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. 15 West De Pere

2014 Record: 20-8
WIAA Classification: 1
Conference: Bay Conference
Head Coach: Joe Rukamp
2014 Playoff Run: Sectional Finals

TOP PLAYERS

Brendan Meissner, RHP/INF, 2015 (Illinois)
Reese Lade, C, 2015
Matt Bald, SS, 2015
Beau Mommaerts, RHP/INF, 2015
Jacob Buboltz, LHP, 2015 

X-FACTOR

Brendan Meissner is West De Pere’s all-everything. The Illinois commit will pitch for the Fighting Illini but Coach Rukamp will ask Meissner to also provide a big bat in the lineup. Last year he went 8-1 on the year as a junior with a sub 2.0 ERA. I would expect more of the same out of Meissner in 2015 if the Phantom expect to contend.

OUTLOOK

The Bay Conference will be a tad lighter in 2015 as 2014 conference champs, Hortonville, have moved to the FVA. With the loss of the Polar Bears, West De Pere should battle Denmark for a conference title in 2015. The Phantoms are senior heavy and this may be one of their best chances to make a run to Appleton. They were one game away last year, losing to Kimberly in the Sectional Finals and this year they return most of their 2014 club including first team all-conference selection Brendan Meissner. We have yet to see much from the Phantom underclassmen, so unless there are some surprise youngsters coming up the ranks, Coach Rukamp’s squad will do it with mostly seniors. With the combination of offense and pitching the Phantoms should be looking at another 20 win season.

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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