base percentage for Merrill at .462.
Merrill coach Shawn Schultz agrees that SPASH and West are the favorites, but feels the conference race is open for a third team to emerge as a contender.
"I think all of the teams in the league can beat each other on a given day," Schultz said.
Tim Johnson: 715-845-0731, or timothy.johnson@gannett.com; on Twitter@timmyjo11
WVC BASEBALL GLANCE
SPASH
Last year's conference record: 12-0
Key returning players: Gus Turner-Zick, sr.; Joe Strigel, sr.; Brandon Patoka, sr.; Cameron Lee, P; Brady Franz, P; Tyler Fraflord, P.
Key newcomers: Josh Morton, sr.; Jack Kelly, so.; Jacob Piotrowski, sr.; Cole Wright, jr.; John Bohanski, jr.; Tyler Frafjord, sr.; Brady Franz, so.; Brett Ehr, so.; Dylan Trigg, so.
Outlook: "Pitching and game experience will be keys for the team to progress as the season goes on," SPASH coach Kraig Terpstra said. .
Wausau West
Last year's conference record: 9-3
Key returning players: Payton Nelson, sr., OF/P; Zach Pearson, sr., IF/P; Logan Grunenwald, Isr., F/P; Jakob Wokatsch, sr., OF/P; Zach Raeder, sr., IF/OF/P; Grant Hill, sr., IF/P; Chandler Fochs, jr., , P/utility; Trevor Cunningham, sr., util.
Key newcomers: Sam Sippel, jr., C/OF; Nick Adrian, jr.,, IF/OF; Zach Weis, sr., util.; Sam Sodke, jr., , IF/OF/P; Patrick Brandenburg, sr., util.; Brandon Clausen, jr., IF
Outlook: “I would say our balance is our strength,” West coach Ryan Whalen said. “We have capable pitchers, who if efficient and consistent, can be very effective. Our offense has the potential to score runs and execute in all aspects.”
D.C. Everest
Last year's conference record: 7-5
Key retunring players: Adam Budnick, sr., OF/P; Austin Gilge, jr, IF; Andrew Baranowski, jr, C/OF/P; Matt Jagodzinski, sr, OF/C.
Key newcomers: Connor Langbehn, jr., IF/P; Nathan Jagodzinski, jr., OF/P; John Breske, jr., OF/P; Sam Nielsen, jr., INF/P; JJ Berdal, jr., IF/P/OF; Ben Bosi, OF/INF
Outlook: “We will play excellent defense behind a solid pitching staff,” Everest coach Dave Langbehn said. “We also have great flexibility within our lineup.”
Marshfield
Last year's conference record: 6-6
Key returning players: Braden Bohman, OF; Jake Brueggen, P/OF; Austin Goode, OF; Logan Jakobi, P/INF; Connor Jasurda, P/INF; Jared Klein, C/INF; Hunter Korger, P/INF; Austin Palecek, P/IF;
Key newcomers: Jared Johnsrud, P/IF; Mitchel Wilhelm, P/IF; Ryan Krueger, P/IF; Andy Goettl, OF; Tyler Spaeth, P/IF; Connor Berry, P/IF; Branden Montalvo, P/C/IF
Outlook: "Our expectations are to show up, show that we can play and show that we can improve as the season progresses," Marshfield coach Jon Bauer said. "I really like the effort this group demonstrates in practice every day."
Merrill
Last year's conference record: 5-7
Key returning players: Ryan Golisch, sr, P/1B; Ty Belfiori,sr., OF, P; Nick Bowe, sr., IF; Trey Seubert, sr., IF; Dan Duginski, jr., C/OF.
Key newcomers: Brett Seubert, sr., , Zach Anderson, jr., , Mason Smith, jr., Kobe Blake, jr., .
Outlook: "We do have quality experience on the mound," Merrill coach Shawn Schultz said.. "Offensively, our seniors have worked really hard this offseason to improve what was a solid offense last season.
Wisconsin Rapids
Last year's conference record: 2-10
Key returning players: Caleb Krommenakker, jr.; Shawn O’Connell, sr.; Nate Jackson, jr.
Key newcomers: Ryan Brock, sr., Brandon Guck, sr.; Jacob Mancl, jr., Donovan Brandl, so.; Josh Zwicke, so.
Outlook: "Team speed (is a strength)," Rapids coach Bob Gawlitta said. "I really appreciate the team unity and focus of this group this year. They consistently bring energy to practice every day."
Wausau East
Last year's conference record: 1-11
Key returning players: Remi Schultz, sr., P/IF; Chad Simon, sr., IF/OF, Alex Becker, sr, P/OF; Carter Prey, IB/P; Kyle Ninneman, sr., P
Key newcomers: Jack Cane, so., C; Teagan Maier, jr., IF; Ross Vincent, sr., OF; Cordell Myles, jr, C/OF; Sam Meyers, jr, C, Hunter Behnke, sr., OF, Sam Schubring, so., IF; Wyatt Rottier, jr., OF; Reggie Brown, sr, P, Forrest Kronberger, so., P/1B.
Outlook: The Lumberjacks return four of their top five pitchers from last season.