By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor - Wisconsin/Illinois

The WIAA state playoffs begin Thursday May 25 with the first round of regional action for Divisions 2-4, Division 1 teams open up regional play on Tuesday, May 30. Several of the top teams have first round byes and won’t begin action until June 1.

The Prep Baseball Report will continue to roll out its Daily Roundup with all of the up to date scores and highlights.

As the playoffs are about to kick off we have filled out our brackets and made our predictions for all four Divisions starting with Sectional play. Here’s a look at who we think will be holding the hardware in Appleton.

Division 1

CLICK HERE for entire WIAA Division 1 Brackets.

Eau Claire North is our pick to click in 2017. The combination of their potent offense and front end pitching should get them to the title game, once there, look for the offense to take over. A possible State Quarterfinal matchup between the Huskies and Green Bay Preble could be the most anticipated matchup of the tournament, as both teams sport the best D1 records in the state. Our sleeper to make some noise in the playoffs in Indian Trail. They have a lights out ace in Ryan Hoerter who could potentially single handedly pitch them right into the Sectional Championship game, a potential fourth matchup against conference foe Kenosha Tremper. Hoerter has only allowed one run in the state of Wisconsin all year and it came to the Trojans. Tremper swept the season series against Indian Trail in the regular season…can they beat them a fourth time?

Eau Claire North
Sectional 1	Eau Claire North
Eau Claire Memorial
		Eau Claire North
Green Bay Preble
Sectional 2	Green Bay Preble
Wausau West
			Eau Claire North
La Crosse Central
Sectional 3	La Crosse Central
Tomah
		Kimberly
Kimberly
Sectional 4	Kimberly
Hortonville
				Eau Claire North
Janesville Craig				State Champion
Sectional 5	Janesville Craig
Madison West
		Sun Prairie
Sun Prairie
Sectional 6	Sun Prairie
Oconomowoc
			Sun Prairie
Arrowhead
Sectional 7	Arrowhead
Milwaukee Riverside
		Indian Trail
Kenosha Indian Trail
Sectional 8	Kenosha Indian Trail
Kenosha Tremper

 

Division 2

CLICK HERE for entire WIAA Division 2 Brackets.

Catholic Memorial is our pick to take home the Division 2 crown in 2017. Memorial plays a mostly Division 1 schedule in the Little Ten Conference. The Crusaders earned a share of the Little Ten title this year with Arrowhead after going 13-3 in conference and finishing the regular season with a 18-4 record. Their biggest obstacle would come in the Sectional Championship game where they would most likely matchup with Beloit Turner. Memorial is deep on the mound with Michigan commit Ben Dragani, who has been dominate this spring, along with Andy Stekiel, Jonathan Dominguez, and freshman Luke Fox. 

Hayward
Sectional 1	West Salem
West Salem
		Catholic Memorial
Mount Horeb
Sectional 3	Catholic Memorial
Catholic Memorial
			Catholic Memorial
Antigo
Sectional 2	Antigo
Fox Valley Lutheran
		Columbus
Columbus
Sectional 4	Columbus
Wisconsin Lutheran

Division 3

CLICK HERE for entire WIAA Division 3 Brackets.

Aquinas is our pick to hold the trophy in D3. Coleman has been our top D3 team all year and we are picking a State Final game between the two, with the edge going to Aquinas. The Blugolds play a rather tough regular season schedule for a D3 team, with multiple victories over some formidable D1 opponents. Coleman’s LHP Matt Osterberg has been equally impressive as Indian Trail’s Ryan Hoerter, and if the Cougars can get to the Championship Game with a fresh Osterberg we may change our tune.

Unity
Sectional 1	Eau Claire Regis
Eau Claire Regis
		Aquinas
Aquinas
Sectional 3	Aquinas
Wisconsin Heights
			Aquinas
Pacelli
Sectional 2	Coleman
Coleman
		Coleman
Markesan
Sectional 4	Lake Country Lutheran
Lake Country Lutheran

Division 4

CLICK HERE for entire WIAA Division 4 Brackets.

Pecatonica is our D4 pick, with a 19-1 record heading into the playoffs, including a recent win over a strong D2 team in Mount Horeb. Look for Pecatonica to continue their winning ways en route to the title.

Webster
Sectional 1	Webster
Clear Lake
		Ithaca
Eleva-Strum
Sectional 3	Ithaca
Ithaca
			Pecatonica
Pittsville
Sectional 2	Pittsville
Green Bay NEW Lutheran
		Pecatonica
Rio
Sectional 4	Pecatonica
Pecatonica