2023 RECAP: Washburn and Hurley split the conference series with each other, resulting in the only conference loss for both teams. They in turn split the conference crown, finishing four games ahead of third place Mellen. Washburn advanced all the way to the sectional finals game, falling to McDonell Central just one game short of state.

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

2024 FORECAST

Head Coach: David Barningham (8th year at Washburn; 9th overall)
2023 Record: 14-4
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: N/A
Returning Starters: Alec Croteau (jr), Michael Haas (jr), Brady Fleig (jr), Brendon Walson (sr)

Forecast: Washburn shared the conference crown for the first time in over a decade last year, winning 14 games along the way and coming just one game short of a trip to Appleton. Croteau, Haas, and Walson were all first-team all-conference performers last season and return to give Coach Barningham some pop in his lineup. The biggest question mark for this team will be filling out the pitching rotation which lost player of the year Nolan Roode. Washburn has started the season 5-0 and have outscored opponents 87-18, proving that offense is electric and can put up runs at a high rate.

Head Coach: Bart Innes (2nd year at Hurley; 2nd overall) 17-6 record
2023 Record: 17-6
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: 11
Returning Starters: Tadan Niemi (sr), Dillon Devine (sr), Rudy Sokol (sr), Gabe Kivisto (sr), Isaac Innes (jr), Travis Vogel (jr), Riley Holm (jr), Devin Soltis (soph), Jack Caudill (jr)

Forecast: Hurley has won at least a share of the past two conference titles and won a trio from 2015-2017. Coach Innes enters his second season with the squad are the front runner to compete with Washburn for conference supremacy once again. Niemi, Devine, Innes, and Vogel are all returning all-conference selections and provide the Northstars with some of the better returning talent in the conference. In four conference games, Hurley has allowed just ten runs and scored 59. In the newly named Northern Lights conference, it will be fun to see Washburn and Hurley battle it out once again.

Head Coach: Brad Giesregen (23rd year at Drummond; 23rd overall) 200-141 career record
2023 Record: 9-7
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: N/A
Returning Starters: Cole Giesregen (jr), Caleb Fox (sr), Alex Rassmussen (sr), Tyler Runice (sr)

Forecast: Drummond returns almost its entire batting lineup from last year but will need to replace a lot of its pitching rotation that allowed the third least amount of runs in 2023. Coach Giesregen won his 200th win last season and enters his 23rd with the program. Early on in 2024, Drummond is 2-1 and have outscored its opponents 40-12.

Head Coach: Josh Plummer (5th year at South Shore; 5th overall)
2023 Record: 2-13
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: N/A
Returning Starters: Hunter Merlitz (sr), Kaden Bryant (jr), Ethan Bratley (sr), Hayden Merlitz (soph), Owen Bratley (soph), Eddie Pudas (jr), Brady Lahti (jr)

Forecast: South Shore won just one conference game but was the only other team in the conference to provide any information to WSN or the Baseball Wisconsin Yearbook for the upcoming season. Nearly the entire team returns from last year including all-conference selection Kaden Bryant. The Cardinals have struggled early on, going 1-4, but there is a lot of season left for South Shore to get better.

Head Coach: Steve Eder (5th year at Mellen; 5th overall) 29-33 record
2023 Record: 8-9
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: N/A
Returning Starters: N/A

Forecast: Mellen did not provide any information to WSN or the Baseball Wisconsin Yearbook so making a forecast for 2024 is difficult. What we can say is the Granite Diggers have started out the year 2-3 already and have scored over eight runs per game in conference play. 

Head Coach: N/A
2023 Record: 5-10
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: N/A
Returning Starters: N/A

Forecast: Butternut-Mercer did not provide any information to WSN or the Baseball Wisconsin Yearbook so making a forecast for 2024 is difficult. The Pioneers have struggled out the gate thus far, being outscored by 86 runs through five conference games.

Head Coach: N/A
2023 Record: 0-10
2023 JV Record: N/A
2023 Freshman Record: N/A

Returning Letter Winners: N/A
Returning Starters: N/A

Forecast: Bayfield did not provide any information to WSN or the Baseball Wisconsin Yearbook so making a forecast for 2024 is difficult. So far this season, the Trollers are 1-2 and have scored on average nine runs per game, while surrendering over ten.

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.