Prep Baseball Report

Preseason Power 25: No. 16 Chippewa Falls



The Wisconsin high school season kicks off on March 28, the first day for regular season games. Most teams will begin practicing on March 20, getting their rosters set and finalizing their lineups.

Over the next several weeks, leading up to opening day, we will be rolling out team previews of high school teams all across the state and across all classifications, eventually launching our Preseason Power 25.

We have been sending out our annual Preseason Questionnaire to coaches all across the state and as the responses flood in we will bring you a snapshot of what to expect along with top players and keys to success for that particular team. If you don’t see your team’s season preview make sure your head coach fills out his Preseason Questionnaire.

Team: Chippewa Falls
Preseason Rank: 16
2016 Record: 15-9
Conference: Big Rivers
WIAA Division: 1
Head Coach:
Mitch Steinmetz
Playoff Run: Regional Champions
2016 Final Rank: NR
 

TOP PLAYERS

Name State School Class Pos Commitment
Trevor Olson WI Chippewa Falls 2017 LHP Xavier
Jordan Steinmetz WI Chippewa Falls 2017 OF  
Bryce Harder WI Chippewa Falls 2017 OF  
Dane Weiland WI Chippewa Falls 2019    

X-FACTOR

Xavier commit, Trevor Olson is the Cardinals best arm and therefore needs to win the big games in 2017. The Big Rivers Conference is loaded again and may be even tougher than last year, but in order for Chippewa Falls to contend they will have to beat both Eau Claire Memorial and Eau Claire North. Last year, both of Olson's two losses (5-2, 1.18) came at the hands of ECN and ECM. Olson is arguably the best arm in the conference and will need to beat those teams in 2017 to give the Cardinals a chance at the conference title.

STAT RAT

Dane Weiland littered the box scores last season as a freshman on varsity. Weiland hit .397 drove in 20 runs and went 3-0 on the mound with a 2.35 ERA in 30 innings, a big impact for a freshman. Heading into his sophomore season look for Weiland to improve on those numbers and give the Cardinals a big boost in 2017.

OUTLOOK

The Cardinals return a talented squad to the field in 2017 under new head coach Mitch Steinmetz. Steinmetz, an assistant last year, should make the transition rather seamless. Look for Olson to repeat as staff ace and put together another all-conference type season. Jordan Steinmetz should set the table again for the Cardinal lineup and after an all-state honorable mention season last year, he's poised to set the tone for an experienced Cardinal lineup that includes Bryce Harder in the middle of that lineup who made second team all-conference last year.

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