Fab four

Sauk Prairie’s baseball team struggled on the field this season, going 9-16 overall. But the Eagles found some success off the field as four players were named to the all-Badger Small Conference team. Senior pitcher Austin Pagel and sophomore shortstop/pitcher Marty Hanna were both named second-team all-conference. Junior center fielder Boden Frosch and sophomore catcher Bryan Breunig were both named honorable-mention all-league. Pagel went 3-3 with a 2.045 ERA. He threw 51 1/3 innings, struck out 54 batters and battled through an early season knee injury to have a terrific season. Pagel was the winning pitcher in Sauk Prairie’s 5-2 victory over Wisconsin Dells in a WIAA Division 2 regional quarterfinal. He then threw a terrific game in the regional semifinals when the Eagles were edged by Badger Small Conference champion Reedsburg, 1-0, in nine innings. “Austin really came on again this year,” Sauk Prairie manager Darin Pape said. “He battled through a knee injury early in the season, but really showed determination and grit all season long.  He was playing his best baseball at the end of the season.   “He showed that he was a force on the mound, and other teams knew they were in for a battle when he was on the mound. We knew that when Austin was pitching, we were definitely going to be in the game, no matter who we were playing. He is a fierce competitor, and led by example.” Hanna was a force at the plate, in the field and on the mound. Hanna batted .337 with an on-base percentage of .439 and a slugging percentage of .422. Hanna also had five doubles, a triple, 12 RBIs and scored 17 runs. Hanna was also a force on the mound when called upon. “Marty was very consistent all season long,” Pape said. “He was one of our offensive leaders all season. He also continued to play defense and pitch at a high level.   “He is a very hard working player that quietly goes about his business. He leads by example, and continues to work to improve. Next year, as a junior, he will be counted on to anchor our pitching staff next season, and be a force in the batting order.” Frosch batted .253 with a .341 OBP and a .688 OPS. Frisch added seven doubles, had 13 RBI and scored 19 runs. “Boden has always been a durable and consistent center fielder,” Pape said. “He is a very dynamic player, and puts a lot of pressure on the defense when he gets on base.   “He worked very hard to become more consistent offensively, and provide the spark that our offense needed. Next year, as a senior, he will be counted on to lead by example again.” Breunig batted .286 with a .408 OBP and a .789 OPS. He also had six doubles, seven RBI and scored six runs. “As a sophomore, he is a tireless worker that did a great job for us this season,” Pape said. “He was instrumental in shutting down the other team’s run game.   “He also learned how to manage pitchers at the varsity level, and be a leader on the field. He had some big hits for us on offense, and will continue to improve his entire game going forward.”         All-Badger Small      Conference Baseball               First Team Name School Yr. Peyton Poker Baraboo     10 Henry Bishop Edgewood 12 Bennett Cagle Edgewood 11 Seth Myers Edgewood 11 Braylan Roder McFarland 12 Josh Manchester Mount Horeb 10 Josh Kuntz Mount Horeb 10 Keagan Hooker Portage 12 Winston Alonso Reedsburg 10 Aden Edwards Reedsburg 12 Alek Southworth Reedsburg     11 Jack Fenwick Reedsburg 11 Pitcher of the Year — Henry Bishop, Edgewood Player of the Year — Winston Alonso, Reedsburg Coach of the Year — Chris Hahn, Reedsburg     Second Team Name School Yr. Steffen Mello Edgewood     12 Preston Yaucher Edgewood 11 Grayson Gauwitz McFarland 9 Will Steinke McFarland 11 Drew Preimesberger Mount Horeb 12 Logan Ford Mount Horeb 10 Kane Chappell Portage 11 Haakon Johnson Portage 12 Mark Othmer Reedsburg 12 Austin Pagel Sauk Prairie 12 Marty Hanna Sauk Prairie 10 Thor Armstrong Stoughton 12           Honorable Mention Baraboo – Burke Schweda, Trayton Lapacek Edgewood – Jack Halloran, Carson Jesberger McFarland – Dylan Schaefer, Adam Stephany Mount Horeb – Colin Larson, Jaxen Finley Portage – Trevor Brouette, Griffin Garrigan Reedsburg – Luke Verch, Beau Molitor Sauk Prairie – Bryan Breunig, Boden Frosch Stoughton — Evan Muchka, Alex Bailey