Union Grove leads list of players on All-Area team
By Mike Ramczyk
Correspondent
The football season may be right around the corner, but believe it or not the high school baseball season didn’t end until July.
It was a blessing to have the spring sports season return after being cancelled due to COVID-19 in 2020, and the Union Grove Broncos more than enough made up for lost time.
They steamrolled through the Southern Lakes Conference with a perfect 14-0 mark and went 25-4 overall en route to their second consecutive state tournament berth.
For their efforts, the Broncos landed six players on the first team for the sixth annual Southern Lakes Newspapers All-Area Baseball squad – including player of the year Nick Williams and coach of the year Nate Meyer.
The squad features all 15 of the teams in the Southern Lakes Newspapers’ coverage area, which includes at least some teams in the Southern Lakes, Rock Valley, Metro Classic, Classic 8 and Trailways South conferences.
Players come from Burlington, Waterford, Union Grove, Delavan-Darien, Elkhorn, Lake Geneva Badger, Wilmot, Westosha Central, Mukwonago, Palmyra-Eagle, Big Foot, Williams Bay, East Troy, Whitewater and Catholic Central high schools.
Union Grove made the deepest run, and teams like Burlington made it to sectionals.
The following All-Area squad was compiled by correspondent Mike Ramczyk with input from area coaches.
While all positions are represented, some may have an extra player based on their grade.
For example, the first team has extra pitchers based on the importance of the position and the wealth of pitching talent in the area.
Statistics, overall skills and the eye test, along with team performance, were among the criteria considered.
The fall season is here, but this is one last taste of the spring and summer seasons.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Nick Williams, senior, Union Grove
Williams was a pretty easy pick here.
The Southern Lakes Conference co-player of the year and first team All Racine County selection helped lead the Union Grove Broncos to their best finish in school history and first trip to the Division 1 state baseball tournament.
He also earned second team All District honors.
A sophomore shortstop on the 2019 Division 2 state tournament squad, Williams started at shortstop and graciously moved over to third base halfway through the season when his sophomore brother Nathan took over at shortstop.
The move was seamless, and Grove coach Nate Meyer said it took the Broncos’ defense to the next level.
Nick Williams hit .516 to lead the Broncos lineup with an eye-popping 1.472 on-base plus slugging percentage and .644 on-base percentage.
The speedy cleanup hitter also stole 16 bases.
“Nick is one of the purest hitters and an overall great kid,” Broncos Coach Nate Meyer said.
Williams will play college baseball this fall at Wabash Valley College in southeastern Illinois.
He has dreams of making it to the big leagues one day.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Nate Meyer, Union Grove
The 33-year-old has taken the Broncos to state the past two seasons.
He used to play for the Grove, and now he has the honor of turning his alma mater’s baseball program into a powerhouse.
It helped to have seven college baseball-bound seniors, but Meyer and his staff were able to pull all of the strings all season long and run roughshod through the area.
“Obviously, it’s a huge thing, it’s an individual award, but it’s a team award,” Meyer said. “Without my three assistants RJ Spang, Ben Miller and Matt Wolf, I’m not sitting here. I don’t get this without them.”
After taking over the program in 2017, Meyer has changed the culture and stressed teamwork and players earning everything they get.
“He deserves almost all of the credit because he came in during almost a rebuild,” Nick Williams said of Meyer. “He took the team and had a winning record right away and got the best out of them. Nate and his staff do a great job of holding us accountable.”
FIRST TEAM
Catcher
Brady Katterhagen, senior, Union Grove
The backstop behind the area’s best pitching staff, Katterhagen was a basher in the middle of the lineup and got it done behind the plate as well.
A first team All-SLC selection, Katterhagen led the Broncos with 51 RBIs and hit .401.
Katterhagen was also one of the area’s most clutch hitters.
“Brady caught every inning for us this year and was an absolute workhorse,” Meyer said. “He led our team in RBIs with 51 and always came through with guys on base.”
Pitchers
Kaden Pfeffer, senior, Union Grove
The left-handed master perfected his craft in both starting and closing roles and was lights out all season.
He shut down rival lineups like Burlington and came in to close the door on Muskego in the sectional final and send Grove to state.
An All District honorable mention selection, Pfeffer earned first team All-SLC thanks to a microscopic 1.64 ERA and 5-1 record in 38-⅓ innings.
Pfeffer allowed only 27 hits and nine earned runs all season.
“Kaden was our most consistent pitcher all year,” Meyer said. “He was always around the strike zone and kept us in every game he pitched. Kaden started and came in to close out games for us all year long. He was a crafty left-handed pitcher with three really good pitches.”
Brayden Marks, junior, Elkhorn
The ace for the Elks joined Pfeffer on the All-SLC first team.
The team MVP and team captain fired a no-hitter against rival Delavan-Darien and dazzled with power and control.
Marks was on the mark most of the time, as he struck out 57 batters and only walked 11 in 44-⅓ innings.
He owned one of the area’s best ERAs at 1.99 and had an impressive WHIP of 1.173.
Casey Webber, senior, Palmyra-Eagle
The fire-baller was at the top of the Trailways South food chain this season thanks to mind-bending numbers.
A first team selection, Webber went 11-2 with 58 strikeouts in 43-⅔ innings with a miniscule 2.24 ERA.
He walked only 13 and gave up 33 hits.
Also an Academic All-State pick, Webber hit .423 while playing four positions.
Tyler Deleskiewicz, junior, Lake Geneva Badger
One of the best pitching prospects in the class of 2022, Deleskiewicz may have gotten a raw deal for all-conference because his team had a losing record.
Despite a 1-5 record, he broke a school record by allowing an opponent batting average of .142.
Badger coach Michael Ploch said Deleskiewicz had the talent to make first team All-SLC.
Deleskiewicz tallied a sharp 2.28 ERA, striking out 42 in 40 innings. He only allowed 21 hits.
“He was a catalyst on the mound for us and also had six outfield assists,” Ploch said. “We thought he should have been first team all-conference.”
Infield
Nick Williams, senior, Union Grove
(See above for player of the year capsule)
Isaiah Cerfus, senior, Union Grove
The first baseman was honorable mention All-District and first team All-SLC, and he batted sixth in the explosive juggernaut known as the Broncos’ offense.
“Isaiah was a great hitter all year for us and seemed to always come up with a big hit every game,” Meyer said.
Cerfus will join teammate Noah France and play baseball at Madison College.
He brought the power at the plate with a team-leading six home runs and drove in 39 runs, second on the squad.
Cerfus batted .435 with a whopping 1.279 OPS and added 10 doubles.
Gavin Roanhouse, senior, Waterford
Waterford head coach Lance Bestland was a big fan of Roanhouse, who manned the infield with style, grace and downright skill.
Roanhouse hit .439 and earned first team all-conference honors as an infielder.
He led the Wolverines with an impressive 22 RBIs.
Joe Zuleger, senior, Burlington
A do-it-all player for a Demons squad that advanced to a Division 1 sectional, Zuleger was the ace pitcher and starting third baseman when he wasn’t on the hill.
He shut down Wilmot in a playoff victory and gave most hitters fits all season long.
The Carthage College commit went 7-2 with a 3.87 ERA and could’ve been on here for pitcher or utility player.
Zuleger hit .392 with a .550 on-base percentage, 29 hits, seven doubles, two home runs and 15 RBIs.
“Our most consistent player all year,” Burlington head coach Scott Staude said.
Outfield
Jack Vozel, senior, Wilmot
Headed for Augustana College, Vozel was a four-year starter and hit third in the lineup this season and was also the No. 2 pitcher.
He hit .368 with a 1.163 OPS and knocked in 33 runs.
“Jack was a powerful stick for us in the lineup and a big arm in the outfield that will be tough to replace,” said Westosha Central coach Jacob Morman.
Vozel was named first team All-SLC and honorable mention All-District.
Owen Nowak, sophomore, Union Grove
The sophomore sensation was named first team All-SLC for the star-studded Broncos.
Nowak hit leadoff and was one of only three area players named second team All-District.
“Owen was a great leadoff hitter for us all year and for only being a sophomore has a great feel for the game,” Meyer said. “He was on base consistently all year and was a great leadoff hitter and outfielder.”
Nowak batted a cool .442, leading the team in hits with 46 and 104 at-bats.
He slugged 11 doubles and drove in 21 runs, adding 20 stolen bases.
Remmi Sweet, junior, Union Grove
The starting center fielder and three-hole hitter can do it all on the diamond – hit, run and field – according to Meyer.
Along with Nowak, Sweet set the table for the Broncos’ bombers and allowed them to feast on opposing pitchers.
He put up video game numbers, much like his teammates, with a .488 batting average, 1.285 OPS and 36 RBIs.
Sweet led the team with 25 stolen bases and 23 walks.
“Remmi can basically do it all at a high level,” Meyer said. “His numbers speak for themselves, and he’s an all-around great kid.”
Sweet was a first team All-SLC outfielder and second team All-District.
Garret Kay, sophomore, Waterford
Kay was the Wolverines’ best hitter with a .474 batting average, earning first team All-Conference honors.
He led the team with 37 hits and 35 runs.
Utility
Leo Faletti, senior, Wilmot
The SLC Co-Player of the Year was in strong contention for All-Area player of the year as the Panthers’ top player.
Faletti will take his talents just below the border to McHenry County College this fall to play baseball and study construction management.
A four-year starter, Faletti was the leadoff hitter, starting shortstop and No. 1 pitcher.
He hit .478, carried a .561 on-base percentage and 1.337 OPS, and recorded 32 hits with three home runs.
Faletti also stole 18 bases.
“Leo is a player with all of the tools, he hits for average and power, has the speed to steal bases, has a solid glove and has the competitiveness and intelligence to challenge you with those skills,” former Wilmot head coach Josh Pye said. “I’m looking forward to following Leo at the next level.”
Faletti earned first team All-SLC and honorable mention All-District accolades.
SECOND TEAM
Catcher
Will Johannes, junior, Mukwonago: First Team All-Classic 8, .429 AVG, 1.335 OPS, 29 hits, 4HR, 22 RBI, 17R
Pitchers
Noah France, senior, Union Grove: HM All-SLC, 7-1, 2.79 ERA, 77K, 42IP
Preston Piranio, senior, Mukwonago: Second team All-Classic 8, 6-1, 54 K, 2.40 ERA, threw no-hitter vs. Cedarburg
Dylan Questad, sophomore, Waterford: Second team All-SLC, 67 K, 36IP, 5-1, 1.75 ERA
Michael Mulhollon, junior, Westosha Central: HM All-SLC, 66K, 38IP, 1.99 ERA, threw 6-⅓ of no-hit ball in combined no-hitter playoff win over Waterford
Infield
Andrew Chapman, senior, Waterford: Second team all-SLC, .466 batting average
Anthony Hibl, senior, Walworth Big Foot: First team all-Rock Valley, 55 K, 42-2/3IP, 3.45 ERA, .371 BA, 18 RBI
Marco Faletti, sophomore, Wilmot: .406 BA, 1.076 OPS, 28 hits, 20 RBI, HM All-District, played through injured throwing shoulder
Ryan Carpenter, senior, Palmyra-Eagle: First team Trailways South, 435 AVG, 62 AB, 27 H, 3 HR, 11 2B, 27 RBI, .568 OBP, .768 SLG, 1.326 OPS
Outfield
Tyler Dopke, senior, East Troy: First team All-Rock Valley, .453 BA, 1.182 OPS, 29 hits, 18 RBI
Keegan Kearby, junior, Westosha Central: Second team All-SLC, .423 BA, 33 hits, 18 RBI
Gage Peterson, junior, Burlington: Second team All-SLC, .436 BA, .574 OBP
Joey Schmitz, junior, Walworth Big Foot: First team all-RVC, .375 BA, .986 OPS
HONORABLE MENTION
- Burlington: Kale Dietz, Chase Ketterhagen, Joey Berezowitz.
- Burlington Catholic Central: Alex Vogt.
- Delavan-Darien: Alex Papcke.
- East Troy: A. Bruce, O. Rice.
- Elkhorn: Austin Bestul.
- Lake Geneva Badger: Crete Slattery.
- Mukwonago: Caleb Rogosienski, Hunter Santos, Matt Brissette.
- Palmyra-Eagle: Cameron Joyner, Tony Jrolf, Tyler Peardon.
- Union Grove: Nathan Williams.
- Walworth Big Foot: Nevin Anderson, Sam Phillips.
- Waterford: Alex Clarksen.
- Westosha Central: Adam Switalski.
- Whitewater: Marc Jones, Marcus DePorter.
- Williams Bay: Collin Kuiper, Sam Norton.
- Wilmot: Kaleb Gendron.
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