Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 22 Hortonville

March 14, 2016

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: Hortonville
Preseason Rank: 22
2015 Record: 19-8
Conference: Fox Valley Association
WIAA Division: 1
Head Coach: Greg Yeager
2015 Final Rank: 19

TOP PLAYERS

Name	State	School	Class	Pos	Commitment
Joe Cliver	WI	Hortonville	2016	2B
Mike Gross	WI	Hortonville	2016	1B	Viterbo
Adam Buchinger	WI	Hortonville	2016	RHP
Dylan Loveland	WI	Hortonville	2016	OF
Bryce Cross	WI	Hortonville	2017	SS
Zak Kosloske	WI	Hortonville	2017	C

X-FACTOR
Junior bats. A pair of sophomore bats are returning to the Polar Bears lineup for their junior year in 2016. Both SS Bryce Cross and C Zak Kosloske saw valuable varsity time last year as sophomores. Although neither had offensive year's they would like to brag about in 2015, hitting .200 and .255 respectively, but both are top 50 prospects in the 2017 class and could easily bust out this year with big offensive years'.

OUTLOOK
Hortonville senior Joe Cliver will look to lead the Polar Bear attack in 2016 both on the mound and at the dish. A returning first-team all-conference selection, Cliver hit .358 last year with a 2.57 ERA going 4-3 on the mound. Look for those numbers to improve along with Hortonville's record in a tough Fox Valley Association.

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