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: Slinger Owls
Preseason Rank: 15
Head Coach: Brandon Nelson
WIAA Division: 1
Conference: North Shore
Last Year’s Record: 15-13
2024 Season Highlights: Best record since 2013
Key Players Lost: Blake Johnson, Raine Fredericks, Jackson Etzel

 

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ROSTER PREVIEW

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X-FACTOR

CF Chase Leverance (2025, Wisconsin-Platteville (football)) returns as one of the top bats in the lineup. Last spring, in his first season on varsity, Leverence wasted no time making an impact. Quickly becoming one of the top bats in the lineup while nearly hitting .400 while patrolling centerfield everyday for the Owls. After a year where the right-hander was named First Team All-Conference paired with a full season of experience, the senior will be looked on take on a larger role this season.

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IMPACT UNDERCLASSMEN

C Ethan Miller (2027) one of the top defensive catchers in the state with growing abilities at the plate, the second year starter will look to improve on his freshman campaign. The strong right-handed hitter looked like a stronger, more confident version of himself at the plate this winter. Finding the barrel with ease, impacting the baseball on a consistent basis, how the added impact translates in game will boost his production at the plate.

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TEAM OUTLOOK

Slinger is losing two of their top three inning throwers from last season’s staff in Jackson Etzel and Raine Fredericks, but they enter the spring with many talented options that could all find opportunities to fill out innings this season.

RHP Will Baumhardt (2025; McHenry County) enters the spring coming off a successful junior season, pitching to the tune of a 3.17 ERA in six appearances in 2024. The senior has a lively three pitch mix, headlined by a mid 80s fastball that has reached up to 88 at past events. Baumhardt will likely be looked upon to help lead a deep and talented Slinger pitching staff in 2025.

LHP Tyler Loesche (2025; North Iowa Area CC) is a name that could potentially find meaningful innings in the Owls’ staff and will look to improve upon his junior season. The senior possesses a projectable frame at 6’2”, 195lbs, and he also offers a three pitch mix that could be all quality offerings in the future.

Also returning to the staff with Baumhardt after throwing meaningful innings in 2024 is RHP Jackson Naber (2025; Milwaukee School of Engineering). Naber comes into the year as the top returning innings eater for the Owls and will more than likely find a consistent spot in the rotation.

An arm looking to build upon his success from last season is RHP Nathan Miller (2026). We have already seen Miller in 2025, and while at the South Milwaukee Preseason ID earlier in March, the junior showcased an intriguing three pitch mix. The righty showed off a strong feel for spin, with both his fastball (2300+ RPMs) and curveball (2700+ RPMs) both standing out among the top of the event. Rounding off his arsenal is a fading changeup that does a solid job killing spin.

Behind the four at the top of the rotation, the Owls have plenty of depth behind them, RHP/DH Brayden Zimmerman (2026) who has shown feel for three pitches for our staff in the past, while RHP/UTL Matt Retzlaff (2025), and RHP Andon Schroeder (2026) round out the staff.

The lineup returns some of their top bats from last spring, the aforementioned Leverance, along with INF Macay Wagner (2025, Bryant & Stratton) who returns to the middle of the order where they both proved to be capable run producers. OF Michael Thiede (2025) is another run producing bat that drove in 19 runs while being moved around in the lineup

Wagner led the team in RBIs with 20, while batting .354 with more walks than strikeouts.

A pair of juniors, OF Gavin Sawyer (2026) and SS Grady Chvosta (2026) are capable at the plate and can more than handle their spot in the field.

Rounding off the lineup INF Cooper Williams (2025 Northern Michigan (football)), OF Kaleb Burkell (2025, Wisconsin-Platteville (football)) and OF Peyton Tennies (2027). With even more quality depth pieces in Retzlaff, Baumhardt, Naber and Zimmerman that can all earn at-bats.

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BOTTOM LINE

The Owls bring back the core of their group that saw them finish with the best record since 2013. Heading into this spring with senior leadership throughout and potential impact sophomores and juniors sprinkled in, the Owls will be in contention for a top spot in the North Shore conference.

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Find more information on the 2025 Slinger program below:

• Follow the Owls on X: @SlingerBaseball

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