2023 RECAP: Seneca won its second straight conference title in 2023, finishing 12-2 and one game ahead of Wauzeka-Steuben and two ahead of Ithaca. Weston, who finished just 4-8 in conference got hot and won a regional title, beating Wauzeka-Steuben and Cashton along the way. The only problem, Weston ran into rival Ithaca in the sectional semis who were riding a hot streak of their own. The Bulldogs rode the momentum all the way to a Division 4 State Championship, including a pair of thrilling state tournament games.

2023 SEASON INFO (Standings, All-Conference, Stats, etc.)

2024 FORECAST

Head Coach: Danny Clary (9th year at Ithaca; 9th overall) 123-30 career record
2023 Record: 21-7
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: N/A
Returning Starters: Micah Salisbury (sr), Sammy Clary (jr), Matthew Kepler (sr), Logan Anderson (sr), Wes Nelson (jr), Mac Neefe (jr), Hewsten Garcia-Boland (soph), Devin Ihm (soph)

Forecast: Ithaca was a group of cardiac kids in the two state tournament games this past year, winning on a walk-off in the ninth inning in the semifinals and scoring eight runs in the final three innings of the state championship to come all the way back from a 7-0 deficit. Coach Clarey returns almost everyone from that squad including UW-River Falls commit Miach Salisbury, who was 8-2 with a 1.69 ERA and batted .463. Anderson, Kepler, and Clary return to form a potent lineup in the Ridge & Valley. Ithaca is ranked seventh in the WBCA Division 4 Preseason Coaches Poll which may be too low for the defending state champs. Excitement and momentum has carried over from last year's state title run and a basketball conference championship and the small town of Ithaca is abuzz.

Head Coach: Brandon Shepard (2nd year at Seneca; 2nd overall)
2023 Record: 15-6
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: N/A
Returning Starters: Gage Wall (soph), Dawson Davidson (jr), Briar Wall (jr), Owen Oppriecht (jr), Jake Payne (sr), Jack Gallagher (jr), Kaden Roberts (soph), Hunter Hagensick (soph),

Forecast: Seneca won the conference title in Coach Shepard's first season leading the ship, and they did so with a relatively young team. Davidson, Oppriecht, and both Walls were all-conference performers last season as underclassmen. The Royals have the talent to contend for the conference title, not just this year, but for the next few. The battles between Seneca and Ithaca this season will be fun to watch to determine the league champ. Jake Payne is the lone starter for Seneca and will serve as a leader for Coach Shepard. A good lineup and a strong few arms give Seneca the hope for a three-peat in the Ridge & Valley. 

Head Coach: Brent Jennings (3rd year at Weston; 3rd overall) 15-27 career record
2023 Record: 12-12
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: N/A
Returning Starters: Garrett Jennings (jr), Garrett Granger (jr), Isaac Jennings (soph), Trevor Westphal (soph), Logan Bingham (sr), Hunter Coy (jr), Colton Neumann (sr)

Forecast: Weston took some huge steps forward as a program last year culminating in an electric run and a regional championship. The Silver Eagles return almost the entire roster including four players in Granger, Westphal, and both Jennings who earned all-conference honors as underclassmen. Coach Jennings squad is bound and determined to make the Ridge & Valley race a three-team sprint. It's been years since Weston has sniffed a conference title, and now it looks like the Silver Eagles will be in the hunt for the next few seasons.

Head Coach: Steve Brosinski
2023 Record: 7-12
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: N/A
Returning Starters: Finn Wrobel (soph)

Forecast: De Soto didn't supply any information to WSN or the Baseball Wisconsin Yearbook so predicting a forecast is difficult. However, the Pirates have won three conference titles in the last ten seasons and always field a relatively competitive squad. Finn Wrobel was an honorable mention all-conference selection as a freshman last season and will only get better in year two of varsity experience.

Head Coach: Ben Dums (10th year at WS; 10th overall) 87-75 record
2023 Record: 15-5
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: N/A
Returning Starters: Ben Bird (sr), Cohen Redman (sr), Alex Manning (sr), Cooper Lomas (soph), Brett Wagner (jr), Gabe Kapinus (sr)

Forecast: Wauzeka-Steuben finished second in the conference last year but will need to replace almost the entirety of its pitching staff in 2024. Bird and Redman are returning all-conference hitters for the Hornets which will be the strength of the team. Scoring runs will be a lot easier for the Hornets this year but finding reliable arms will pose a problem early on for Coach Dums.

Head Coach: Stacy Myers
2023 Record: 4-15
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: N/A
Returning Starters: Aaron Camlek (sr), Hadyen Fowell (sr)

Forecast: La Farge also did not provide any information to WSN or the Baseball Wisconsin Yearbook so forecasting this team can be difficult. They'll be led by first-year head coach Stacy Myers and return two all-conference performers in Aaron Camlek and Hayden Fowell. Last year the Wildcats scored just 28 runs in conference play, but have already plated 17 in just three games in 2024, a step in the right direction.

Head Coach: Ben Kandler (4th year at Crawford; 4th overall) 
2023 Record: 7-15
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: N/A
Returning Starters: Satchel McClurg (jr), Andrew Munson (sr), Miles Kandler (jr), Brennen Smith (sr), Gavin Jacobus (sr), Cullen Jacobus (soph), Anthony Fradette (jr), Landen Blaha (soph)

Forecast: North Crawfrod finished 6-8 in conference last season and return all but three players from that squad including almost the entire batting order. McClurg and Munson were both all-conference selections last season and will need to take on bigger roles in the rotation, where just 50% of the innings pitched return.

Head Coach: Mike Cauffman (3rd year at Kickapoo; 3rd overall) 5-34 record
2023 Record: 3-16
2023 JV Record: 
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: 7
Returning Starters: Abe Clements (jr), Hayden Peterson (jr), Brock Malphy (jr). Lee Dechant (soph), Ben Culver (jr), Brayden Linder (soph), Evan Wallace (jr), Landey Layer (soph)

Forecast: Kickapoo has struggled the past few seasons. The Panthers surrendered a league-high 125 runs last season and return most of that rotation. The batting order will be completely intact for Coach Cauffman and with one more year of experience and development should improve within the league.

Conference Previews are based on information submitted by coaches, 2023 award info, statistics available to WSN, and other sources including the Baseball Wisconsin Yearbook. To purchase your copy of the Baseball Wisconsin Yearbook, click here.