The 2025 Wisconsin high school baseball season is quickly approaching and, as usual, excitement is abound throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across the Badger State.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in their respective WIAA Division State Championship, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams with this initial Preseason Power 25 release which will take us right up to first pitch.

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across Wisconsin. Each week we will be releasing our Power 25, Players of the Week, Diamond Notes, Scout Blog and much more.

Our 2025 preseason coverage continues today.

High School: Indian Trail Hawks
Preseason Rank: 14
Head Coach: Lane Ochs
WIAA Division: 1
Conference: Southeast Conference
Last Year’s Record: 20-9
2024 Season Highlights: Made it to Sectional Final
Key Players Lost: Seth Koci (Grand Valley State), Conner Foster (Rock Valley), Bradley Bomkamp (Central), Adrian Mayao, & Payton Mancusi

 

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ROSTER PREVIEW

Team Strengths: Pitching, returning varsity experience
No. of Returning Starters: 4
No. of Returning Pitchers: 6

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X-FACTOR

Coming into the 2025 season ranked at No. 15 within the 2025 class, RHP/INF Jack Zeller (2025) features upside on both sides of the ball and looks to finish off his high school career with a big year. He showed last season that he is a force on the mound, but all eyes will look towards him to put a charge into a lineup that lost a handful of impactful bats from 2024. Hitting from the left side of the plate, the senior utilizes a free and easy swing to make hard contact consistently. Earlier this February while at the Upper Midwest Procase, Zeller topped off his round with a 100 mph max EV. The senior will again find plenty of opportunities on the mound this spring, but if he can continue to build off his already strong junior campaign at the plate, who knows what will be next in store for Jack Zeller and the Indian Trail Hawks.

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IMPACT UNDERCLASSMEN

Two names that could find playing time this spring are INF Jacob Johnson (2027) and INF Josef Pryblyski (2027). Indian Trial is likely to field a team full of upperclassmen this year, but both sophomores could look to get their first look at the varsity level in 2025.

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TEAM OUTLOOK

“Indian Trail is looking to build off last season and make a run at state. We return our top two pitchers who will lead the way for a strong, and very deep staff this year.” - Lane Ochs, Head Coach

Indian Trail enters the spring with a deep pitching staff, and also returns a dominant 1-2 punch atop the rotation.

RHP/UTIL Sam Callow (2025; Wisconsin-Platteville) and the previously mentioned RHP Jack Zeller return after spending the 2024 season as Indian Trail’s top two inning eaters from last season. Callow put up a 1.45 ERA with 63 Ks in 43.1 innings pitched last season, with Zeller putting up a 0.42 ERA and 44 Ks in 33.2 innings pitched. Both seniors were efficient workers, posting a 0.975 and 0.693 WHIP on the season, respectively. The Hawks will look for more of the same from the duo to help lead this pitching staff throughout the season.

An uncommitted arm to look out for this spring is LHP Briar Thoe (2026). Thoe gained some varsity experience last year but is primed to find himself in a bigger role for the Hawks in 2025. The junior possesses a projectable 6’5”, 210lbs frame and moves well down the mound for his size. He also flashed a feel for five different offerings at the South Milwaukee Preseason ID earlier this March. With an intriguing arsenal and a frame to dream on, Briar Thoe could be a name to keep an eye on this spring.

RHP Connor Peck (2025; Wisconsin-Stout) is likely to find time as an innings eater for Indian Trail. Peck is an athletic mover down the mound and pitches with ease, possessing a loose arm out of a ¾ slot. He has shown a feel for a three-pitch mix, highlighted by his sweeping slider that averaged 2500+ RPMs at events in the past.

Head Coach Lane Ochs will have many options out of the ‘pen, with RHP Nick Beth (2025), LHP Cam Bentz (2026), RHP Connor Shada (2025), and RHP Drake DeWildt (2025) all potentially having opportunities to fill out innings for the staff.

At the plate, Indian Trail has a number of holes that opened up due to graduating players. However, there is talent throughout the lineup that could make an impact this season for the Hawks.

Returning to the lineup this spring are C/OF Brad Filippis (2025) and INF Tyler Sioco (2025). Filippis, committed to play football at Wisconsin Eau-Claire, shows plenty of athleticism behind the plate. Sioco only had 27 plate appearances in 2024, but posted a .455 AVG in his sophomore campaign. Both will look to build off their success from last season and play big roles in the lineup.

The previously mentioned INF Connor Shada is a likely candidate for a larger role this season after getting a decent amount of varsity time last spring. OF Nathan Geraghty, OF Nick Beth, and INF Luke McGovern could all potentially find some time in the varsity lineup this season as well.

RHP/OF Cade Minatto (2026) will also hope to hit the ground running come first pitch. Minatto shows upside on the mound and at the plate and enters the season ranked No. 16 in the class of 2026. An injury sidlined him for all of last season, but don't be surprised if the junior comes into the season and starts to dominate early on.

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BOTTOM LINE

Despite the loss of major contributors from 2024, there is a lot to be excited about with this Indian Trail squad. The Hawks bring back a deep pitching staff with plenty of experience to help lead the rotation, and there are a few unproven arms with plenty of upside that have a chance to make a name for themselves this spring. Offensively, the lineup will need to step up in a big way in response to key departures from last year’s team. If Indian Trail can take a step forward at the plate, this team has a chance to make a memorable run in the playoffs.

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Find more information on the 2025 Indian Trail program below:

• Follow the Owls on X: @ITHSBASEBALL

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