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Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 9 Sun Prairie East

March 21, 2024
By: Maddox Durst
Staff Writer

The 2024 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 2024 preseason coverage continues today.    

High School: Sun Prairie East Cardinals

Preseason Rank: 9
Head Coach: Jack Marchese
WIAA Division: 1
Conference: Big Eight
2023 Record (Finish): 21-6 (Regional Finalists)

Key Players Lost: Zach Brzezinski

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

Team Strengths: Hitting, defense and speed
No. of Returning Starters: 7
No. of Returning Pitchers: 6

NAME STATE CLASS POS COMMITMENT
John Hadley WI 2024 OF/1B Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Drew Kavanaugh WI 2024 RHP/1B Wisconsin-Eau Claire (Football)
Sam Ostrenga WI 2024 OF North Dakota (Football)
Isaac Wendler WI 2024 CIF Aurora University
Max Glusick WI 2025 UTIL -
Trystan Fry WI 2025 MIF -
Brady Stelzer WI 2026 RHP -
Manuel Abreu Socorro WI 2026 C/INF -
Van Vogler WI 2026 UTIL -

X-FACTOR

+ RHP/1B Drew Kavanaugh (2024; Wisconsin-Eau Claire (football)) will be a key two-way athlete for Sun Prairie East in 2024—returning from an elite 2023 season. Kavanaugh’s performances on a nightly basis were one of the main reasons the Cardinals found success in the 2023 season. Kavanaugh hit an impressive .430 last season, all while going 8-2 on the mound. The right-hander pitched to a 1.68 ERA in one of the deepest conferences in the Badger State. He will look to maintain that momentum in the spring season, as the Wisconsin-Eau Claire football commit is coming off of a strong fall and winter season. Kavanaugh manned the QB1 position for Sun Prairie East—leading them to a 10-3 record. He then contributed to the 16-9 record for the basketball team—preparing him for the spring.

UNDERCLASSMEN TO WATCH

+ RHP Brady Stelzer (2026) is entering his sophomore season as a key starting pitcher for this Sun Prairie East group, one that is looking for more depth within their rotation. Stelzer stands at a strong 5-foot-9, 188-pound frame, and recently showed well at the Madison Preseason ID a couple of weeks ago. While sitting in the low-80s with his fastball (T82 mph), Stelzer demonstrated a mature ability to spin both his heater and breaking ball. The fastball averaged 2,194 RPM, while the curveball was about 2,361 RPM. Spin plays at the varsity level, and should give Stelzer an advantage on the mound. With a solid, veteran defense behind him, the right-hander will gain quality experience and eat up innings for the Cardinals this spring. Stelzer currently ranks at No. 64 in Wisconsin’s 2026 class.

Brady Stelzer (3/12/23)

TEAM OUTLOOK

Sun Prairie East presents a deep lineup, paired with a consistent defense and developing pitching staff in the 2024 season.

It starts with UTIL Max Glusick (2025), who continues to raise his stock as one of the quality uncommitted prospects in Wisconsin’s 2025 class. Glusick is a slick-fielding shortstop who flourished in his role for the Cardinals last spring. His noteworthy improvements at the plate were on display at the Madison Preseason ID this past winter, too. Glusick barreled baseballs consistently—providing exit velocities in the low-90s. Glusick has a strong, accurate arm that played well for Sun Prairie East on the varsity stage last season. He will be looked to at the top of their order to produce—coming off of a season where he hit .345.

Max Glusick (3/12/23)

OF/1B John Hadley (2024; Wisconsin-Milwaukee commit) will be heavily relied upon in the middle of the lineup for the Cardinals in 2024. Hadley stands at a mature 6-foot-3, 200-pounds, and has proven he can handle the bat from the left side of the plate. The senior took over during the summer—finding barrels and showcasing the ability to consistently produce in any lineup. The left-handed hitter uses a high leg kick to get to his balance point, while consistently being on time and meeting the baseball out in front of the plate. Hadley—in a similar fashion to Glusick—also provides some speed to his team as well, where he’s run a 6.88-second 60-yard dash in the past in front of our scouting staff.

OF Sam Ostrenga (2024; North Dakota (football)) is the top returning producer at the plate for the Cardinals in 2024. Last season, Ostrenga hit .455 and earned First Team All-Big Eight as an outfielder. The right-handed hitter has flashed some power in the past, in addition to being a reliable defender in the outfield.

CIF Isaac Wendler (2024; Aurora University) and MIF Trystan Fry (2025) are a pair of infielders who will add on to the depth of this group. Wendler is fresh off of a spring where he batted .393—using his strong 6-foot-1, 195-pound frame to elevate baseballs with ease to the pull-side. The right-hander is a smooth defender too—becoming an ultra-reliable prospect for head coach Jack Marchese’s program in his senior season.

Isaac Wendler (3/12/23)

Fry presents a similar skill set as we saw this past spring. The junior continues to develop at the plate—showcasing a competitive approach that found him success last season and over the summer. Fry stands at a 6-foot-1, 175-pound frame with plenty of room to grow, as his role continues to elevate within this program.

A pair of underclassmen in C/INF Manuel Abreu Socorro (2026) and UTIL Van Vogler (2026) will each play important roles for an older Cardinals program this spring. Each prospect recently posted an improved round of batting practice, statistically, at the Madison Preseason ID. Abreu Socorro—while being reliable defensively behind the dish—continues to develop as a bat that will contribute from the bottom of the order this spring. Abreu Socorro currently ranks at No. 42 in Wisconsin’s 2026 class. As for his teammate, Vogler sprayed line drives to all portions of the field during his BP session from an athletic 5-foot-11, 146-pound build. The right-hander may also see some time on the mound for Sun Prairie East in spot starts or long-relief situations.

Manuel Abreu Socorro (3/12/23)

BOTTOM LINE

+ Sun Prairie East has the pieces and experience to make a run at the state tournament later on in the spring in 2024. The Cardinals will have to rely upon their offense to continue to produce, as inexperienced arms will be making their varsity debuts as consistent starters on the big stage. Nonetheless, Sun Prairie East will remain fundamentally sound on the defensive end and continue to manufacture runs to win games. The Cardinals get their season by hosting a non-conference opponent in Appleton West on Apr. 1.

Find more information on the 2024 Sun Prairie East program below:

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