Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 1 Oak Creek
March 26, 2024
The 2024 Wisconsin high school baseball season is quickly approaching and, as usual, excitement is abound throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across the Badger State.
Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in their respective WIAA Division State Championship, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams with this initial Preseason Power 25 release which will take us right up to first pitch.
Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across Wisconsin. Each week we will be releasing our Power 25, Players of the Week, Diamond Notes, Scout Blog and much more.
Our 2024 preseason coverage continues today.
High School: Oak Creek Knights
Preseason Rank: 1
Head Coach: Scott Holler
WIAA Division: 1
Conference: Southeast
2023 Record (Finish): 23-6 (Sectional Finalists)
Key Players Lost: William Hyland (Wisconsin-Parkside), Owen Sullivan (Western Illinois), Max Hennemann (Heartland CC), Evan Calderon (St. Norbert College)
ROSTER PREVIEW
Team Strengths: Top 5 hitters return, all of which have been varsity players since freshmen; tight-knit core of seniors.
No. of Returning Starters: 5
No. of Returning Pitchers: 5
| NAME | STATE | CLASS | POS | COMMITMENT |
| Payten Jibben | WI | 2024 | RHP/INF | Illinois-Chicago |
| Cade Palkowski | WI | 2024 | OF/LHP | - |
| CJ Trask | WI | 2024 | SS/RHP | Bradley |
| Nathan Hanel | WI | 2024 | C | Wisconsin-Parkside |
| Ethan Engelbrecht | WI | 2024 | RHP | Wisconsin-Whitewater |
| Brady Rickert | WI | 2024 | RHP/INF | Heartland CC |
| Reece Doyle | WI | 2024 | CIF | - |
| Austin Kobberstein | WI | 2024 | OF | Wisconsin-River Falls |
| Nathan Schopf | WI | 2025 | OF | - |
| Ryan Buchta | WI | 2025 | RHP | - |
| Mack Endres | WI | 2026 | 1B | - |
| Jayden Pryor | WI | 2026 | RHP | - |
| Gavin Zastrow | WI | 2027 | INF | - |
X-FACTOR
+ RHP/INF Payten Jibben (2024; Illinois-Chicago commit) emerged as one of the biggest winners in the 2023 circuit between his performances in live action and in the showcase setting throughout the Badger State. Jibben stands at a mature 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame and took the WIAA by storm last season to eventually earn the Division 1 Player of the Year in the state as a junior. The two-way star also earned Prep Baseball Wisconsin All-State Second Team honors as well—hitting .481 with a flawless 8-0 record. Jibben—after dominating the spring season—then showcased his prowess on the mound at the Top Prospect Games later that summer—presenting a quality three-pitch mix that provided swings and misses from opponents. Jibben drives down the mound and extends in his delivery—featuring a quick arm with a fastball that ranges in the upper-80s to lower-90s. With a nasty changeup paired with a wipeout breaking ball, Jibben enters his senior season as a force to be reckoned with as a member of the Knights’ program. His powerful, yet controlled approach at the plate makes him one of the top hitters in the greater Milwaukee area, too. Jibben is primed for an elite spring season, and will be one of the biggest contributors to Oak Creek’s success throughout the year.
Payten Jibben (7/11/23)
NEWCOMER TO WATCH
+ 1B Mack Endres (2026) is an on-the-rise prospect as a bat within the Oak Creek program, as the sophomore will look to fill in for some of the production lost from the Knights’ strong 2023 class. Endres is a physical athlete who presents himself at a 6-foot, 208-pound frame. He will look to take on the first base role for Oak Creek this upcoming spring—joining a veteran group of teammates who found success as underclassmen in the past. Endres has a whippy barrel from an open stance—generating easy power on a consistent basis. He found success during his BP session at the South Milwaukee Preseason ID this past winter at the plate. In addition to his bat, Endres can pick it as a first baseman. He presents soft hands and a strong arm across the diamond—making accurate throws while being a good receiver at the corner infield position. Endres will be key for the depth within this lineup—assuming a spot near the bottom of the order for the Knights.
Mack Endres (3/3/24)
TEAM OUTLOOK
The talent within this program continues to emerge, from the senior class all the way to the incoming freshmen looking to make some noise right away. Oak Creek has the arms and bats to make a run this season, and it all starts with the top of their lineup.
OF/LHP Cade Palkowski (2024; uncommitted) is one of the top bats in the 2024 class—entering his final prep season listed at No. 14 in Wisconsin’s 2024 rankings. Palkowski is an athletic mover at 5-foot-11, 190-pounds, and is coming off of a spring where he hit .325 from the leadoff spot. The left-handed hitter got hot over the summer as well—standing out at numerous sites which included the PBR at The Rock Fall Championships to conclude live action in 2023. Palkowski may see some more time on the mound for Oak Creek too, where he ranges in the mid-80s with the fastball. The senior is competitive and may see some time in either a relief role or for some spot starts in the final season of his prep career.
Cade Palkowski (9/24/23)
SS/RHP CJ Trask (2024; Bradley) was arguably the Knights’ most consistent hitter in the 2023 season—carrying his momentum throughout the summer and fall. Trask was a winner from the Top Prospect Games in July at the plate and on defense. As a junior, Trask hit .453 for Oak Creek at the top of their order. The right-handed hitter presents quiet hands with a knack for finding barrels, as he is comfortable with spraying line drives to all portions of the field on a consistent basis. Trask is another competitive batter who is tough to strikeout—bringing power to the table in a 5-foot-11, 190-pound frame. He’s been up to 88 mph on the infield in the past as well, and is a proven defender at the shortstop position. Trask may also see some time as a late-inning reliever for the Knights throughout the season. His reliable play will be key in continuing to elevate this program to new heights in 2024.
CJ Trask (9/22/23)
In wrapping up head coach Scott Holler’s ‘Core Four’ entering the 2024 season, C Nathan Hanel (2024; Wisconsin-Parkside) rounds out a group that can put the entire state on notice in a short amount of time—including the aforementioned Jibben, Palkowski and Trask. Hanel has a quality defensive presence behind the dish for Oak Creek—providing pop times between 2.04-2.25 seconds in front of our staff. Hanel has quick feet and a strong arm from the catcher’s position—preparing him for a strong spring campaign. His work in the batters box drew some attention last season, too. Hanel hit .395 and excelled with an upright stance and the ability to elevate the baseball.
Nathan Hanel (7/11/23)
OF Nathan Schopf (2025) is one of the top uncommitted prospects in Wisconsin’s 2025 class after standing out at the 2023 Prep Baseball Future Games back in July. Schopf has present strength within a 6-foot-1, 197-pound frame, and showcases that trait at the plate and in the outfield. Schopf consistently presents controlled aggression with the bat in his hands—demonstrating the ability to be a home run threat with a powerful swing, but can also get bat on ball when needed. His presence in the middle of this order only adds to the depth and challenge for opposing pitchers when facing Oak Creek. On the defensive end, Schopf thrives with a strong arm and range in a corner outfield position, as our staff has had him up to 89 mph in the past. Schopf enters the spring ranked at No. 27 in Wisconsin’s 2025 rankings.
Nathan Schopf (2/17/24)
As for the top half of the pitching staff, RHP Ryan Buchta (2025) continues to raise his stock as a strong right-hander on the mound. Buchta recently showed well at the Milwaukee Preseason ID—rushing his fastball up to 85 mph in a clean ‘pen. The junior stands at a long 6-foot-4, 202-pound frame, and presents a competitive three-pitch mix that went 5-2 with a 1.89 ERA last season as a sophomore. Buchta is back and ready for more, as he spun in a breaking ball and flipped up a deceptive splitter in his showcase. The right-hander is primed for a strong spring after a quality offseason of work, as he’s listed at No. 50 in the Badger State’s 2025 class.
RHP’s Ethan Engelbrecht (2024; Wisconsin-Whitewater) and Jayden Pryor (2026) are a pair of arms who will see some action on the bump for the preseason No. 1 team in Wisconsin. Engelbrecht has been clocked at 89 mph in the past, and continues to refine an arsenal that gained experience on the varsity stage last season. Pryor is looking to follow in his steps as a sophomore—navigating through innings in a relief position or spot starting role for Oak Creek in 2024, similar to Engelbrecht and the aforementioned Palkowski. The sophomore has been up to 80 mph with a developing offspeed repertoire in the past.
Ethan Engelbrecht (6/23/23)
RHP/INF Brady Rickert (2024; Heartland CC) is another senior that will play an interesting role for the Knights in 2024. The right-hander’s work on the mound will be vital to the success of Oak Creek and their starting pitching depth. Rickert has been up to 86 mph in front of our staff and has the tools to find success in the future. His command of his three-pitch mix will be key, as Rickert enters the year as an under-the-radar tool for Holler and his staff to use on the bump. When he is not pitching, Rickert will take over an infield position, likely at third base. His bat continues to develop, and will be put in an important spot in the lineup for him to drive in runs and produce for the Knights.
CIF Reece Doyle (2024) and OF Austin Kobberstein (2024; Wisconsin-River Falls) are two seniors who will add to the depth of this lineup and defense in 2024. Both can provide some pop at the plate, in addition to being experienced members in this program.
To round out this elite roster, INF Gavin Zastrow (2027) is one of the lone freshmen who could make some early noise in his prep career at Oak Creek. Zastrow is a scrappy defender in a 5-foot-8, 162-pound frame, and recently showed well at the South Milwaukee Preseason ID. His defensive work on the infield is noteworthy, as the freshman presented smooth hands and quick feet. The right-hander’s consistent, accurate arm plays well for this Knights group who will need depth on the middle infield. Zastrow can handle the bat as well—providing barrels to the middle portion of the field in his BP session just a month ago.
Gavin Zastrow (3/3/24)
BOTTOM LINE
+ Oak Creek etches their name in the No. 1 spot in Prep Baseball Wisconsin’s Power 25—joining the likes of Sun Prairie (2021), Whitefish Bay (2022) and Kimberly (2023) over the past three seasons. The Knights have the skill set to make a run toward the Division 1 State Title in June. With a veteran core of experienced bats at the top of their order, paired with a couple of underclassmen standouts from the winter, Oak Creek presents one of the top offenses on paper in 2024. While they will need some production from the back end of their pitching staff, the Knights have multiple talented arms to work with that can take them the distance. Oak Creek will be challenged between a tough non-conference schedule and the weekly three-game series in the Southeast Conference down the stretch in 2024—preparing them for an eventual playoff run.
Find more information on the 2024 Oak Creek program below:
- Follow the Knights on X: @ocreekbaseball