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.These preseason previews are also assembled with the help of Joe Waite and his comprehensive Baseball Wisconsin Yearbook, and the 2021 edition will soon be available for purchase here.

Our 2021 preseason coverage continues today.

Team: De Pere
Preseason Rank: No. 11
2019 Record: 18-7
Conference: Fox River Classic
WIAA Division: 1
Head Coach: Bob Van Rens

TOP PLAYERS

OUTLOOK 

In his 12th year at the helm of this De Pere program, head coach Bob Van Rens has the Redbirds ready to compete for the Fox River Classic Conference title, again – and he has a really good shot to to claim the FRCC in 2021, with Preble in somewhat of a rebuild and Bay Port operating without WBCA Hall of Fame coach Mike Simoens at the helm.

De Pere’s also got something few teams will have this spring, and that’s returning varsity experience. This deep senior class is one of the state’s best, and several seniors are committed to play baseball at the next level, headlined by SS/RHP J.P. Gauthier, an Illinois State recruit.

J.P. Gauthier (7/7/20)

Gauthier is one of the top-ranked members of the state’s ‘21 class, and he’s been a staple of this Redbirds team throughout his prep years, and he’s ready to finish strong before heading south to Normal, Ill. Listed at an upside 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, Gauthier’s right-handed stroke is scheduled to hit right in the heart of this De Pere lineup and they’ll count on him as the main offensive generator, as well as the team’s slick starting shortstop. He has sure-handed actions and innate defensive prowess that will allow him to captain this infield, and it should give him a chance to earn playing time early in college eventually, too. He’ll also return as the team’s high-leverage arm as well, shutting down must-win games when called on.

Projected to hit right in front of Gauthier for the Redbirds are two senior outfielders, both of whom are committed to play baseball at the collegiate level: Derek Weber (Des Moines Area CC) and Bennett Spaeth (Wisconsin La-Crosse). Weber is built at an athletic 5-foot-10, 165 pounds and it looks like he’ll serve as a table-setter bat for De Pere’s offense as their leadoff man. Spaeth is a toolsy, top-of-the-order type athlete who impressed us in multiple ways over the past couple of years. His knack for the barrel will take some of the pressure of Weber and Gauthier.

Bennett Spaeth (7/2/20)

Seniors LHP Wyatt Fisher (Rock Valley JC) and OF/RHP Bailey Prevost (Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota) are two more college commits set to play key roles for this De Pere program.

Fisher is a 6-foot-1, 165-pound southpaw that we’ve seen up to 84 mph in the past with his fastball and can throw both his secondary pitches for strikes, particularly a fading changeup at arm speed. He’s expected to be their frontline arm and he’ll slot right into their batting order when he’s not on the mound. As for Prevost, he’s a 6-foot, 170-pound outfielder with a loud right-handed stroke that’s flashed impact power potential in our previous looks, especially in a showcase setting. He’ll likely slot into a corner outfield role on defense and he’s another senior arm who will see innings for De Pere throughout the spring. 

Moving away from their senior class, the Redbirds have a handful of juniors who should see consistent playing time this spring. RHP Hunter Pribek is expected to serve as a complementary rotation piece to the senior arms this club has. INF Luke Brosig and INF Bryson Webb are two names who will compete for playing time on the infield, as will C Garrett Foth. And RHP/OF Ethan Hoops is another member of De Pere’s 2022 class worth knowing ahead of time.

Unlike some of the other teams we’ve covered on the Preseason Power 25 to this point, De Pere won’t need to rely on underclassmen in 2021, though that doesn’t mean their up-and-comers won’t break through regardless.

Quinn Falish has used this winter to break out inside the state’s Class of 2023. Listed at a physical, strong 6-foot-2, 195 pounds, Falish has serious two-way traits that should find its way into regular playing time on both sides of the ball for the Redbirds. Offensively, he swings a fast, loose, and powerful right-handed bat, and he recorded a max exit speed over 96 mph at Madison with it, after running a 6.89 earlier in the day. He took the mound at a different event where he sat at a heavy 83-85 mph, with the makings of a swing-and-miss breaking ball, 70-73. 

Quinn Falish (3/14/21)

And there’s also a few underclassmen to watch here: INF Javin Gauthier (2024), INF John Kinziger (2023), and OF Easton Arendt (2024). Javin is J.P.’s younger brother, and he also became the first member of the state’s 2024 class to verbally commit, following his brother’s footsteps to Illinois State. He’ll start his prep career this spring after showing as one of the top freshmen in Wisconsin over the past year, with a fast and physical left-handed swing that wouldn’t need much adjusting to catch up to the speed of varsity. Kinziger might not be available for the Redbirds this spring, as he’s among the top point guards in the state’s sophomore class, and he’s using the months ahead to play on the travel circuit – though he’d be in the mix for starting second baseman duties if that weren’t the case. Arendt’s more of a long-term follow, as an athletic left-handed hitter who should eventually become one of De Pere’s top players.

BOTTOM LINE 

The skilled seniors here raise both De Pere’s floor and expectations for the 2021 spring. A talented, experienced core of players good enough to continue their playing careers beyond high school should give the Redbirds the authentic hopes of winning the FRCC, though it won’t be easy. This is one of the most balanced rosters in the state.

Find more information on the 2021 Redbirds below:

+ Team Website
+ Team Schedule

PRESEASON POWER 25 COUNTDOWN