Division 2 WIAA State Finals Preview

The Division 2 field has been trimmed down to four teams as we enter the State Tournament in Appleton, WI, home of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, the high-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. It’s more of the same in 2023, as both Denmark and Jefferson will represent half of the group for the third straight season. This time though, they’ll compete in the Semifinal. 

On the other hand, St. Thomas More and Altoona, two teams with less than five losses, match up in the second Semifinal, as both games will take place on Wednesday, June 12th. The championship game will start at approximately 3:00 PM on Thursday, June 13th, as Denmark looks to repeat as champions for the third straight year. 

ALTOONA (23-4)

Altoona entered the season ranked as No. 19 in the Wisconsin Power 25, and continued to hover around the Top 25 for the entirety of the year. The Railroaders have dominated competition in the Northwest portion of the state, and look to take their success to Fox Cities Stadium for this upcoming week.

A solid core of bats have powered Altoona to 23 victories entering the State Tournament. It all starts with C Evan Gustafson (2023; Oregon State commit), a 2023 PBR Super 60 participant. The catcher leads the team in hits (27) and RBIs (28) entering the week, and is the centerpiece of this batting order. Surrounding him is INF Trent Cornell (2024; San Francisco), OF CJ Varsho (2023), and INF Colin Boyarski (2023), who have all hit above .333 on the year. 

OF Cameron St. John (2025; Pepperdine), a prospect who’s popped in front of us in the preseason circuit, and OF Ben Kuenkel (2023; Wisconsin-Eau Claire (football)) complete a batting order which has heated up towards the end of the year, which bodes well for their pitching staff, who has done the heavy lifting in many games.  

LHP Bennett Stokke (2025), while also performing well at the plate, has been the ace for Altoona in 2023 and is one of the main reasons we get to see the Railroaders in Appleton this week. The right-hander is 7-0 with a 0.43 ERA, striking out 66 batters in 49.1 innings, dominating his competition all season. He is joined by Varsho, and a couple of relievers as well. RHP Keaton Camastral (2024) and RHP Kellen Smith (2025) have emerged as the shut-down arms for Altoona, as they gave up a combined four earned runs in 34 innings. Smith has taken over the closer’s role, entering the State Tournament with five saves. 

The Railroaders shape up to be a tough out this week, as they’ve continually shown they can defeat any team in the state with their stingy pitching staff, and a quality offense to back it up. 

DENMARK (28-2)

The storyline is quite simple for Denmark: they’re back at the State Tournament and looking to repeat as champions for the third straight year. What’s been the key to their success? A senior-led team, paired with experience and a tough schedule shape the Vikings up to be the favorite this week, as they enter Appleton on a 17-game winning streak. 

RHP/INF Lucas Miller (2023; Wisconsin-Whitewater) has been right in the middle of it all as a two-way star, putting up video-game like numbers on both the mound and at the plate. He’s 10-0 on the bump, featuring a 0.80 ERA in 61 innings of work, striking out a total of 69 batters. Miller has 52 hits on offense, sporting a .542 batting average. He leads the team in hits (52), doubles (12), and RBIs (38). 

Joining Miller on the mound and at the plate is RHP/OF Ethan Ovsak (2023), who has an 8-1 record and a .402 batting average. Ovsak, along with fellow senior C Rheis Johnson (2023; Saint Mary’s - MN), have been contributors to these state-winning teams for multiple years now, and each put together phenomenal seasons for Denmark in 2023. After being sidelined early in the season, Johnson has hit .412 in 21 games, finishing with 28 hits and 26 RBIs. Both hitters account for the top of this potent order, which has hit .359 as a team this year. 

INF Izaac Dittmer (2023), OF Nolan Perry (2023), and OF Eli Kapinos (2025) are other batters spread throughout this lineup that have held starter’s roles all season, and have greatly impacted the Vikings’ success in 2023. To add onto their depth, RHP/INF Jaycob Dittmer (2024) has been a quality two-way standout for Denmark, including a 7-1 record on the mound. His impact out of the bullpen and in the batting order will be key in the possible two games that the Vikings will play in over the week. 

Head Coach Bill Miller and Denmark have the most experience and success out of any team coming to Appleton this week, and look to repeat as champions for the third straight year, a feat only accomplished in the WIAA by George Holland of Nekoosa (1980-82), Rob Hamilton of Sun Prairie (2012-14), and Scott Dooley of Oak Creek (2003-05, Summer). 

JEFFERSON (24-6)

Jefferson is back at the State Tournament once again, looking to rewrite the narrative and take home a State Title, as they’ve dropped the last two championship games to the aforementioned Denmark Vikings between 2021 and 2022. Similar to Denmark, an experienced core of veterans return to Appleton for the Eagles, featuring strong pitching and a steady lineup. 

1B/RHP Tyler Butina (2023; Central Michigan) and 3B/RHP Tyler Fredrick (2024) have evolved to be the top two-way prospects for Jefferson throughout most of the 2023 season, as both players enter Fox Cities Stadium as the best hitters on the team. Butina racked up 40 hits this year, including 16 extra base hits, displaying his power and strength from the left side of the plate. He’s produced this while going 6-2 on the mound with a 1.58 ERA in 48.2 innings, impressing on both sides of the diamond. Fredrick’s numbers are quality too, as the junior hit .369 and went 7-2 on the mound. Despite those two losses, Fredrick has a 0.69 ERA, allowing only five earned runs in just over 50 innings of work. 

In addition to those two stars, the Eagles will surely use RHP Drew Peterson (2024), among others, on the mound to win ball games. The right-hander leads the team in innings pitched (53.2) and wins (8) on the season, featuring a 2.10 ERA. INF/RHP Aidan Kammer (2024) has seen some time in relief, but has done his damage at the plate for Jefferson to lead the offense. Kammer has accumulated a team-high 41 hits entering the State Tournament, as he’s finished with the most ABs for the Eagles as well. 

UTIL/RHP Tyler Schroedl (2024) and OF Zach Holland (2025) wrap up an Eagles’ squad that has picked up its rhythm down the playoff stretch here, as they finished their regular season with a 6-4 loss to Milton. They look to win two games in Appleton this week, as they hit the field at Fox Cities Stadium in the morning session of games on Wednesday. 

SAINT THOMAS MORE (26-2)

As one of the highest-rated non-Division 1 teams in recent memory, No. 4 ranked St. Thomas More takes its talents to Appleton, winning two dramatic Sectional games to get here. Stars are spread all over the field for the Cavaliers, as they boast a dominant pitching staff that is paired with a quality offense, making them a tough-out at the State Tournament this week. 

St. Thomas More has been able to effectively spread innings out amongst their pitching staff, as no arm has thrown over 45 innings. RHP Eli Niemiec (2023; Wisconsin-Stevens Point), the ace  and senior leader of this team, has a 1.40 ERA with a 5-1 record in 35.1 innings of work. RHP Kyle Alivo (2024; Iowa), RHP/C Sam Mommer (2024), and RHP/OF Manuel Sostre (2025) have all performed well on the mound, but have also contributed in a major way to the offense. 

Alivo, who recently hit a go-ahead grand slam against New Berlin Eisenhower in the Sectional Semifinal, has an electric arm that was 7-0 this year. His two-way efforts should not go unnoticed though, as the Iowa commit hit .407 with a team-high 37 RBIs in 26 games. Mommer’s numbers are equally impressive at the plate, as the right-hander hit .413 with three home runs. He’s earned two saves on the mound, going 4-1 on the year, and will be a key piece out of the bullpen for the Cavaliers. As an underclassman, Sostre has impressed with a 3-0 record, while also hitting .344 to add depth to this lineup. 

In addition to these four, St. Thomas More presents arguably one of the best players in the Badger State: SS Alex Alicea (2023; Louisville). The star prospect boasts gaudy numbers from the leadoff spot, hitting an impressive .517 while leading the team in multiple different offensive categories, including hits (46), runs scored (47), and OPS (1.302). His production and importance doesn’t stop there, as Alicea, the 6.52 second 60-yard dash runner, has stolen 54 bases without being thrown out this year. At the shortstop position, the right-hander has committed just one error in 69 total chances, as his play will be vital to the success of the Cavaliers at the State Tournament. 

INF Oliver Gonzalez (2024), INF/C Brady Johnson (2024), OF Bennett Karolewicz (2024), and INF Brayden Alivo (2026) complete this star-studded lineup, adding depth and solid play to complete this team. St. Thomas More is undefeated against Division 2 competition this season, and look to maintain that record by adding two wins to get their State Title.

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