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Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 13 Hortonville

March 16, 2015

By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor – Wisconsin/Illinois

The Wisconsin high school season kicks off on March 31, the first day for regular season games. Most teams will begin practicing on March 23, getting their rosters set and finalizing their lineups.

Throughout the month of March we will be counting down our Preseason Power 25 Team Rankings leading up to the No. 1 team right before opening day.

CLICK HERE for complete Preseason Power 25.

No. 13 Hortonville

2014 Record: 23-4
WIAA Classification: 1
Conference: Fox Valley Association
Head Coach: Greg Yeager
2014 Playoff Run: Regional Champions

TOP PLAYERS

Jake Sommers, RHP/SS, 2015
Josh Toonen, OF/RHP, 2015
John Van Liere, LHP, 2015
Reece Frederick, 2B, 2015 (UW-Stevens Point)
Carter Beaudoin, RHP, 2015

KEY LOSSES

Not only did the Polar Bears lose Hall of Fame Head Coach Don Williams but they lost a ton of pitching to graduation. Hortonville will have to replace over 100 innings pitched on the mound and 18 wins, most of which came from LHP Alex McIntosh (70.2 IP, 9-2) who is currently 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA for UW-Milwaukee in two relief appearances as a freshman.

UP AND COMING

Bryce Cross is a sophomore middle infielder who could see time for the Polar Bears in 2015. Hortonville will be returning two senior middle infielders in Frederick and Sommers, but Sommers is likely to see a lot more action on the mound this year which could open some opportunities for the slick fielding Cross. Also keep an eye on Zak Kosloske, a sophomore C who can really swing the bat.

OUTLOOK

2015 will bring a lot of changes and challenges for Hortonville. The Polar Bears lost long time Hall of Fame coach Don Williams to retirement after 35 years and a 586-160 record, long-time assistant Greg Yeager will take over at the helm. Hortonville will also be competing in the FVA for the first time after switching conferences from the Bay to Fox Valley. Pitching will be the biggest hole to fill but look for Jake Sommers to come on as a possible staff ace. Sommers didn’t see any action on the mound last year, but we’ve recently seen Sommers sit 87-89 mph with his fastball and flash a hard breaking ball at 74-75 mph. Sommers’ pitchability could be a question mark to be the staff ace, even though he’s in his senior year, Sommers enters the year with zero varsity innings on the mound and will have to learn quickly to pitch in the tough FVA. Josh Toonen will also return to the mound and the lineup as a returning first team all-conference selection. Toonen should have a big impact on the Polar Bear success in 2015.  

If you are a high school coach and have yet to send in your Preseason Questionnaire please fill one out HERE.

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By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor – Wisconsin/Illinois

The Wisconsin high school season kicks off on March 31, the first day for regular season games. Most teams will begin practicing on March 23, getting their rosters set and finalizing their lineups.

Throughout the month of March we will be counting down our Preseason Power 25 Team Rankings leading up to the No. 1 team right before opening day.

CLICK HERE for complete Preseason Power 25.

No. 13 Hortonville

2014 Record: 23-4
WIAA Classification: 1
Conference: Fox Valley Association
Head Coach: Greg Yeager
2014 Playoff Run: Regional Champions

TOP PLAYERS

Jake Sommers, RHP/SS, 2015
Josh Toonen, OF/RHP, 2015
John Van Liere, LHP, 2015
Reece Frederick, 2B, 2015 (UW-Stevens Point)
Carter Beaudoin, RHP, 2015

KEY LOSSES

Not only did the Polar Bears lose Hall of Fame Head Coach Don Williams but they lost a ton of pitching to graduation. Hortonville will have to replace over 100 innings pitched on the mound and 18 wins, most of which came from LHP Alex McIntosh (70.2 IP, 9-2) who is currently 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA for UW-Milwaukee in two relief appearances as a freshman.

UP AND COMING

Bryce Cross is a sophomore middle infielder who could see time for the Polar Bears in 2015. Hortonville will be returning two senior middle infielders in Frederick and Sommers, but Sommers is likely to see a lot more action on the mound this year which could open some opportunities for the slick fielding Cross. Also keep an eye on Zak Kosloske, a sophomore C who can really swing the bat.

OUTLOOK

2015 will bring a lot of changes and challenges for Hortonville. The Polar Bears lost long time Hall of Fame coach Don Williams to retirement after 35 years and a 586-160 record, long-time assistant Greg Yeager will take over at the helm. Hortonville will also be competing in the FVA for the first time after switching conferences from the Bay to Fox Valley. Pitching will be the biggest hole to fill but look for Jake Sommers to come on as a possible staff ace. Sommers didn’t see any action on the mound last year, but we’ve recently seen Sommers sit 87-89 mph with his fastball and flash a hard breaking ball at 74-75 mph. Sommers’ pitchability could be a question mark to be the staff ace, even though he’s in his senior year, Sommers enters the year with zero varsity innings on the mound and will have to learn quickly to pitch in the tough FVA. Josh Toonen will also return to the mound and the lineup as a returning first team all-conference selection. Toonen should have a big impact on the Polar Bear success in 2015.  

If you are a high school coach and have yet to send in your Preseason Questionnaire please fill one out HERE.