WIAA Diamond Notes: Week 5
May 2, 2024
Each week, WIAA coaches around the state submit to us their nominations for the Prep Baseball Wisconsin Player of the Week and Prep Baseball Wisconsin Pitcher of the Week honors. Yesterday, we awarded the Week 5 Player of the Week honor to OF/LHP Owen Jenkins (Kaukauna, 2024) and the Pitcher of the Week honor to LHP Robert Barrera (Union Grove, 2024; Illinois - Chicago). Jenkins collected eight hits in 14 at-bats across three games this week for Kaukauna, two of those hits being home runs and he also earned a win on the mound. Barrera toed the rubber in a Southern Lakes Conference bout against Wilmot and was spectacular. In his seven inning, complete game gem, every out that Barrera recorded was a strikeout, good for a whopping 21 Ks on the night.
There were a number of other impressive performances that were in the mix for the award and deserve recognition. Here’s a look at some of the most notable.
+ Jack Barthels, RHP (Wausau East, 2024):
Uncommitted, Barthels tossed a complete game shutout against Wisconsin Rapids. Seven innings where he struck out seven batters while allowing a hit and two walks.
+ Brock Buskager, RHP (Oregon, 2024):
Uncommitted, Buskager was able to contribute on both sides of the ball for Oregon. Buskager went 10-for-22 at the plate with a double, four RBIs and a walk. On the mound, across two appearances Buskager tossed 12.2 innings allowing eight total hits, four walks, while striking out 15 total batters.
+ Eyan Dessellier, SS, RHP (Kiel, 2024):
Uncommitted, Dessellier went 5-for-10 at the plate with two doubles, a walk and two RBIs. On the mound, across two appearances Dessellier tossed 12 innings allowing six hits, four walks and struck out 21 batters.
+ Carter Lund, P/C (Cambridge High School, 2024):
Madison JC commit, Lund tossed a no hitter on Tuesday allowing one baserunner the entire game via walk. On Saturday Lund tossed another six innings striking out 12 total hitters in that outing, retiring 17 batters straight. On the week Lund tossed 11 innings with 21 total strikeouts allowing two hits and three walks. At the plate, Lund went 6-for-12 with two walks, a home run and six RBIs and stolen bases.
+ Auden Pankonin, RHP (River Falls, 2025):
Uncommitted, Pankonin tossed a no-hitter against New Richmond last week. In seven innings Pankonin allowed two walks while striking out 10 total batters.
+ Maddux Poock, SS/RHP (Green Lake/Princeton, 2024):
Winona State commit, Poock was a two-way contributor for Green Lake/Princeton last week. At the plate, Poock went 4-for-7 with a double, two RBIs, a stolen base and a walk. On Thursday, Poock tossed five innings allowing five hits and six strikeouts in a winning effort.
+ Chance Ruby, RHP, SS (Wilmot Union, 2026):
Uncommitted, Ruby was a contributor on both sides of the ball for Wilmot. At the plate, Ruby went 5-for-11 with three doubles, a triple, and two RBIs and stolen bases on the week. On the mound, toeing the rubber against Union Grove Ruby tossed 4.1 innings allowing four hits a walk and struck out five batters. On the mound so far this year Ruby has pitched to a 2.30 ERA on the season so far.
+ Cutler Schmidt, Utility (West Bend East, 2024):
Uncommitted, Schmidt produced out of the leadoff spot for West Bend East going 6-for-13 at the plate with two doubles, a home run and four RBIs. Also drew two walks and stole three bases on the week.
+ Keegan Skrzypchak, 1B (Janesville Parker, 2024):
Uncommitted, Skrzypchak produced out of the leadoff spot for Janesville Parker going 7-for-9 on the week with four doubles, two triples, four RBIs, two walks and four stolen bases.
+ Greyson Zach, RHP (Pewaukee, 2025):
Minnesota commit, Zach was a two-way contributor on the mound this past week. On the mound, Zach tossed a complete game allowing three hits, eight strikeouts and allowing a run. At the plate, Zach hit a game tying home run on Wednesday in a game Pewaukee would eventually win.
ARROWHEAD
Wisconsin-Stevens Point commit, at the plate on Friday, Gilroy hit two three-run home runs totaling six RBIs in the game.
Uncommitted, Carter was a steady contributor at the plate across four games. Going 8-for-12 on the week with five RBIs a walk and a double.
BROOKFIELD CENTRAL
+ Braylan Bigler, SS/2B (2025):
Uncommitted, Bigler went 5-for-11 on the week with a triple, two RBIs, four stolen bases and walked once.
Uncommitted, Butter went 6-for-13 at the plate with two doubles and RBIs while walking once across the week.
+ Colton Semmelmann, OF (2026):
Uncommitted, Semmelmann went 4-for-6 on the week with a home run and five total RBIs.
GERMANTOWN
Wisconsin-Oshkosh commit, Filla tossed six shutout innings against Port Washington where he struck out 12 batters while walking just one.
Uncommitted, Zaverl, one of the biggest winners over the winter, has continued to perform in game. Against Marquette Zaverl tossed a complete game allowing a hit and a walk while striking out eight batters.
LACONIA
+ Ethan Pinno, Pitcher (2025):
Uncommitted, Pinno tossed a no-hitter last week against Omro. In that start, Pinno tossed five innings where he walked two batters and struck out nine total. At the plate, Pinno went 2-for-5 to round off his week.
Uncommitted, Smit went 7-for-15 at the plate with two doubles, four RBIs and four stolen bases while walking twice on the week. On the mound Smit tossed a clean inning against Central Wisconsin Christian striking out a batter.
MARTIN LUTHER
+ Mason Robertson, LHP/OF (2027):
Uncommitted, Robertson tossed eight total innings on the week striking out 13 batters and allowing a hit. The freshman did struggle with walks throughout the week, giving out 10 free passes in that span.
Uncommitted, Scheel went 8-for-14 with three doubles, five RBIs and three walks while stealing one base on the week.
+ Nathan Wolf, SS (2024):
Uncommitted, Wolf went 8-for-14 at the plate with two doubles, five RBIs and two walks while stealing five bases across the week.