Division 1 WIAA State Finals Preview
June 11, 2023
As the WIAA State Tournament expands to four days in 2023, eight Division 1 teams will once again travel to Appleton, WI to battle for a State Championship at Fox Cities Stadium, home of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, the high-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Division 1 slate will span over the course of three separate days this year, as the Quarterfinals take place on June 12th, followed by the Semifinals on June 14th, and the Championship on the 15th.
Upsets were the storylines within the Division 1 field, as we saw multiple of the top teams make early exits. Despite this parody, some of the top teams survived their Regional and Sectional, including Stevens Point, Hortonville, Franklin, and Menomonee Falls.
Two North Shore Conference squads, Hartford and Whitefish Bay, are joined by Middleton and Burlington as a group of teams who made special runs to the State Tournament, and look to continue to shock the competition as underdogs.
BURLINGTON (21-9)
Burlington entered the playoffs as the No. 5 seed in their Sectional, as the Demons hit highs and lows throughout most of their season, taking third place in a tough Southern Lakes Conference. The team was able to defy odds though, eliminating three straight Power 25 ranks to complete their run to the State Tournament, including No. 1 Janesville Craig.
The pitching staff has emerged as a strength, especially down the stretch for Burlington. RHP/INF Aben Beinlich (2024) has been right in the middle of that success, as the right-hander has picked up playoff wins against Elkhorn, No. 23 Kettle Moraine, and Janesville Craig, combining to only give up three runs in between the two games. RHP/INF Kaleb Zabielski (2023), a captain of the Demons, has helped out as well, going 6-3 on the season, with his last win coming against No. 7 Union Grove.
Offensively, Zabielski has led the way so far, accumulating a total of 37 hits on the year, including six doubles. SS Wren Dietz (2023), while performing well on the defensive side, enters the State Tournament hitting .416, including a team-high 21 RBIs. INF Carter Baumeister (2025) and C Ryan Dummer (2024) have emerged as clutch batters that add depth to this lineup, as Dummer had multiple two-out RBIs in their Sectional games.
The Demons seemed to have found their rhythm in this playoff stretch, as their latest performances have proved that they can beat anyone in the state, as they garner the No. 6 seed in Appleton, and will face No. 3 seeded Franklin on Monday.
FRANKLIN (25-4)
Franklin got off to a scorching start this season, winning 14 out of their first 15 games to insert themselves as a consistent top-10 team in the state. A combination of dominant pitching, paired with a solid core of bats has powered the Sabers to a conference championship and State Tournament appearance in 2023, as they look for a State Title under head coach Steve Drobot.
Beginning on the offensive end, Franklin has had a healthy amount of contributions from both under and upperclassmen. 1B Maxamillion Martin (2023; Kaskaskia JC commit), C Dylan Cunningham (2023; Wisconsin-Stevens Point), and INF Boston Halloran (2023; Oakland) have emerged as senior leaders at the plate, all of which hitting above .345 on the season. Rounding out the thump in the lineup is OF/RHP Bennett Schueller (2026), who has made a large impact in his freshman season, accumulating 21 hits in 21 games.
On the mound, two arms, RHP Noah Musolf (2023; Madison JC) and RHP Cooper Kamlay (2024) have done the heavy lifting for this pitching staff, combining to go 13-0 entering State Tournament play. LHP Joe Herrick (2024) and LHP Ben Verges (2025) are a pair of lefties that will be key pieces in relief, and in a possible starter’s role heading into a third day of play for the Sabers.
Franklin will match up against the aforementioned Burlington Demons, as they look to take home their first state title since the 2011 season.
HARTFORD (18-12)
Hartford wasn’t able to pick up a rhythm throughout the course of the 2023 season, until the last three regular season games of the year. Since a 3-1 loss against West Bend West, the Orioles have given up a total of four runs in their seven-game winning streak leading up to their appearance in Appleton, as the squad emerges as a dangerous No. 8 seed in the field.
PItching has been and will be the strength of this team entering Monday, despite a sudden jolt of offense in their recent hot streak. It starts with RHP Austin Kutz (2023; Canisius), the ace and veteran of this staff. Over the past three seasons, Kutz has been a centerpiece of the starting rotation for Hartford, and leads the Orioles in innings pitched this year with 43.
The right-hander is joined by his brother, RHP/C/UTIL Carter Kutz (2025), one of the top 2025s in the Badger State, who just threw 7.1 innings against Beaver Dam to get a Sectional Final win. Kutz has struck out 53 batters in 38.2 innings of work, only allowing five earned runs in the process. RHP Braycen Burg (2024), RHP Brandon Pohl, and LHP Alex Kuntz (2023; Concordia, WI) will be key in the bullpen for Hartford, as all five arms have contributed to a low team ERA of 2.05.
OF RJ Thomae (2024; Valparaiso) and INF Braden O’Morrow (2023; Viterbo) lead an offense which has faltered at times this year, but has been the key to relieving stress off their arms over the course of the playoffs. They will need to continue to do so to extend this magical run, as they take on the No. 1 seeded Stevens Point Panthers on Monday afternoon.
HORTONVILLE (24-4)
Hortonville went nearly undefeated against the WIAA field, as they emerge as one of the favorites to take the Division 1 crown this week in Appleton, boasting a powerful plethora of bats, along with a strong group of arms, priming the Polar Bears to make a run during their time at Fox Cities Stadium.
RHP Thomas Burns (2023; Arizona State) and RHP Nathan Vela (2023; Winona State University) have taken on a majority of the innings for Hortonville in 2023, as each pitcher picked up a win in their Sectional matchups at Pulaski. Burns has a 0.86 ERA with 96 strikeouts in 57 innings pitched, continuing to impress as one of the top arms in his class. Vela, a former PBR Wisconsin POTW, has consistently performed well for the Polar Bears, complementing Burns as the No. 2 starter.
At the plate, Hortonville enters the State Tournament with a .303 batting average in facing tough competition throughout the year. Leading the way in that category is INF Camdem Kuhnke (2023; Wisconsin-Milwaukee), who hit .474 and accumulated 37 hits on the year, both team-highs for starters. OF Joe Fischer (2023; McHenry County JC) and C/OF Turner Kuhnke (2025) have powered the Polar Bears to multiple wins, combining to hit nine home runs on the season. Hortonville has 16 as a team, as Fischer hit his fifth in the Sectional Final to run-rule De Pere and officially send them to Appleton.
INF Brett Sommer (2023; Wisconsin-Whitewater) and INF Hayden Timm (2023) round out a strong lineup for the Polar Bears, who scored 22 total runs at their Sectional. After going 1-2 in a Georgia tournament, Hortonville recovered and went 23-2 for the rest of the season, skyrocketing all the way up to No. 3 in the Wisconsin Power 25 rankings, as they’re the highest remaining rank in the Division 1 field.
MENOMONEE FALLS (25-4)
Another year has passed, and Menomonee Falls has once again found themselves competing in Appleton at the State Tournament. This Phoenix team presents veterans and a multitude of experience, a formula that led them to a Greater Metro Conference championship and 25 wins. After starting the season by rattling off 16 straight wins, Menomonee Falls hit a rough stretch, but have picked it back up here in the playoffs.
RHP/INF Zach Wolfram (2023) has been the difference for the Phoenix, as the right-hander is well on his way to inserting himself as one of the most storied players in Menomonee Falls history. Wolfram is 10-0 on the mound, as he just finished off his ninth complete game, striking out 11 batters in the Sectional Semifinal against Sussex Hamilton. RHP Derek Steinbrenner (2023), RHP Grant Schultz (2023; Wisconsin-Oshkosh), and RHP Ty Cieslewicz (2024) wrap up the pitching staff for the Phoenix, as they only needed four arms to navigate through the entire season. Only 35 ER have been allowed in 29 games, speaking to the excellence of this group.
As for the offense, Wolfram leads the way as the two-way star for Menomonee Falls, hitting in the middle of the order and finishing with 12 doubles on the team. INF Keli Grennier (2023; McHenry County JC) has manned the shortstop position for the Phoenix for multiple years, and has put together a quality senior season, including accumulating a team-high 34 hits. OF Jack Anderson (2023; Saint Mary’s - MN) and OF Jordan Hedrick (2024) both have a large presence in the lineup, as Anderson has held the leadoff spot for the entirety of the year, and Hedrick finished with an OBP of .515. C Wilson Kershner (2024) has been a quality backstop for Menomonee Falls, catching one of the most successful pitching staffs in the state. His bat, among others, will be important to completing a lineup that looks to produce leads for their pitchers.
The Phoenix have made it to the Semifinals for two straight years before being eliminated, as they look to get over the hump and earn three wins at the State Tournament this week.
MIDDLETON (22-8)
The Cardinals are making their first appearance in the State Tournament since 2016, following a third-place finish in the successful Big Eight Conference and a 2-0 day in the La Crosse Central Sectional. On both sides of the ball, Middleton is led by a tight-knit core of senior leaders that have proved themselves at the varsity level for a handful of years now, and they will look to continue to add to their already successful season.
Leading the offensive efforts for the Cardinals is senior backstop C Wyatt Baird (2023) who has logged a team-high .365 batting average with six doubles, one triple, one home run and has driven in 15 runs. Fellow senior leader, INF Alden Cleary (2023) has been this teams main run producer as he has tallied a team-high 27 RBIs while batting to a tick of .330.
Rounding out this senior-heavy lineup is OF Jackson Rademacher (2023) and OF Jason Morgan (2023) who each have surpassed the .300 mark during their 28 games to date, and they have each combined for 28 RBIs, too. INF/RHP Hayden Hellenbrand (2023; Edgewood College) has offered some two-way potential for the Cardinals this season. At the plate, he has recorded a .286 batting average with an OBP of .381. On the mound, he has taken a relief role, and across his eight innings of work, he has logged a .08 ERA with seven strikeouts.
RHPs Noah Schmitt (2023) and Jacob Guerrero (2023) have done the heavy-lifting for the pitching staff this year, as they have logged a combined 109.1 innings on the bump. Schmitt has logged a 3-2 record, with an ERA 1.67 and has also tallied 25 strikeouts. As for Guerrero, he tallied a 8-2 record thus far, with 38 strikeouts, and an ERA of 2.02.
Middleton has enjoyed a successful season overall, including handing Janesville Craig their only loss of the regular season. They now look at their quarterfinal matchup with a talented Hortonville team, which won’t be an easy one, but they have proved to play upset all year long, and they could very well do it again on Monday.
STEVENS POINT (25-1)
Not too many teams have had success against Stevens Point in 2023, as the Panthers bring in one of the strongest resumes of the eight teams competing at the Division 1 State Tournament, winning their last 22 games. The pitching staff has held opponents to below five runs all season long, in addition to an offense that hit a combined .358, an impressive feat for a team who’s constantly faced tough competition.
The No. 5 team in the state boasts an underrated pitching staff that has frustrated opponents throughout the entirety of the season. It starts with RHP Josh Opiola (2023), who enters Appleton with a 10-0 record on the bump, showcasing a 1.39 ERA while only walking four batters in 62.1 innings. RHP Ty Rechner (2024) has been equally impressive for Stevens Point, as the right-hander currently owns a 0.16 ERA with an unblemished 9-0 record. Rechner, one of the top uncommitted 2024s in the state, has struck out a team-high 58 batters, and has only allowed one earned run in 49.1 innings.
C Deacan Koback (2023), INF Devin Mrozek (2023), OF Braylen Nystrom (2024), and OF Benett Klish (2023; Minnesota-Duluth) have consistently produced as the foundation of this lineup, including 28 hits coming from Koback, Bystrom, and Klish. Heading into the State Tournament though, INF Ben Fonti (2023) has emerged as one of the hottest hitters for the Panthers, slashing .471/.588/.578. He rounds out this strong lineup, which has figured out ways to manufacture runs, as the group only has three home runs on the year.
INF Kale Roth (2023) and INF Carl Biechler (2023) are two seniors that make up the middle infield for Stevens Point, and have locked down the positions for the entirety of the season. They will only add more depth onto this lineup, along with being key defenders.
The No. 1 seed was eliminated in the quarterfinals at last year’s State Tournament, as the Panthers look to avoid that storyline when they face No. 8 seeded Hartford on Monday, entering Appleton with momentum and confidence as representatives of the Wisconsin Valley Conference.
WHITEFISH BAY (22-7)
Whitefish Bay experienced heartbreak in 2022, as they held the No. 1 rank in the Wisconsin Power 25 for the entirety of the regular season, before falling short in the Sectional Final to Menomonee Falls. After graduating a legendary senior class, the Blue Dukes have reloaded and finally made it over the hump to Appleton, where they’ll rematch against the Phoenix in the Division 1 Quarterfinals.
INFs JD Dix (2024; Alabama), Austin Wienke (2023; Marshall), and Jack Counsell (2023; Michigan) have been the stars for Whitefish Bay on the offensive end, as they account for over half of the infield. Despite being limited defensively due to injury, Dix has not slowed down on the offensive end, as the No. 6 player in the nation has hit .452, including 12 extra base hits. Counsell, in his usual leadoff spot, has hit .366 this season while manning the shortstop position, walking 20 times on the season. From the three-spot, Wienke has emerged as one of the Blue Dukes’ best hitters, accumulating a team-high 41 hits on the year, leading the team in home runs (3) and RBIs (39).
Two newcomers to the varsity stage have been key to the long-term success of Whitefish Bay as well, in different facets of the game. LHP Tyler Andrews (2024) came onto the scene as the ace for the Blue Dukes, replacing a senior-heavy pitching staff from last season. Andrews is 7-0 with a 1.56 ERA, and most recently threw a no-hitter in the Sectional Semifinal against Nicolet in a 8-0 victory. Andrews and this pitching staff has not allowed a run in three playoff games, eliminating a struggle that Whitefish Bay dealt with during the regular season. OF/LHP Charlie McIntyre (2026) may have made the largest impact on the varsity team, hitting .436 while also pitching well on the mound. McIntyre took down No. 15 ranked Marquette University in the Sectional Final in a complete game effort, and is tied for the second-most hits on the team with 34.
In addition to those prospects, C Ben Van Bell (2024) and UTIL Ben Volpe (2024) are two juniors who have stepped up into starting roles and have succeeded for Whitefish Bay. They will be important pieces to the bottom of this lineup, which hasn’t failed to score runs in 2023.
The Blue Dukes will play the first game of the tournament on Monday, going up against the aforementioned Menomonee Falls Phoenix at 9:00 AM at Fox Cities Stadium.