2023 RECAP: Kewaunee ran the table, a perfect 16-0 and won the school's first conference championship since 2015. The Storm finished two games ahead of Southern Door, four ahead of Oconto, and six ahead of Gibraltar. Come playoff time, no Packerland team advanced beyond regional play with Gibraltar and Southern Door losing in regional finals.

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

2024 FORECAST

Head Coach: Tom Armstrong (4th year at Oconto; 24th overall) 384-157 career record
2023 Record: 17-6
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: N/A
Returning Starters: Kyla Bowman (sr), Cooper Campshure (jr), Ethan Wusterbarth (jr), Jackson Martin (sr), Devon Bostwick (jr), Riley Susa (jr)

Forecast: Oconto won 17 games last season and return a good deal from that group including all-conference batters Bowman, Campshure, and Wusterbarth. It's been eight years since the Blue Devils have finished atop the conference standings but are hoping to return to that in 2024. Coach Armstrong is a Hall of Fame inductee and in his fourth year with Oconto. He has the pedigree to lead this group to the top of the standings. Devon Bostwick had to step away from pitching in 2023 due to injury, but will throw this year, giving the Blue Devils rotation that much more depth.

Head Coach: John Berns (2nd year at Southern Door; 20th overall) 243-148 record with Southern Door
2023 Record: 19-4
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: N/A
Returning Starters: Tyler Neinas (jr), Will Jandrin (sr), Drew Daoust (jr), Matthew Malvitz (sr), Mason Paye (jr), Braylon Berg (jr)

Forecast: Southern Door will be a contender for the conference crown in 2024 largely in part due to the fact that the Eagles return two top of the rotation pitchers in Tyler Neinas and Will Jandrin. Neinas went 5-1 with a 1.88 ERA last year while Jandrin was 3-1 with a 1.18 ERA. The biggest question mark for Southern Door in 2024 will be replacing some of the better batters from the class of 2023 that scored the second most runs int he conference. Early on, the Eagles are 3-3 in league play with a +15 run differential.

Head Coach: Dan Spranger (7th year at Kewaunee; 11th overall) 99-105 overall record
2023 Record: 22-5
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: N/A
Returning Starters: Ethan Paplham (jr), Collin Spranger (sr), Waylon Delain (soph), Brett Paulson (soph), Brady Pribek (jr)

Forecast: Kewaunee would be a favorite to repeat as conference champs this season if not for the fact that three all-conference players from last year's squad did not leave the team. Braxton Riha, Owen Carlson, and Tom Stangel would all be stalwarts for the Storm this season, but chose to not participate in the school's baseball season. That leaves Coach Spranger needing to rely on yet an even bigger group of inexperienced players to step into some larger roles in 2024. Ethan Paplham was one of the top hitters in the entire league last season and will give stability behind the plate to a team that is trying to replace nearly 75% of its innings pitched.

Head Coach: Neal Henrigillis (2nd year at SB; 8th overall) 71-60 overall record
2023 Record: 7-16
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: 7
Returning Starters: Bryce Plzak (jr), Brody Kollath (sr), Danny Lodl (sr), Curt Meyer (sr), Caleb Plzak (jr), Garrett Ulberg (sr), Trey VanderLeest (sr)

Forecast: Sturgeon Bay is primed to make a jump in the standings this season after finishing just 5-11 last year. Coach Henrigillis returns a roster comprised of a good number of seniors and juniors who have a lot of experience between them. Already this season, the Clippers are 5-1 and at the top of the conference standings at the time of this publication. Bryce Plzak, Brody Kollath and Danny Lodl are all returning all-conference selections and are a formidable group in the middle of the lineup. The Clippers have gotten off to a good start in 2024 and have experience on their side to continue that success.

Head Coach: Jeff DeMeuse (3rd year at Algoma; 3rd overall) 17-25 record
2023 Record: 12-10
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: N/A
Returning Starters: Carson Liest (jr), Aiden Jorns (jr), Grant Vandervest (sr), Braeden Liest (soph), Jack Cole (sr), Jordan Fenendael (jr), Chase Romdenne (jr), Parker Lischka (soph)

Forecast: Algoma was relatively young last years which bodes well here in 2024. Coach DeMeuse returns 75% of his innings pitched and 87% of his at-bats from last year including all-conference selections Carson Liest, Aiden Jorns, and Grant Vandervest. That trio and a few others give the Wolves an advantage at the plate in most games, as many of the batters will have varsity at-bat experience. Already this season Algoma is 5-3 in league play.

Head Coach: Jay Kita (21st year at Gibraltar; 22nd overall) 204-207 career record
2023 Record: 14-13
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: N/A
Returning Starters: Brady Kita (jr), Bennett Isaacson (jr), Aaron Brey (soph), Marshall Maltby (sr)

Forecast: Gibraltar won 14 games last year but will have to do a revamp of its pitching rotation with just 50% of the innings pitched having returned in 2024. Thankfully for that group, all-conference catcher Brady Kita will be there to guide that group behind the plate. Coach Jay Kita will need to develop arms in a hurry in order for the Vikings to compete in the top half of the standings for the completion of the season.

Head Coach: Trevor Bloch (2nd year at Peshtigo; 2nd overall) 4-11 record
2023 Record: 4-11
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: 5
Returning Starters: Bryce Heroux (soph), Will McMahon (sr), Caleb Klimex (jr), Ethan LaComb (soph), Silas Williams (sr), Canon Bickle (jr)

Forecast: Peshtigo finished third to last in the conference standings last season and had the fourth worst run differential, having scored just 67 runs as opposed to surrendering 125. Heroux was outstanding as a freshman last season, hitting .403 from the plate, playing shortstop, and pitching, en route to earning all-conference honors. How competitive the Bulldogs will be in 2024 will be determined by the quality of arms that are developed early on in the season by Coach Bloch.

Head Coach: Roman Trimberger (1st year at NEW Lutheran; 1st overall)
2023 Record: 6-15
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: N/A
Returning Starters: Evan Monfre (soph), Sam Hillmann (sr), Brandon Perez-Zavaleta (sr), Jack Starich (sr), Griffin Steffel (sr), James Tilot (sr), Tyler Schumacher (sr)

Forecast: NEW Lutheran struggled to score runs last season and that was a big reason why the team finished 3-13 in league play. The Blazers will welcome in a new head coach in Roman Trimberger who will lean on a big senior group to help turn things around in Green Bay. It's been a slow go of it in 2024 however, as the Blazers are 1-10 on the year and 0-6 in conference play. Sophomore Evan Monfre is the lone returning all-conference selection for the Blazers and will be expected to take on even more despite being surrounded by seniors.

Head Coach: Cody Leist (1st year at Sevastopol)
2023 Record: 2-11
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: N/A
Returning Starters: Drake Olsen (sr), Tyler Grooters (jr), Chase Haberlie (soph)

Forecast: Sevastopol struggled in all facets of the game last season, going winless in conference while scoring just 29 runs in 16 games. With the numbers up from last year and that group gaining experience on the field, there is hope the program takes a step forward under first year head coach Cody Leist. Already this season, the Pioneers have a conference win, one more than they did last season.

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.