Prep Baseball Report

Top 10 Stories of 2024: No. 10 Team Wisconsin Shines at the 2024 Future Games


By: Josh Fields
Area Scout

At the end of each calendar year, the Prep Baseball Wisconsin staff reflects back on the 10 most intriguing headlines that surrounded the baseball scene in the Badger State. Through the end of the month, we will break down the most impactful storylines from an eventful 2024 campaign, ending with our No. 1 story revealed Dec. 31.

Team Wisconsin once again represented well at the Prep Baseball Future Games at the LakePoint Sports Complex in Emerson, Georgia this past summer. Each state had the chance to showcase some of their best uncommitted talent within the 2026 class in the Future Games, and the 2028 and and 2029 classes in the Junior Future Games. Since late July, 7 members of Team Wisconsin’s squad have committed to play at the next level – all of which to Division 1 universities.

The group drew challenging opponents in Team Kansas, Team Illinois and Team Missouri over the course of the weekend. However, multiple stars emerged on Team Wisconsin – once again putting the Badger State on the prospect map.


After a successful workout day on the first day, Team Wisconsin was set to face off against Team Illinois which would set the tone for the rest of the week.

After pushing a run across in the initial frame, Team Wisconsin never surrendered the lead after. The pitching staff was the takeaway from the game. Only giving up six hits across one earned run over the first game. LHP Colton Semmelmann (Brookfield Central, 2026; South Carolina commit) would get things going for the Badger State on the mound. A loud showing where he reached 90 mph with his fastball, allowing a hit and striking out a batter in his lone inning on the mound.

Quality outings from the next six pitchers followed Semmelmann - including outings from RHP Cameron Carter (Arrowhead, 2026), LHP Montgomery O’Brien (Wauwatosa West, 2026; Notre Dame commit) RHP Mason Schmidt (Somerset, 2026), and Bron Schaefer (Kaukauna, 2026).

Carter followed up Semmelmann with a clean inning of his own, striking out one batter, one of the higher ceilings on the roster, Carter was able to attack the zone with a pair of high level offerings.

O’Brien and Schmidt would both find success throughout the weekend which kicked off when the pair would each throw scoreless frames showing high-end stuff. O’Brien featured a big fastball with funk and a sweeping slider. Schmidt is a clean armed right-hander with an easy delivery that showed a fastball up to 89 mph and a upper-70s slider.

Schaefer filled the zone across both outings, going four up, four down during both outings. Immense confidence from the left-hander, challenging hitters with his entire arsenal, mid-80s fastball with life, and two secondaries that he commands through the zone.

At the plate, a number of Wisconsin preps showed out during their time down in Georgia. Twin brothers, Caleb and Ezra Liggon were two high-ceiling bats that shined during their time at the Future Games both during the workout and gameplay. Different prospects despite being identical twins, Caleb is a R/R infielder with a smooth swing and feel to elevate. Ezra is a L/L outfielder with an easy swing, the ball jumps off the barrel.

INF/RHP Cal Moreau (Monona Grove, 2026; UCF commit) shined on the big stage, finding success across the entire weekend while playing a premium position. In game two, Moreau was the Player of the Game after going 1-for-2 with a triple and tossing two clean innings on the mound.

INF Chance Ruby (Wilmot Union, 2026), INF Winston Alonso (Reedsburg Area, 2026) and INF/OF Sam Abrahamson (Hudson, 2026; St. Thomas commit) all turned heads throughout the weekend with their performances at the plate. Ruby and Abrahamson were among the leaders in hits on the weekend, both showing versatility defensively. Ruby as an up-the-middle athlete, and Abrahamson as a corner defender that can really swing it.

Alonso quickly earned the reputation as one of the more polished bat-to-ball hitters down at LakePoint. His performance throughout the weekend elevated his status as a prospect inside the state maintaining his place in the top-10.

INF Brayden Alivo (St. Thomas More 2026; Wisconsin-Milwaukee commit) and MIF Jake Cummins (Milton, 2026) are two athletic infielders that stood out as quality defenders that take tough at-bats regularly.

Behind the dish, C Maddox Lessard (Muskego, 2026) was playing up as a 2027 at the time before reclassing up earlier this fall and remains one of the top uncommitted catch-and-throw prospects in the state. C/INF Jack Brenner (Fond du Lac, 2026; Kent State commit) turned heads as one of the top athletes behind the plate with a smooth swing.

OF’s Carson Hawley (Bay Port, 2026) and Matthew O’Grady also remain uncommitted after quality campaigns this past year.

RHP/OF Matthew Hietpas (Appleton North, 2026), RHP Vince Bitter (Brookfield Central, 2026; Illinois State commit), RHP Caleb Johns (New Berlin Eisenhower, 2026), RHP Ryan Rasmussen (Cedarburg, 2026), RHP Bryce Loker (Omro, 2026 and LHP Bryce Mischler (Kimberly, 2026) emerged as follow arms from the Badger State and our staff with be monitoring their development as they continue their prep careers.

Team Wisconsin created many bright spots in their outings in Georgia – including many of which managed to find their future homes at the collegiate level in the months afterwards.


JUNIOR FUTURE GAMES

Running concurrently with the Future Games, Wisconsin was well represented at the Junior Future Games. Bringing down a competitive group of athletes, that turned in Team Wisconsin’s most successful time down in Georgia.

Winning the first pool play game after digging out of a 5-0 deficit, before tying the next two games to eventually move on to the platinum bracket as the No. 9 seed. Team Wisconsin was able to with the first bracket play game, the first platinum bracket win for Wisconsin ever, before eventually advancing on to play the top seed in Team Kansas. Which was another come from behind victory after putting up three runs in the final two innings to advance to the semifinals.

Unfortunately, significant weather had put a stop to Team Wisconsin’s run marking the most successful Junior Future Games team that Wisconsin had ever brought down to LakePoint.

More on the Team Wisconsin’s run during the Junior Future Games can be found Team Wisconsin Junior Future Games: Game Recaps

RELATED CONTENT