The Wisconsin high school season kicks off on March 29, the first day for regular season games. Most teams will begin practicing on March 21, 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: Eau Claire Memorial
Preseason Rank: 15
2015 Record: 18-9
Conference: Big Rivers
WIAA Division: 1
Head Coach: Dave Sparger
Playoff Run: Regional Champions
2015 Final Rank: Not Ranked 
Returning Starters: 5
Returning Pitchers: 7

TOP PLAYERS

 

NEWCOMER TO WATCH
Sophomore SS Tanner Kohlhepp will be a contributor for the Old Abes this season as they look to fill some voids in their lineup. Kohlhepp is a projectable left-handed hitting middle infielder with a long lean frame at 6-foot-1, 160-pounds and has all the tools to step right in at shortstop. How he handles the varsity experience will be the only question mark but his skill set will clearly play. 

 

STAT RAT
23-0: Eau Claire Memorials JV record from last season. With a veteran pitching staff back in tact, some young players will be counted on to fill in the Old Abes lineup this year, as they lost two of their top three hitters from a season ago. 

OUTLOOK
Eau Claire Memorial will look for their first Big Rivers championship since 2012 this year. The Old Abes are led on the mound by Seniors Travis Berg and Storm Standiford. Berg went 3-3 on the mound with a 2.86 ERA while hitting .306 last season. Standiford went 7-2 with a 2.68 ERA last season. Dartmouth commit Henry Eilen is the teams leading hitter and batted .373 last season. Pitching will be the teams strong point this year, and they will look to fill in the lineup as they lost two of their top three hitters to graduation. The Old Abes are a veteran team and went 18-9 last year en route to a regional championship. They have the pitching and leadership to compete for a Big Rivers title in 2016.

If you are a high school coach and have yet to send in your Preseason Questionnaire please fill one out HERE.