Prep Baseball Report

Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 25 Greendale


By Diego Solares
Wisconsin Staff

The Wisconsin high school baseball season kicks off on April 27, opening day for regular season action under WIAA regulations. Over the next several weeks, leading up to opening day, we’ll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2021 spring season, touching on programs spanning all state classifications, leading into a countdown through the official PBR Wisconsin Preseason Power 25 Rankings.

Perennially, we’ve submitted a Preseason Questionnaire to high school head coaches across the entire state. Their responses have been flooding in and we’re using the detailed insight they’ve provided in our team-by-team preseason analysis. These preseason previews are also assembled with the help of Joe Waite and his comprehensive Baseball Wisconsin Yearbook, and the 2021 edition will soon be available for purchase here.

Our 2021 preseason coverage continues today.

Team: Greendale
Preseason Rank: No. 25
2019 Record: 23-4
Conference: Woodlands West
WIAA Division: 1
Head Coach: Brian Johnsen

TOP PLAYERS

NAME POS CLASS COMMITMENT
Will Brust 1B/OF 2021 Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Nick Churchill RHP 2021 -
Patrick Jankowiak RHP 2021 -
Keagan Kapocius C 2021 -
Connor Kramp OF 2021 -
Sam Sommerfeld OF 2021 -
Joe Toetz INF 2021 -
Tristan Ellis INF/RHP 2022 Purdue
Andrew Justus INF 2022 -
Keegan Norton 1B/LHP 2022 -
Will Vaile C 2022 -
E.J. Kuster 1B/RHP 2023 -
Dylan Patzfahl C/INF 2023 -
Jack Bauer UTL 2024 -

OUTLOOK

The Panthers return nearly every piece from what would’ve been last year’s squad and it’s a group that’s littered with multiple upperclassmen, too. Now at the Division I level, the experience paired with the veteran presence they’ll have throughout their lineup should be a positive for Greendale throughout the spring. Head coach Brian Johnsen is just 18 wins away from the 300 victory plateau, a mark he should certainly reach at some point this year. 

Anchoring the Panthers on both sides of the ball as arguably their best player is INF/RHP Tristan Ellis (2022; Purdue). A starter on varsity since his freshman year, Ellis comes in as a do-it-all type asset for the Panthers that’ll serve as a rotation staple for this pitching staff and his advanced left-handed stroke should play somewhere towards the top of their lineup, too. This Greendale team will need a strong all-around season from Ellis to achieve their goals and get to where they want to be once the calendar turns to June.

Tristan Ellis (3/7/21)

After Ellis, this Greendale lineup is expected to be littered with senior talent from top to bottom. Pairing up with him up the middle is INF Joe Toetz (2021), an intriguing athlete that remains one of the top uncommitted seniors in the entire state. C/1B Keegan Kapocius (2021; uncommitted) earned first team all-conference honors as a sophomore back in 2019 and he’s ready to finish out his decorated prep career on a high note. Set to roam the outfield for the Panthers are three seniors, all of whom would have played at the varsity level had there been a season in 2020: Will Brust (UW-Oshkosh), Connor Kramp (uncommitted), and Sam Sommerfeld (uncommitted).

Joseph Toetz (3/15/20)

Moving away from their senior class, the Panthers have some depth at the junior and sophomore levels. 1B/LHP Keegan Norton (2022) showed well at the West Milwaukee Preseason I.D. and he’s an intriguing 6-foot-1, 195-pound prospect with upside attached to his left-handed stroke. Built at a large and physically strong 6-foot-1, 225-pound frame, C Will Vaile (2022) is another member of Greendale’s junior class that’ll see consistent playing time this spring. Carved into a utility role, INF Andrew Justus (2022) can add a versatile presence to this club as a jack of all trades type of contributor. 

On the mound, senior RHP Patrick Jankowiak is a quality compliment to the aforementioned Ellis at the top of the Panthers’ pitching staff. Still uncommitted, Jankowiak can fill up the zone with a low-80s fastball and has a feel for both of his off-speed pitches that have flashed above-average actions in the past. Mentioned above for his duties on offense, Brust is another senior arm called upon to eat innings for this team, while RHP Nick Churchill (2021) and RHP/1B E.J. Kuster (2023) complete this rotation. 

BOTTOM LINE 

Greendale won the Woodland West conference back in 2019 and this senior-heavy bunch is eager to defend their title as they close out their high school careers. They’ll need to iron out some kinks on the pitching side of things, but this program is perennially known for their ability to just flat-out win games and we’re eager to see how things play out for them as the spring season rolls on. 

Make sure to follow @PBRWisconsin on Twitter for the most up-to-date coverage throughout the 2021 season.

Find more information on the 2021 Panthers below:

+ Team Website

+ Team Schedule

+ Team Twitter

PRESEASON POWER 25 COUNTDOWN