2023 RECAP: Denmark has been on a tear the past three seasons, not just in the North Eastern conference, but the entire state. The Vikings went 18-0 in league play last season and went on to win its third straight Division 3 State Championship. The rest of the conference has played catch-up but long-time Denmark coach Bill Miller did step down after the season.

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

2024 FORECAST

Head Coach: Luke Kraschnewski (1st year at Denmark; 1st overall)
2023 Record: 30-2
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: 7
Returning Starters: Jaycob Dittmer (sr), Eli Kapinos (jr), Josh Gajeski (jr), Braedyn Heezen (soph), Grant Schroeder (sr)

Forecast: Denmark enters a bit of a new era this season as long-time head coach Bill Miller stepped down after finishing his coaching career with three straight state titles. However, the Denmark program has been built up over the past few seasons and is the favorite once again in 2024. First year head coach Luke Kraschnewski welcomes back a handful of players that were contributors for that state team last year, including Jaycob Ditttmer, one of the top pitchers in the conference. Dittmer went 9-1 with a 1.46 ERA last season and will be asked to take up the ace role once again. Many players from the lower levels will step into new roles here in 2024, but the Vikings have built momentum within the program and the coaches around the league believe they are once again, the team to beat.

Head Coach: Eric Beard (14th year at Wrightstown; 14th overall) 158-126 record
2023 Record: 14-10
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: 7
Returning Starters: Trevor Vande Hey (jr), Quade Thompson (sr), Jack Severson (sr), Aiden Humphreys (jr), Landon Helphrey (sr), Trent Vande Hey (sr)

Forecast: Wrightstown is the last team not named Denmark to win a conference title, doing so back in 2019. The Tigers are our pick to be the biggest challenge to dethroning Denmark in 2024. Iowa commit Trevor Vande Hey is the second ranked player int he Class of 2025 and hit .378 from the plate and going 6-2 on the mound with a 1.85 ERA. Saint Mary's MN commit Quade Thompson is one of the top catchers in the area and gives Coach Beard a rock behind the plate. The defense for Wrightstown should be exceptional as eight of the nine defenders return. This season, they've started out well and were recently ranked twelfth in the WBCA Division 2 Coaches Poll.

Head Coach: Luke Gajewski (1st year at Little Chute; 4th overall) 20-29
2023 Record: 18-8
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: 11
Returning Starters: Charlie Vandenberg (sr), Ethan Melendrez (jr), Rowen Schmidt (jr)

Forecast: Little Chute won 16 games last season and finished second in the conference behind a strong senior group. New head coach Luke Gajewski takes over for the Mustangs and will have some holes to fill up and down the lineup. He will have returning first team all-conference selection Charle VandenBurgt at the top of the rotation and lineup. Already this season, Little Chute is 7-2 and at the top of the conference. It appears Coach VandenBurgt has filled those holes appropriately early on. Whether this Mustang team can stay that consistent is the question.

Head Coach: Dan Routhieaux (3rd year at LC; 3rd overall) 30-25 record
2023 Record: 12-15
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: N/A
Returning Starters: Braeden Schley (sr), Landon Derenne (jr), Drew Bandow (sr), Max Thayse (sr), Michael Bostwick (sr), Brady Massey (sr)

Forecast: Luxemburg-Casco won twelve games and returns a good portion of its roster from that squad. The pitching rotation will have 80% of the innings pitched from last season including all-conference selections Braeden Schley and Landon Derenne. Through nine conference games this season, the Spartans are averaging over five runs per game which is something they desperately needed to improve upon from last season.

Head Coach: Benjamin Smejkal (8th year at Clintonville; 8th overall) 40-84
2023 Record: 12-10
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: N/A
Returning Starters: Kade Rosenow (sr), Gaving Christopherson (jr), Jack Yaeger (sr), Blake Weatherwax (sr), Andy Lederer (jr), Linken Korth (jr), Peyton Kautz (sr)

Forecast: Clintonville returns nearly its entire roster from last year including 90% of the innings pitched. Kade Rosenow, Jack Yaeger, and Andy Lederer are a solid trio at the top of Coach Smejkal's rotation. The Truckers have struggled however through the first half of the conference season. The experience and talent from last year's squad appears to be taking a while to get things going in Clintonville.

Head Coach: Joel Kramer (12th year at FVL; 12th overall) 147-116 record
2023 Record: 17-9
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: N/A
Returning Starters: Lincoln Thede (jr), Corey Riesop (sr), Cael Cook (sr), Josiah Robbert (sr), Lucas Papendorf (jr), Alex Tornio (sr), Jacob Bickel (jr), Dawson Burrington (jr), Malachi Kramer (sr)

Forecast: The Foxes won 17 games last season behind a strong 2023 graduating class that left behind a number of holes to fill in the lineup. Coach Kramer will need to pull from his lower two levels to field a competitive team in 2024. Lincoln Thede is a top-notch catcher and will be leaned upon heavily to bring along a younger group of inexperienced pitchers.

Head Coach: Connor Peetz (1st year at Falls)
2023 Record: 3-17
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: N/A
Returning Starters: Cole Bozile (jr), Jack Adler (jr), Easton Engel (jr), Grayson Cahak (jr)

Forecast: The Panthers finished second-to-last int he conference last season but have been incredibly impressive through the first half of league play in 2024. Oconto Falls, under new head coach Connor Peetz is 6-2 in the conference and have a +21 run differential. This squad is benefitting from the return of a good portion of its roster, and that experience is paying off huge dividends thus far.

Head Coach: Adam Fox (19th year at Freedom; 19th overall) 233-170 record
2023 Record: 13-11
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: N/A
Returning Starters: Carson Clausen (sr), Matt Eberhardt (sr), Carson Peters (soph), Bradon Dayton (jr), Drew Shepard (jr)

Forecast: Freedom finished middle of the pack in 2023 and are right there again so far in 2024. Carson Clausen is one of the top hitters in the conference and plays a great first base for the Irish. Coach Fox is in his nineteenth season with the program and has given it stability for almost two decades, longer than any other coach in the conference.

Head Coach: Rocky Mondello (8th year at Waupaca; 8th overall) 83-59
2023 Record: 10-14
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: N/A
Returning Starters: Henry Williams (sr), Jay Nikolai (sr), Alex Gusmer (sr), Riley Bechard (sr), Ashton Hernandez (sr), Gavin Miller), Max Dolski (soph), Brady Johnson (sr)

Forecast: The Comets went .500 in conference play season and returned nearly everyone, including 87% of the at-bats. All-conference performers Henry Williams, Jay Nikolai, and Alex Gusmer headline the batting order for Coach Mondello, which should be a strong point for this team. Waupaca has struggled early on this year, having surrendered 67 runs in nine games. Getting outs going forward will determine how the Comets finish the year.

Head Coach: Mike Maedke (4th year at Marinette; 4th overall) 11-53 record
2023 Record: 2-18
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: N/A
Returning Starters: Cooper Smith (soph), Ethan Doubek (jr), Sam Sommerfeldt (sr), Weston Hanson (sr)

Forecast: Marinette struggled last season, finishing last in the conference and surrendering a league worst 127 runs. Though most of that rotation returns, they will need to take a step in their development individually if the Mariners are to compete in 2024.

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.