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.

Our 2021 preseason coverage continues today.

Team: Brookfield East
Preseason Rank: No. 20
2019 Record: 18-9
Conference: Greater Metro
WIAA Division: 1
Head Coach: Ty Johnson

TOP PLAYERS

OUTLOOK 

On paper the strength of this Brookfield East team is a talented pitching staff anchored by one of the top prospects in the state’s 2022 class, RHP/OF Ryan Karst. Still uncommitted, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Karst represented Team Wisconsin at the PBR Future Games this past August where he solidified himself as an impact prospect on the mound. We’ve seen him up to a low-effort 89 mph with his fastball in the past, and his offspeed offerings are starting to improve as well. He’s also a premium athlete who will be able to contribute even when he’s not scheduled to pitch. Karst ran a 6.79 around this time last year and he has the skill set to be the Spartans’ center fielder when he’s not on the mound.

Ryan Karst (8/2/20)

Pairing up with Karst to build a quality one-two punch atop the rotation is senior RHP Will Staviski. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound right-hander bumped his fastball up to 85 mph last summer, and his long leves suggest there’s more velocity to come, maybe as soon as this spring, to East’s benefit. Staviski’s continued to improve across multiple looks in the past 18 months or so, so another productive offseason could boost the Spartans’ Greater Metro chances.

Senior RHP/DH Logan LeTourneau is another arm expected to bolster this pitching staff soon after the start of the season, recovering from an injury. He was a low-80s arm a year ago, and his strong 6-foot-3 stature and uncommitted status will give us another reason to take in a Brookfield East game some time later this spring.

Offensively, the Spartans are expected to trot out a fairly upperclassman heavy lineup, with seven of their projected everyday starters being either juniors or seniors. The sure-handed defense senior Harrison Toone offers has him penciled in as this team’s starting shortstop, and he’ll also bat atop their order as the leadoff man. He earned varsity actions as a sophomore, too, which will help right away. 

Harrison Toone (2/21/21)

The physical junior Cade Honkamp is someone who has routinely flashed impact power potential in front of our staff, in both showcase and live game settings. He’s a corner infield prospect who should capably generate the scoring from the middle of this order. Honkamp will hit nearby fellow junior Fred Pierce Jr., who was arguably one of the biggest winners and most improved 2022s from our winter circuit. He boasts a proportionally strong 6-foot-1, 195-pound frame and he translates that strength nicely in the box. Pierce recorded multiple batted balls over 90-plus mph at a preseason showcase, including one that left his barrel at 97.0 mph, traveling an estimated 346 feet. Now, in his first full taste of varsity action, Pierce will be called upon as a major run-producer for the Spartans.

Fred Pierce Jr. (2/21/21)

Also, keep an eye on OF/1B Luke Heinkel, INF Drew Staviski, and LHP Dylan Dombrowicki as a set of sophomores who could earn some early playing time on this 2021 squad. There's some gaps on the roster that could be up for grabs, and if any of of these three 2023s could fill those holes admirably, East is just that much better.

BOTTOM LINE 

Brookfield East has been competitive inside the rigorous Greater Metro Conference, especially recently, and this year’s team expects to do the same. It’s a gritty, hard-working bunch that shouldn’t be counted out from emerging from the GMC, despite the other heavyweights projected to harbor state tournament hopes in 2021.

Make sure to follow @PBRWisconsin on Twitter for the most up-to-date coverage throughout the 2021 season.

Find more information on the 2021 Spartans below:

+ Team Website
+ Team Schedule
+ Team Twitter

PRESEASON POWER 25 COUNTDOWN