Southern Lakes Newspapers All Area Baseball 2018
Krause, Chapman, Wilmot trio lead largest 1st team
By Mike Ramczyk
The 2018 area high school baseball season didn’t necessarily feature bona fide, blue chip superstar players.
But what it did have was strong talent across the board, and our 16 high schools are evident of that in our third annual Southern Lakes Newspapers All-Area Baseball team.
Only one person donned the WBCA All-State list, and that was junior second teamer Trey Krause from Burlington.
Thanks to a devastating, mostly unhittable curveball, Krause not only sported an ERA in the low 1s but batted .474 en route to our Player of the Year honor, the third straight recipient from the Demons.
Most impressively, Krause started and won a sectional semifinal game on the road at Kenosha Tremper, then two hours later in the sectional final, struck out two batters and closed the game with a 1-2-3 seventh inning to clinch a state berth.
Now that’s clutch, folks.
It’s not a coincidence that Burlington advanced to the state tournament the past three years, highlighted by a state championship in 2016.
Burlington and Union Grove each had multiple first team selections, but Wilmot led the area with three.
And don’t forget about the little guy.
Players from Palmyra-Eagle, Big Foot and Whitewater all proved they had what it takes to play at any school, in any conference, and dominate.
Over the course of the last six weeks, my crack staff of Jason Arndt, Tim Wester, Chris Bennett, Kevin Cunningham, Daniel Schoettler, Dana Ehrmann, Dan Truttschel and Michael Hoey helped gather statistics, nominations, odds and ends and coaches’ comments from our 16 area baseball teams, a plethora that includes Racine, Kenosha, Walworth and Waukesha counties, along with five conferences.
As always, I have the final say. This idea was my baby back in 2016, when I started questioning why we only did All-Area teams for our four Racine County schools, though it’s the majority of our circulation, at least numbers-wise.
But we are everywhere, like pools in the summer, and I thought it was only right to show all our newspapers and players some love.
This has made for a much more competitive and prestigious squad.
My first criterion is always the eye test.
What jumps off the page?
Stats are a serious consideration, along with impact in the postseason and team leadership.
The icing on the cake is what the coach has to say about a player.
Is he a team-oriented star that makes everyone else better. Is he one of the best defensive stoppers in decades?
And did he dominate his conference, region or state?
Team performance also weighs in.
Sit back, relax, grab a cold beverage and microwave up those leftovers, because the show is starting.
Player of the Year
Trey Krause, junior, Burlington
– 2nd team WBCA all-state, SLC POY, all-Racine County POY, .474 batting average, 37 hits, 7-2, 1.26 ERA, 90K, 61 IP, 26BB, 42 hits allowed
– please see www.myracinecounty.com, mywalworthcounty.com, mykenoshacounty.com for a full-length feature on Krause
Coach of the Year
Scott Staude, Burlington
Literally an award he could win every year, Staude, at the helm for the state-qualifying Demons for his 20th season, earned his paycheck in 2018.
With former players of the year Zach Campbell and Aaron Mutter graduated, along with big hitters like Jacob Lindemann, Bryan Sturdevant, Dale Damon, Aaron Studevant and Cal Tully all gone, Grant Tully remained the only major link to the 2016 Division 1 state championship team.
So what did Staude do?
He started a sophomore, Christian Brenner, at catcher, leaned on the talented pitching arms of Trey Krause and Trent Turzenski, only juniors, and kept it moving in the win column with a third consecutive Southern Lakes Conference championship.
But it wasn’t easy by any means.
It required a six-game win streak to finish the season, as Burlington got hot and staved off solid squads like Waterford, Wilmot and Westosha Central, all of which boast legit college baseball Division 1 talent.
The Demons only batted .303 as a team, but the pitching staff was lights out, posting a team ERA of 1.76.
Six pitchers tossed at least 10 innings, and the highest ERA was 3.33, while three were sub-2.00.
This is a testament to an elite coaching staff built by Staude, which includes former Major League pitcher Bob Lee, 82, Burlington Barons pitching star Karl Richter, longtime Barons stalwart Ryan Hoffman and longtime assistant Tom Krause.
This is only the tip of the iceberg, as a total of eight or nine assistants joined the Demons in Appleton for their third straight state run.
Staude’s infectious passion for the game of baseball, along with legit credentials as a player (All-American in college), are the perfect mix, and his constant positivity and enthusiasm make everyone in the vicinity better.
When things started slow and the Demons hovered barely above .500 midway through the season, Staude’s constant vision never wavered, and things turned around with a sweep of mighty Wilmot, the conference favorite, along with a dominant sectional where Burlington simply out-classed host Kenosha Tremper and Kenosha Bradford.
At state, thanks to a next-level pitching performance from Krause, the Demons only lost 2-1 to Arrowhead, which featured several Division 1 college players and went on to lose in walk-off fashion in extra innings in the state title game.
Staude’s program is better than ever, and he proved in 2018 that no matter his team’s overall talent level, his commitment to small ball and pitching will always persevere and lead to wins.
First team
Kyle Gendron, senior, Wilmot
Gendron showed remarkable command of his pitches and also posed a challenge in the batter’s box.
Hands down the best right-handed pitcher in the area, Gendron followed up a strong junior campaign with an even better senior year, one in which he went 6-3 on the mound with a 1.23 ERA in 57 innings.
Gendron walked 12 and struck out 66. At the plate, he added a .290 average with 16 RBIs.
“Kyle was our ace,” said Wilmot assistant coach Jason Bunton. “When he wasn’t pitching, he played first base and had a 1.000 fielding percentage.”
Gendron, who will play college baseball at Division 2 Winona State University, was a first team all-conference pitcher.
Currently, he is starring for the Burlington Barons.
Gendron helped lead the Panthers to second place in the Southern Lakes.
Aaron Chapman, senior, Waterford
One of the area’s most talented, versatile stars, Chapman reinvented himself as a closer in 2018, going 3-1 on the mound with three saves and a 1.24 ERA.
Chapman didn’t really pitch as a junior.
A first team all-SLC and all-county infielder, Chapman led the Wolverines with a .361 batting average, including 26 hits, a home run, 13 RBIs and a team-high .948 OPS.
The 2017 Southern Lakes Newspapers Western Racine County Male Athlete of the Year thanks to his prowess as a first team all-SLC cornerback on the football field, Chapman will play Division 1 college baseball at Indiana University-Purdue University-Fort Wayne.
Tanner Peterson, junior, Wilmot
This Division 1 Illinois State University recruit did it all in 2018, most notably firing a complete game shutout to beat state runner-up Arrowhead.
And he’s not even an “ace” pitcher.
Tanner batted .425 with 31 hits, 17 RBIs, two home runs and 10 stolen bases.
“Tanner was ‘Mr. Do-it-all’ for us, playing every outfield position, second base and being our No. 2 pitcher,” Bunton said.
On the mound, he pretty much solidified his ace role for next season, going 4-0 with a 1.75 ERA, featuring 34 strikeouts and 13 walks and 34 innings.
For his efforts, Peterson was named a first team all-SLC outfielder.
Alec Spang, senior, Union Grove
A hard-nosed, tough catcher, Spang hit .408 to lead the Broncos back to the middle of the pack in the loaded SLC.
He drove in 29 runs, collected 29 hits and smashed 10 doubles.
Spang earned first team all-county and first team all-SLC accolades.
“Alec is a hard worker, a great teammate and always positive,” said Union Grove coach Nathan Meyer. “He is a workhorse that caught all but seven innings for us this year and led our team in almost all the major hitting categories and seemed to always come up with a big hit when we needed it.”
“Alec also did a great job commanding our young pitching staff and shutting down the other teams’ running game.”
Spang boasted an impressive .988 fielding percentage.
Grant Tully, senior, Burlington
One of the best all-around athletes this area has seen, this all-conference football, basketball and baseball star showed why he’s a human swiss army knife for the Demons in 2018.
The 2017 All-Area Football Player of the Year showed his elite speed on the base paths, ripping off 12 stolen bases.
Tully was the senior leader for Burlington and posted a career high batting average of .350 while recording 28 hits and four doubles.
Grant was a first team all-county outfielder and second team all-SLC selection.
“Grant had an outstanding career and went to state three times as a starter,” Burington coach Scott Staude said. “Flexible player in the field that can play multiple positions.”
Tully started in the outfield as a sophomore and senior, while starting at shortstop and second base as a junior.
Gunner Peterson, senior, Wilmot
Gunner, who will join brother Tanner at Illinois State, came through when it mattered most at the plate.
Gunner delivered a game-winning RBI in Wilmot’s first meeting of the season with Westosha Central.
He nearly did it again in the next meeting, belting a home run in extra innings, but the Panthers eventually fell after running out of pitching options.
Gunner was named the MVP of the WBCA State All-Star game this summer.
In the spring, Gunner hit .380 with four homers, 23 RBIs and 14 stolen bases.
“This is a player that gave us everything he could with the limited ability to throw a baseball due to inflammation in his shoulder,” Bunton said.
Gunner earned honorable mention all-SLC honors.
Charles Robinson, senior, Burlington Catholic Central
A three-time All-Area performer, Robinson finally cracked the first team thanks to a monster senior campaign.
The quick, natural hitter and speedy runner batted .462 with 30 hits, 16 RBIs and an area-leading 24 stolen bases.
Charles was named first team all-Metro Classic and first team all-county as an infielder.
Bryce Parrish, senior, Whitewater
The hometown boy will move about a mile from Whitewater High School to play college ball at Division 3 UW-Whitewater this fall, and his senior season proves why the Warhawks covet the stellar pitcher.
Parrish was named to the Janesville Gazette All-Area team, amid stiff competition, thanks to a ridiculous 0.88 ERA and 5-1 record on the mound.
He also hit .460 with 29 hits, nine doubles, five home runs and 24 RBIs in leading the Whippets to a 14-9 record and a WIAA Division 2 regional final appearance.
“One of the best seasons ever both offensively and pitching in Whitewater history,” said Whippets head man Jim Pease. “A two-time captain, Bryce is definitely one of the best players in the area and state.”
A four-year varsity player, Parrish was first team all-Rock Valley.
Luke Hansel, junior, Union Grove
The third undeniable ace on the first team, Hansel was named second team all-conference only because of Gendron.
Otherwise, this sometimes slept-on talent throws just as hard as anyone in the area and can shut down the mightiest of lineups.
Hansel was named first team all-county thanks to a 5-2 record on the mound with a microscopic 0.89 ERA.
In 47 innings, Hansel struck out 65 and walked 12, while scattering 35 hits.
He also hit .373 with 19 RBIs.
“Luke had an outstanding year on the mound,” Meyer said. “Every time he took the mound, we knew we had a really good chance of winning that day. Luke puts in the work during the offseason, and it really paid off this year.”
Lonnie Garlock, senior, Palmyra-Eagle
Named Trailways Conference player of the year, the first baseman tied the school record for home runs in a season.
Garlock helped lead a team that won the Trailways South with a 16-0 mark and finished 16-3 overall.
Kaleb Greco, junior, Walworth Big Foot
A first team all-Rock Valley pick, Greco battled in a tough conference and the Chiefs finished 7-11.
But Greco showed his clout, leading off for the Chiefs and batting .520 to lead the area.
“Kaleb is an outstanding center fielder and leadoff hitter,” said Big Foot head coach Steve Bochat.
Second team
Trent Turzenski, junior, Burlington
The ace of the staff on most clubs, the lanky power right-hander provided a lethal 1-2 punch with Krause that helped Burlington enjoy a near-perfect month of June.
Turzenski shut down a powerful, state-ranked Kenosha Tremper squad, on its home turf, in a sectional final back in early June.
Perhaps more impressive was a week of domination that saw Turzenski fire a multiple-inning save at Wilmot, then shut down the Panthers at home a few days later to help clinch the Demons’ third straight SLC crown.
The 6-foot-5 athlete, who should have a strong season on the basketball court this winter, went 5-1 with a 2.52 ERA, striking out 53 in 47 innings and walking 20.
Turzenski started seven games on the mound.
At the plate, the second team all-county pick hit .341 with 28 hits and 15 RBIs, good for second on the Demons.
“Trent would be a No. 1 starter on most staffs,” Staude said.
Turzenski also earned all-SLC honorable mention.
TJ Manteufel, sophomore, Union Grove
The future is bright in the Grove, with Manteufel and Hansel both back next season.
The Broncos featured one of the area’s best infields thanks to Manteufel, who dazzled at shortstop.
TJ hit .380 with three homers and 18 RBIs to earn first team all-SLC and all-county honors.
A speed demon, Manteufel snagged 19 stolen bases.
The talented infielder helped the Broncos turn a losing record in 2017 into an 8-6 finish in the top-heavy, stacked SLC.
“TJ put together a very good sophomore season and helped our team in so many different ways,” Meyer said. “TJ’s work ethic is second to none, and he works year-round on all facets of the game and it definitely showed this season.”
Josh Leslie, senior, Westosha Central
Our first Falcon, team leader and All-Area mainstay Leslie will play college baseball at Mesa Community College in Arizona this fall.
Leslie led the 17-7 Falcons all the way to sectionals, where a late comeback almost led to a sectional final appearance.
The infielder earned honorable mention all-SLC thanks to a .315 batting average, including 19 RBIs, five doubles and two triples.
Leslie also walked 20 times and boasted a team-best .453 on-base percentage.
“Josh is a three-year varsity starter that leads by example on and off the field,” Central coach Jacob Morman said. “This kid is all baseball all the time. He’s a kid that helps propel a program in the right direction by the way he sets an example for the younger kids in the program.”
“We’re going to miss him moving forward. He’s going to do great things at the next level.”
Nick Rockweiler, junior, Elkhorn
Another first team all-SLC selection, Rockweiler was the MVP of the Elks in 2018.
A dynamic outfielder, Rockweiler hit .392 with a .467 on-base average.
He earned Janesville Gazette All-Area.
Rockweiler led the Elks with 31 hits and 19 RBIs.
Noal Brouwer, senior, Delavan-Darien
A lights-out pitcher with nasty stuff that constantly moves and gives batters fits, Brouwer has been an ace for the Comets since he was a sophomore.
Brouwer neary struck out two batters per inning for an entire season, a rare feat, with 84 K’s in 42-2/3.
His domination led to a 3-3 record, 2.95 ERA and only 27 walks.
At the plate, he added a .373 batting average in 51 at-bats.
“One of the hardest workers I’ve ever coached,” said Delavan coach Mike Grover. “He’s a hard thrower, and every pitch he throws moves.”
Dawson Vance, senior, Lake Geneva Badger
Vance can flat-out fly to cover ground and chase down balls in the outfield, and this year he put it all together at the plate.
The first team all-SLC performer helped the Badgers to a winning conference record thanks to a team-high 23 hits, 19 RBIs and .348 batting average.
“If we were scoring runs, he was right in the middle of it,” said head coach Aaron Zweifel. “It was great to see him have the year he had as a senior. He took the starting spot and ran with it.”
Justin Paasch, senior, Wilmot
People forget that the Wilmot Panthers were ranked No. 1 in the state in area back in April after a perfect 6-0 start to the season.
Along with Gendron and the Petersons, Paasch provided more star power at shortstop, where he only committed two errors all season and fielded a .966 percentage.
Offensively, Paasch hit .338 with 22 hits and 18 RBIs, and he struck out four times in 85 plate appearances.
Paasch also added 13 stolen bases.
The first team all-SLC pick also earned all-Kenosha County honors.
Andrew Chapman, freshman, Waterford
Already a second team all-SLC and second team all-county pick in his rookie season, the younger Chapman’s future is bright, and he could be poised to take over with big brother Aaron now playing in college.
Andrew had the game-winning hit to knock off conference champion Burlington at Beaumont Field in Burlington, and he was second on the team with a .354 batting average.
Andrew led the club with 20 RBIs and six doubles.
Patient beyond his years, Chapman also took 13 walks and led the team with a .462 on-base percentage.
Don’t be surprised if the young phenom jumps to the first team in 2019.
Austin Glidden, junior, Westosha Central
One of the aces for perhaps the second-best team in the SLC, Glidden posted a 2.86 ERA with a 4-1 record on the hill in 2018, good enough to earn second team all-SLC.
At the plate, Glidden hit .321 with 19 RBIs, two home runs and eight doubles.
“We ask Austin to do just about everything for us, and that’s really because the coaching staff trusts that we can put him anywhere and he will play that position at a high level,” Morman said. “We can count on Austin to give us a good game on the mound every time out.”
Jimmy DuVal, senior, Whitewater
A repeat All-Area player, the four-year starter hit cleanup for the Whippets.
A first team all-RVC pick, DuVal hit .368 with 20 RBIs and five doubles.
“Jimmy played outstanding in the outfield,” Pease said. “He’s one of the best in the area getting jumps on balls and running down gap shots.”
Chad Zirbel, senior, Burlington Catholic Central
A sure-handed glove in the outfield, Zirbel overcame injury during football and basketball seasons to star in the spring.
He totaled 23 hits, 13 RBIs and 10 stolen bases and hit .370 in leading the Toppers to a winning record and top-four finish in the loaded Metro Classic Conference.
Zirbel was named first team all-Racine County and first team all-MCC.
Collin Dorow, senior, Mukwonago
A first team all-Classic 8 and second team all-summer baseball selection for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Dorow was an ace pitcher on the mound for the second-place Indians.
Also a dangerous threat at the plate, Dorow helped the .500 Indians win seven straight conference games to finish the season, the last one for summer baseball in the state of Wisconsin.
Though the Indians bowed out in the first round of the playoffs a few weeks back, highlights included a 16-7 record and a victory over summer state champion Muskego, a game in which Dorow got the victory.
Honorable mention
Zach Guenther, junior, Waterford
– 2nd team all-county, 6-0, 46-2/3 IP, 33H, 40K, 13BB, 2.25 ERA
Chance Larson, Elkhorn
– .408 BA, 18RBI, 29 hits, .494 OBP, HM all-SLC
Austin Pfeil, senior, Williams Bay
– 2nd team all-Trailways South
Tucker Strommen, junior, Burlington
– 1st team all-SLC IF, .286 BA, 20 hits, 5 2B
Scott Day, senior, Walworth Big Foot
– .450 BA, 19 RBI, all-RVC
Kyle Huckstorf, junior, Waterford
– 2nd team all-SLC, .345 BA
Dylan Anderson, junior, Westosha Central
– 4-1, 1.92 ERA, 47-1/3 IP, 22K… “Down the stretch he was our go-to guy in big games, and he delivered every time,” Morman said.
Frank Koehnke, senior, Burlington Catholic Central
– 25 hits, 15 RBI, .410 BA, HM all-MCC, 2nd team all-county
Derek Koenen, senior, Burlington
– scored Demons’ only run at state, .286 BA, 18 hits, 3-1, 1.75 ERA, 12 IP, 16K
Dylan Pease, junior, Whitewater
– .404 BA, 21 hits, 1st team all-RVC
“Ultimate team player, and an extension of the coach on the field,” Pease said.
Alex Salerno, junior, Westosha Central
– 2nd team all-SLC, .333 BA, .439 OBP
“Alex is one of the best center fielders in the area,” Morman said. “He catches everything and has a tremendous arm. He works hard, has great character and is a really good player.”
Bryce Konitzer, senior, Mukwonago
– 1st team summer all-Classic 8
Tyler Swanson, sophomore, Catholic Central
– .446 BA, 29 hits, 14 RBI, 23 SB, 2nd team all-county, HM all-MCC
John Huffman, soph., Catholic Central
– .429 BA, 24 hits, 10 SB, 2nd team all-MCC, 2nd team all-county
Christian Brenner, soph., Burlington
– .273 BA, .995 fielding %, 2nd team all-SLC, 21 hits, 7 2B, 16 RBI
Colton Surges, sr., Lake Geneva Badger
– 2nd team all-SLC, .292 BA, .403 OBP, captain
“He was our starting first baseman and was the main reason we had a good defense,” Zweifel said.
Eric Gonzalez, jr., Delavan-Darien
– HM all-SLC, .431 BA, 22 hits, 14 RBI
Sawyer Weinreich, sr., Palmyra-Eagle
– 1st team all-Trailways, highest batting average on team, stellar defensively
AJ Kwiat, sr., Palmyra-Eagle 1st team AC, #1 pitcher last two seasons, led conference in wins and strikeouts
Heath Dillenbeck, sr., Big Foot
– 5-1, sub-3 ERA, .340 hitter, 2nd team all-RVC
Area leaders
- Kaleb Greco, jr, Big Foot, .520 batting average
- Trey Krause, jr, Burlington, .474
- Charles Robinson, sr, Catholic Central, .462
- Bryce Parrish, sr, Whitewater, .460
- Scott Day, sr, Big Foot, .450
- Tyler Swanson, soph, Catholic Central, .446
- Eric Gonzalez, jr, Delavan-Darien, .431
- John Huffman, soph, Catholic Central, .429
- Tanner Peterson, jr, Wilmot, .425
- Jack Hereley, jr, Big Foot, .420
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