The Wisconsin high school season kicks off on March 28, the first day for regular season games. Most teams will begin practicing on March 20, getting their rosters set and finalizing their lineups.

Over the next several weeks, leading up to opening day, we will be rolling out team previews of high school teams all across the state and across all classifications, eventually launching our Preseason Power 25.

We have been sending out our annual Preseason Questionnaire to coaches all across the state and as the responses flood in we will bring you a snapshot of what to expect along with top players and keys to success for that particular team. If you don’t see your team’s season preview make sure your head coach fills out his Preseason Questionnaire.

Team: Freedom
Preseason Rank: 22
2016 Record: 20-8
Conference: Northeastern
WIAA Division: 2
Head Coach: Adam Fox
Playoff Run: Regional Finals
2016 Final Rank: NR
Returning Starters: 8
Returning Pitchers: 3

TOP PLAYERS

X-Factor

Senior Steady. The Irish have a boatload of seniors as big contributors to this year’s roster. Senior Cole Evers returns as an All-State Honorable Mention and look to lead the Irish lineup again this year. Evers should have plenty of protection around him in the lineup with seniors Parker Rude, Tanner Brockman, Sam Erickson, Josh Kunstman and Charlie Jadin. Team that with a trio of seniors on the mound (Jadin, Rudie, Kunstman) who tallied 11 of Freedom’s 20 wins in 2016 and Coach Fox’s crop of seniors should have a big impact on this year’s team.

Stat Rat

.343: The 2016 batting average of Noah Taege in his freshman year. His average didn’t lead the Irish in 2016, but it speaks to a potential breakout year in his sophomore campaign. Taege will likely be the starting catcher and could find himself being a big cog in the Irish lineup now that he has a year under his belt. Add that to an already potent lineup and Freedom could be an offensive machine in 2017.

Outlook

The Irish will have to replace last year’s ace Seth Rehrauer who logged over 50 innings for Coach Fox, but the good news is they have three of their four inning eaters from last year returning in Jadin, Rudie and Kunstman. Along with eight starters returning to the lineup in 2017 it’s safe to say Coach Fox will have plenty of experience to lean on this year. Freedom lost to eventual state champ Waupaca in the Regional Finals but should be hungry and more returners to surpass that run in 2017.

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