Western Wisconsin Open: Statistical Analysis
July 11, 2018
The Western Wisconsin Open was held on Monday, July 9, in Eau Claire at Carson Park where 30 of the area's prospects participated in a workout, including the 60-yard dash, positional evaluations, live batting practice and pitcher bullpens. Here's a look at Monday's event from a statistical standpoint, with additional and more detailed breakdowns coming the next couple of weeks.
CLICK HERE for complete statistics in .pdf form
TOP 60 YARD DASH
Two players in attendance on Monday recorded sub-7.00 dash times: Payton Schott (Caledonia, MN; 2019) and Brandon Merfeld (Aquinas, 2019). There were also a few others who fell just short of breaching the sub-7.00 mark.
Two players in attendance on Monday recorded sub-7.00 dash times: Payton Schott (Caledonia, MN; 2019) and Brandon Merfeld (Aquinas, 2019). There were also a few others who fell just short of breaching the sub-7.00 mark.
| Name | State | School | Class | Pos | 60-Yard Dash |
| Payton Schott | MN | Caledonia | 2019 | 2B | 6.81 |
| Brandon Merfeld | WI | Aquinas | 2019 | SS/OF | 6.89 |
| Kevin Koelbl | WI | Holmen | 2019 | OF | 7.02 |
| Sam Killian | WI | Independence | 2019 | RHP/3B | 7.07 |
| Gavin Gillitzer | WI | Prairie du Chien | 2019 | 2B | 7.08 |
TOP FASTBALL VELOCITY
Brendan Strenke (Turtle Lake) may not have come away with the event's top velocity, but as a 2022 his 82 mph high did turn some heads. His frame and arm have landed him on the prospect map. Killian put his name all over the event and featured the day's top fastball velo, too.
Brendan Strenke (Turtle Lake) may not have come away with the event's top velocity, but as a 2022 his 82 mph high did turn some heads. His frame and arm have landed him on the prospect map. Killian put his name all over the event and featured the day's top fastball velo, too.
| Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Fastball Velocity |
| Sam Killian | WI | Independence | 2019 | RHP/3B | 84 |
| Connor Stoik | WI | Eau Claire Memorial | 2019 | RHP/SS | 82 |
| Brendan Strenke | WI | Turtle Lake | 2022 | OF/RHP | 82 |
| Alec Strupp | WI | Slinger | 2019 | RHP | 81 |
| Brady Drazkowski | WI | Cochrane-Fountain City | 2019 | RHP/SS | 81 |
TOP EXIT VELOCITY
Stoik produced the top exit velocity in his hometown Eau Claire by a large margin. He was the sole batter to record a number in the 90s and he fell just a few ticks shy of triple digits. While many others were tied with an 85 mph exit velo, a few were able to top it, including Minnesota's Lucas Anderson (Eden Prairie, 2019).
| Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Exit Velocity |
| Connor Stoik | WI | Eau Claire Memorial | 2019 | RHP/SS | 97 |
| Lucas Anderson | MN | Eden Prairie | 2019 | 3B/RHP | 87 |
| Brandon Merfeld | WI | Aquinas | 2019 | SS/OF | 86 |
| Ryan Rubin | WI | Hudson | 2019 | 3B/1B | 86 |
TOP INFIELD VELOCITY
Another category and another appearance for Stoik, who sits atop this list for highest infield velocity. Ryan Rubin (Hudson, 2019) recorded the only other 80-plus mph infield velocity at the event.
| Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Infield Velocity |
| Connor Stoik | WI | Eau Claire Memorial | 2019 | RHP/SS | 82 |
| Ryan Rubin | WI | Hudson | 2019 | 3B/1B | 81 |
| Andrew Schroeder | WI | Wausaukee | 2020 | SS/RHP | 79 |
| Payton Schott | MN | Caldeonia | 2019 | 2B | 78 |
| Ryan Adams | MN | Bloomington-Jefferson | 2019 | RHP/3B | 78 |
TOP OUTFIELD VELOCITY
Holmen's Koelbl notched the day's hardest throw from the outfield, the only one to record an 80-plus mph throw. Three other attendees tied for the next hardest velocity, including the 2022 Strenke and Grady Gorgen (Mineral Point, 2020).
| Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Outfield Velocity |
| Kevin Koelbl | WI | Holmen | 2019 | OF | 82 |
| Grady Gorgen | WI | Mineral Point | 2020 | LHP/OF | 79 |
| Carson Holsclaw | WI | Northwestern | 2019 | OF/3B | 79 |
| Brendan Strenke | WI | Turtle Lake | 2022 | OF/RHP | 79 |
TOP CATCHER POP TIMES
The most interesting portion of the catchers evaluations was the number of underclassmen among them. Two 2021s found their way onto this list, including Trett Joles (Boyceville) who recorded the day's quickest pop time. Brigs Richartz (Menomonie) joined Joles as a fellow 2021 and the rest of the list is made up of 2020s.
| Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Pop Times |
| Trett Joles | WI | Boyceville | 2021 | C | 2.11-2.25 |
| Levi Jensen | WI | Luck | 2020 | C | 2.11-2.26 |
| Landon Rocheleau | MN | Burnsville | 2020 | C | 2.12-2.30 |
| Brigs Richartz | WI | Menomonie | 2021 | C | 2.25-2.44 |
| Alex Gavrilos | WI | La Crosse Logan | 2020 | C/3B | 2.26-2.33 |
| Anthony Pogodzinski | WI | Eau Claire North | 2020 | 3B/C | 2.26-2.36 |
TOP CATCHER VELOCITY
The order is the same here as it is in the pop time category, making Joles that much more intriguing as an advanced defender for his age. Levi Jensen (Luck, 2020) trailed Joles, in both pop and velo, by just a hair so it can be said that he turned in a quality performance as well.
| Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Catcher Velocity |
| Trett Joles | WI | Boyceville | 2021 | C | 75 |
| Levi Jensen | WI | Luck | 2020 | C | 73 |
| Landon Rocheleau | MN | Burnsville | 2020 | C | 69 |
| Brigs Richartz | WI | Menomonie | 2021 | C | 68 |
| Alex Gavrilos | WI | La Crosse Logan | 2020 | C/3B | 67 |
| Anthony Pogodzinski | WI | Eau Claire North | 2020 | 3B/C | 67 |