Eagles picked for third in Badger

Editor’s Note: The Badger Small Conference preview was compiled by Wissports.net.   2023 RECAP: Last season, the Badger Conference was constructed with East and West divisions as opposed to the newly minted Large and Small for this year.  In the East, Monona Grove won the conference by four games. Watertown and Waunakee tied for second in the league.  Monona Grove, Watertown, and Beaver Dam all won a regional title, but no team from the conference advanced beyond sectional play.   Conference Notes: The Badger Conference has reconfigured again this year. It was split into North and South in 2022, East and West in 2023, and now the Large and Small in 2024.  Most of the East teams will be in the new look Large division, with the exception of Stoughton who moves to the Small. Oregon is new to the “Large” after being in the West division last year.   2024 PREVIEW 1. MADISON EDGEWOOD Head Coach: Richard Newton (20th at Edgewood, 21st overall); 320-177 overall record 2023 Record: 19-8 Returning Letter Winners: 14 Returning Starters: Bennett Cagle (jr.), Brady Livelli (sr.), Steffen Mello (sr.), Henry Bishop (sr.), Preston Yaucher (jr.), Carson Jesberger (jr.), Seth Myers (jr.), Henry Gill (jr.). Forecast: Edgewood finished second in the conference standings last year, but is the favorite to take home the crown in the newly created Badger Small division in 2024. Head coach Richard Newton will put out a squad that features four players committed to play at the collegiate level; junior Preston Yaucher (Penn State), seniors Steffen Mello (UW-Oshkosh), Brady Livelli (Hamline University), and Henry Bishop (DePauw University).  Bishop, Mello, and Yaucher give the Crusaders an excellent top of the rotation trio of arms. Edgewood is ranked 15th in the WBCA Division 2 Preseason Coaches Poll and is poised to challenge for a conference title and make a deep playoff run.   2. REEDSBURG Head Coach: Chris Hahn (5th at Reedsburg, 8th overall) 2023 Record: 19-4 Returning Letter Winners: 7 Returning Starters: Winston Alonso (soph.), Aden Edwards (sr.), Jack Fenwick (jr.), Mark Othmer (sr.), Alec Southworth (jr.), Brogan Honer (sr.), Clint Harms (jr.). Forecast: Reedsburg won the Badger West Conference and came up one game short of the state tournament last season. The 2024 Beavers return their senior ace Aden Edwards after he went 6-0 with a 1.55 ERA last year.  Also, sophomore Winston Alonso was terrific as a freshman, hitting .338 and earning first-team All-Conference honors with Edwards. Jack Fenwick and Marth Othmer were honorable mention all-conference pitchers last year and give head coach Chris Hahn a solid top end rotation.  The key to the Beavers pushing Edgewood at the top of the conference is seeing who will fill the holes in the batting lineup as the season progresses.   3. SAUK PRAIRIE Head Coach: Darin Pape (8th at Sauk Prairie, 25th with the program); 74-74 record 2023 Record: 13-13 Returning Starters: Austin Pagel (sr.), Brason Ballweg (sr.), Boden Frosch (jr.), Mason Kaufman (sr.), Evan Tucker (sr.), Jackson Breunig (sr.), Marty Hanna (soph.) Forecast: Sauk Prairie joined Reedsburg as the only conference teams to win regional titles last year. An almost complete pitching rotation returns for head coach Darin Pape in Brason Ballweg, Austin Pagel, Boden Frosch, and Jackson Breunig.  The Eagles clicked when it mattered last season and have momentum coming into this year. Developing the bottom of the batting lineup is a big determining factor in how competitive Sauk Prairie can be.   4. MCFARLAND Head Coach: John Feldner (48th at McFarland, 49th overall); 455-476 overall record 2023 Record: 19-8 Returning Starters: Dylan Schaefer (Sr.), Adam Stephany (sr.), Mason Roe (jr.), Nick Cappozzo (sr.), Braylan Roder (sr.), Aiden Chandre (sr.), Will Steinke (jr.), Hayden Harrison (jr.), Caden Komro (sr.) Forecast: McFarland competed in the Rock Valley Conference last season and finished 19-8 overall and third in the conference standings. The Spartans, led by WBCA Hall of Fame coach John Feldner, move to the Badger Small this season and should factor in to how the standings shake out.  Senior catcher Braylan Roder is heading to UW-Whitewater next season, but will direct a pitching staff that returns almost all of its arms. Expect the Spartans to compete in the top half of their new conference.   5. MOUNT HOREB Head Coach: Ryan Finley (15th year at Mount Horeb, 15th overall); 151-143 record at Mount Horeb 2023 Record: 13-13 2023 JV Record: 14-6 2023 Freshman Record: 2-9 Returning Letter Winners: 11 Returning Starters: Colin Larson (jr.), Josh Manchester (soph.), Josh Kuntz (soph.), Talon Stoenner (jr.), Hayden Anderson (soph.), Ryan Skogen (jr.), Drew Preimesberger (sr.) Forecast: Mount Horeb had a strong mix of young and old last year, but returns a pitching staff that gained some great experience last year. Sophomore Josh Manchester, a Division 1 basketball prospect, had a 3.41 ERA and hit at a .357 clip last season while earning second team all-conference honors.  Fellow sophomore Josh Kuntz and junior Colin Larson were both all-conference hitters and give head coach Ryan Finley proven bats to go along with his still young pitching staff.   6. STOUGHTON Head Coach: Jeremy Dunnihoo (12th at Stoughton, 13th overall); 93-167 overall record 2023 Record: 6-20 Returning Starters: Casey Quam (jr.) Evan Muchka (sr.), Kasen Sperle (sr.), Ian Westerberg (sr.), Beckett Spilde (sr.), Alex Bailey (sr.), Charlie McClure (sr.), Thor Armstrong (sr.). Forecast: Stoughton won just six games last year, but did compete in a half with most of the bigger schools in the Badger. Moving to the Small Division, the Vikings may fair better as almost the entire roster returns in 2024.  Casey Quam, Kasen Sperle, and Evan Muchka all made second team or honorable mention all-conference in the East last year and give head coach Jeremy Dunnihoo a trio to lean on. Though Stoughton may not compete at the top of the conference, it should improve upon its six-win season.   7. BARABOO Head Coach: Dan Pavlue (5th year at Baraboo, 13th overall); 137-115 overall record 2023 Record: 14-15 Returning Letter Winners: 8 Returning Starters: Talan Pichler (sr.), Burke Schweda (sr.), Peyton Poker (soph.), Jackson Puttkamer (jr.), Luke Vittengl (sr.), Jacob Gaffney (sr.), Trayton Lapacek (sr.). Forecast: Baraboo finished a game under .500 last year, but was one run short of a regional title.  Head coach Dan Pavlue returns all-conference selections Peyton Poker, Talan Pichler, Luke Vittengl, and Burke Schweda to a lineup that scored plenty of runs last season. The issue for the Thunderbirds will be keeping other teams from crossing home plate.   8. PORTAGE Coach: Mike Hemming (24th year at Portage, 25th overall); 301-229 overall record 2023 Record: 6-16 2023 JV Record: 15-7 2023 Freshman Record: 8-3  Returning Letter Winners: 9 Returning Starters: Keagan Hooker (sr.), Haakon Johnson (sr.), Trevor Brouette (jr.), Griffin Garrigan (sr.), Jack Stevenson (sr.) Forecast: Portage struggled to a 2-12 conference record and 6-16 overall. Fortunately for long-time head coach Mike Hemming, he returns a majority of his roster including all-conference hitters Keagan Hooker, Haakon Johnson, and Trevor Brouette.