Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 23 Markesan
April 21, 2021
The Wisconsin high school baseball season kicks off on April 27, opening day for regular season action under WIAA regulations. Over the next several weeks, leading up to opening day, we’ll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2021 spring season, touching on programs spanning all state classifications, leading into a countdown through the official PBR Wisconsin Preseason Power 25 Rankings.
Perennially, we’ve submitted a Preseason Questionnaire to high school head coaches across the entire state. Their responses have been flooding in and we’re using the detailed insight they’ve provided in our team-by-team preseason analysis. These preseason previews are also assembled with the help of Joe Waite and his comprehensive Baseball Wisconsin Yearbook, and the 2021 edition will soon be available for purchase here.
Our 2021 preseason coverage continues today.
Team: Markesan
Preseason Rank: No. 23
2019 Record: 22-6
Conference: Trailways North
WIAA Division: 3
Head Coach: Dean Slark
TOP PLAYERS
NAME | POS | CLASS | COMMITMENT |
Gavin Gilbertson | LHP/1B | 2021 | - |
Bryce Leedle | RHP/INF | 2021 | St. Thomas (MN) |
Sage Stellmacher | C | 2021 | Upper Iowa |
Hayden Quade | INF/RHP | 2022 | - |
Aiden Schmick | INF | 2022 | - |
Brock Starks | UTL | 2022 | - |
Ryan Mast | UTL | 2023 | |
Chayce Osterhaus | INF/RHP | 2023 | - |
Caleb Stoll | OF | 2023 | - |
OUTLOOK
In his first year at the helm, head coach Dean Slark helped mold Markesan into a state title contender. In fact, several of the members of that 2019 state squad return as seniors in 2021, including their top talent: RHP/INF Bryce Leedle, who’s committed to help the University of St. Thomas embark on the program’s first season at the Division-I level in 2022.
Until then, he’ll help guide the Hornets back to state from the mound, batter’s box, and at shortstop, as the squad’s best player. Known best for his aptitude on the bump, Leedle’s athleticism and well-rounded skill set will make him among the best players at the D3 level this spring. He K’d 73 batters in 45-plus innings headed into the 2019 state tournament as a sophomore, and he also hit .492, so expect Leedle to be in the running as one of the state’s most statistically impressive players by the end of the season.
Bryce Leedle (3/15/20)
Joining Leedle at the top of the rotation will be senior LHP/1B Gavin Gilbertson, who also played a small role in Markesan’s march to state when we were last playing WIAA ball. He hit .250 in 28 sophomore at-bats, and pitched 14-plus innings, grooming an ERA of 1.91.
C Sage Stellmacher, an Upper Iowa commit, swings a loose right-handed bat that achieved a ton of run production as a sophomore in 2019. He’s appeared in the PBR showcase setting before, too, where he’s demonstrated natural catcher actions that should further guide this staff. Stellmacher hit .410 in 2019 with six doubles and he led the team with 23 RBIs.
Juniors UTL Brock Straks, INF/RHP Hayden Quade, INF Aiden Shmick will help fill out the rest of this daily lineup, as will INF/RHP Chayce Osterhaus, a sophomore. He has long levers and upside athleticism attached to his left-handed swing and arm on the mound, and he could be the boost that helps push Markesan to state, much like the sophomore group in 2019 did. We’re looking forward to checking in on a pair of other sophomores: Caleb Stoll and Ryan Mast. Mast was a productive sophomore quarterback for the Hornets in the fall, so we’re eager to see how it translates to the diamond in 2021.
Consider this group the D3 state favorites, to us, ahead of WIAA Opening Day.
Make sure to follow @PBRWisconsin on Twitter for the most up-to-date coverage throughout the 2021 season.
Find more information on the 2021 Hornets below:
+ Team Website
+ Team Schedule
PRESEASON POWER 25 COUNTDOWN
- WI PBR Wisconsin Power 25 Rankings: Week 6 Update 6/08/21
- WI PBR Wisconsin Power 25 Rankings: Week 5 Update 5/31/21
- WI PBR Wisconsin Power 25 Rankings: Week 4 Update 5/24/21
- WI PBR Wisconsin Power 25 Rankings: Week 3 Update 5/17/21
- WI PBR Wisconsin Power 25 Rankings: Update 5/10/21
- WI Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 6 Arrowhead 4/27/21
- WI Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 10 Menomonee Falls 4/27/21
- WI Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 8 Pewaukee 4/27/21
- WI Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 9 Muskego 4/27/21
- WI Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 5 Union Grove 4/27/21
- WI Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 7 Catholic Memorial 4/27/21
- WI Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 4 Kimberly 4/27/21
- WI Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 3 Bay Port 4/27/21
- WI Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 1 Sun Prairie 4/27/21
- WI Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 2 Oak Creek 4/27/21
- WI Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 13 Hortonville 4/26/21
- WI Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 14 Franklin 4/26/21
- WI Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 11 De Pere 4/26/21
- WI Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 12 Verona Area 4/26/21
- WI Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 17 Eau Claire Memorial 4/23/21
- WI Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 16 DeForest 4/23/21
- WI Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 15 Wauwatosa East 4/23/21
- WI Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 19 West De Pere 4/22/21
- WI Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 21 Eau Claire North 4/22/21
- WI Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 20 Brookfield East 4/22/21