PLAYERS TO WATCH
Evan Albrecht, sr., SS, West Bend West: The Purdue recruit is the big piece returning for the defending state champion.
Jason Antonneau, sr., SS, Cedarburg: The all-North Shore selection will be one of the best in the area at his position and a team-leader for a squad hoping to rise in the conference standings. He hit .368 last season.
Alex Binelas, sr., IF, Oak Creek: The top prospect earned Greater Metro player of the year and all state honors last season when he hit .508 with 29 RBI and a 1.590 OPS. Whether he reports to Louisville for college or to the minor leagues following the Major League draft, he won’t finish the season. Enjoy him while you can. Teig Chase, sr., P, Kettle Moraine: He’ll also get some playing time as an infielder, but he is at his best on the mound where he went 7-2 with a 2.73 ERA for the Classic 8 champion.
Dylan Conrad, sr., P, Waukesha North: The reigning player of the year in the Classic 8 earned second-team all-state recognition after going 9-1 with a 1.38 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 71 innings. He also swung a pretty good bat, hitting .316 with 27 RBI for a squad that reached the sectional final.
Gino D’Alessio, sr., C, Pius XI: The allWoodland section received honorable mention all-state. He hit .402 for the Popes.
Ben Ellifson, sr., P, Oak Creek: He went 6-0 with one save and a 2.02 ERA last season. Coaches in the GMC made him a first-team all-conference selection. Parker Heidorf, sr., P, Pewaukee: The Western Illinois recruit went 3-3 with two saves, a 2.83 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 37 innings.
Carson Kimple, sr., OF, Whitefish Bay: The all-North Shore pick did a lot of damage last season, hitting .438 with four home runs, 40 RBI and 10 stolen bases.
Josh Kolb, sr., OF, Kettle Moraine: The Carroll University recruit hit .408 last season when the Lasers won the Classic 8 title.
Nick Paget, jr., 1B, New Berlin West: The two-time all-Woodland West pick put up some imposing numbers as a freshman and sophomore: a .461 batting average, .618 on-base percentage, 1.140 OPS with six home runs and 55 RBI.
Sam Treffert, sr., P, Pius XI: The lefthander is at the top of a loaded rotation for the Popes. He went 6-2 with a 3.02 ERA and 54 strikeouts last season.
Jonathan Wizner, jr., SS, Germantown:
He was the Warhawks’ MVP and a second-team all-state selection as a sophomore after hitting .450.