2023 RECAP: Crandon, Florence and, Three Lakes have been the only three teams to win a conference crown in the last ten years and the trio shared the crown last year with an 8-2 record. Of that group, only Florence advanced beyond the regional portion of the playoffs.

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

2024 FORECAST

Head Coach: Scott Farmer (1st year at Crandon; 15th overall) 
2023 Record: 9-6
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: N/A
Returning Starters: Caden Palubicki (sr), Cruz Palubicki (soph), Elias Glinski (sr)

Forecast: Crandon won a share of the conference crown for the first time since 2016 when it won four straight titles from 2013-2016. The Cardinals are our pick to repeat, though any of the top three teams could very well end the season at the top. Scott Farmer will take over the program after stepping away from Antigo in 2019 for a few years. He'll have three all-conference selections returning in Elias Glinski and Caden and Cruz Palubicki. The Palubicki brothers are two of the top hitters in the conference and provide a good foundation in the batting order. Crandon will be a player for the conference title in 2024, the question is how many teams will be at the top with them.

Head Coach: Brad Bisnette
2023 Record: 15-3
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: N/A
Returning Starters: Jared Kaufman (sr), Josh Cogar (sr), Carer Flannery (jr), Cruz Melton (soph), LJ Terlizzi (sr)

Forecast: Three Lakes/Phelps did not provide any information to WSN or the Baseball Wisconsin Yearbook, so forecasting 2024's success may be hard to accurately describe. The good news for the Bluejays is there is no shortage of talent returning for Coach Bisnette. The five above mentioned returning starters all earned all-conference honors last season, and may be the best group of returning players in the league. The co-op has won at least a share of the conference crown the past six seasons, so it's a fair bet that the Bluejays will once again have a say in which team or teams sit atop the Northern Lakes standings.

Head Coach: Kris Johnson
2023 Record: 13-5
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: N/A
Returning Starters: Trent McLain (jr), William Kelley (sr)

Forecast: Florence did not provide any information to WSN or the Baseball Wisconsin Yearbook, so forecasting 2024's success may be hard to accurately describe. Two first time all-conference selections do return for the Bobcats however in McLain and Kelley. Florence has started off 2024 well, going 5-0 overall and 1-0 in conference play. The top half of the Northern Lakes conference is competitive, and that should be no different with Florence and the other two teams in 2024.

Head Coach: Frank Shepard Jr (3rd year at WL; 3rd overall) 6-29
2023 Record: 2-14
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: N/A
Returning Starters: Brady Shepard (sr), Walker Winkelman (soph), Preston VanZile (sr), Williams Collins (jr), Dayton Marvin (jr), Aiden McLain (jr)

Forecast: The Rebels co-op won just two games last season but return nearly the entire roster in 2024. Coach Shepard will have two all-conference selections in Brady Shepard and Walker Winkelman to rely on in both his batting order and pitching rotation. The Rebels have already matched their win total from 2023 and appear poised to take another step forward, possibly challenging the top half of the league.

Head Coach: Cole Kupfer (1st year at Elcho; 1st overall)
2023 Record: 6-10
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: N/A
Returning Starters: Max Lazers (jr), Aneglo Angotti (sr) Eugene Reinke (sr), Hoyt Maultz (sr)

Forecast: Elcho fielded an inexperienced squad last year despite the fact there was a handful of seniors on the team. With that group graduating and a new head coach coming in, in Cole Kupfer, the Hornets may experience a step back. How coach Kupfer handles filling the gaps throughout the roster will determine exactly how competitive Elcho can be in 2024.

Head Coach: Eric Swanson (2nd year at GP; 2nd overall) 2-12
2023 Record: 2-12
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: N/A
Returning Starters: Ryan Ehlert (sr), Cole Niven (sr), Chase Kozelek (jr), Conner Werner (soph), Kyle Braaten (jr)

Forecast: Goodman/Pembine struggled in 2023, especially in scoring runs, plating just 41 which was a league worst. Though they've only played one conference game this season, the Patriots scored just one run in that game and are 0-6 overall on the year. Coach Swanson will need his group to develop otherwise it may be another rebuilding year in the Northern Lakes.

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.