The WIAA playoffs are coming down to the wire in the Badger State, as Regional play has come to a conclusion after an eventful week. Many of the top seeds survived their first couple of rounds of action—emerging as Sectional contenders come Tuesday, June 4.

With the talent that has evolved and will be showcased on Tuesday, the Prep Baseball Wisconsin staff will be rolling out preview pieces beforehand.

Sectionals continue in Big Foot where it will be a battle between Pewaukee, Kettle Moraine Lutheran, New Berlin West and No. 12 St. Thomas More. Check out how they have reached this point, in addition to some of the key players, below.

PEWAUKEE (21-7)

It seems to be a yearly tradition that Pewaukee vies for a trip to Appleton and is playing meaningful baseball at the beginning of June. For a program that has seen a lot of success in the month of June in years past, this season is nothing different as the Pirates will compete for a trip to Appleton in the Big Foot Sectional.

To note their path to sectionals so far, pitching has been the name of the game for the Pirates in each of their last two games. RHP Greyson Zach (2025; Minnesota commit) was dominant in his program’s first playoff game last Wednesday against Pius. Zach was nearly untouchable and tossed a shutout that featured 12 K’s. His two-hit outing was more than enough to send the Pirates to a regional final where they met Kewaskum. The other half of what has become somewhat of a one-two punch in the playoffs is RHP Owen Dobberstein (2025). Dobberstein got the start against the Indians and followed Zach’s outing with one similar. The right-handed junior struck out 10 and allowed just two hits as he helped secure a regional championship.

Outside of the aforementioned two at the plate, OF/RHP Drew Dobberstein (2025) and Jackson Servais (2025) have seen the first pitches of the game for the Pirates and have set the table for Zach and Dobberstein (Owen) in the team’s two wins. With other names such as OF/LHP Tyler Wallace (2024; Aurora signee), SS/2B Karl Eidem (2024), and RHP/1B Ryan Sopha (2024) across the lineup, it feels like anyone named in the lineup could explode for a big game and give the Pirates a decisive offensive spark.

Despite an up-and-down month of May by Pewaukee’s standards, something seems to be clicking for the Pirates which is par for the course for the school in the WIAA playoffs. For a team that was considered “young” last year, this season seems to be the culmination of young talent that has a knack for winning games.

Pewaukee has the first game of the Big Foot schedule as they square off with Kettle Moraine Lutheran at 10:00 AM.

KETTLE MORAINE LUTHERAN (23-5)

Kettle Moraine Lutheran (KML) returns to Big Foot for another shot at a Sectional Championship that has evaded them in recent years. After losses in the Sectional final the past two years, the Chargers are rolling and look to snap that streak.

The 2024 regular season was a success for KML as they went 23-5 overall, 12-1 in conference, and claimed the East Central title. Their regular season momentum has carried into the WIAA Playoffs and now has them playing into the month of June.

RHP/SS Landon Hagenow (2024) looks to be in line for a start on Tuesday and has been the go-to guy on the mound for the Chargers this season. Hagenow powered the Chargers to a win in their Regional Championship win over Campbellsport and did so in a convincing fashion. The right-handed senior tossed all five of the contest’s frames allowing just two hits.

Another standout performer for the Chargers this season has been 1B/RHP Brett Biondich (2026; Texas Christian) who has featured on both sides of the ball. Typically coming in relief for a starter, Biondich’s arm has been fresh all year while his bat has been utilized plenty. Biondich has been part of a strong heart of the order that features other names such as Hagenow and 3B Jackson Kobylarczyk (2025). OF Sam Ehlke (2024) and OF Jackson Wallin (2024) have been a pair of seniors that consistently don the top of the KML lineup card and have been a big part of KML’s offensive success this season.

After two wins over Campbellsport and Grafton last week, KML looks to finally etch their name into the plaque of a Sectional Championship, something that they have come so close to over the past couple of years. The Chargers are looking to make noise and certainly have the ability to do so when things are going well for them.

Kettle Moraine Lutheran will help kick off the baseball at Big Foot on Tuesday morning when they face off against Pewaukee at 10:00 AM.

NEW BERLIN WEST (14-8)

There might not be a better example of an “up-and-down” season than the one New Berlin West put together in 2024. Their season featured some wins over strong teams but some ugly losses at the same time. The Woodland West was competitive this year with teams such as Wisconsin Lutheran, Pewaukee and New Berlin Eisenhower all earning a bye in the first round of Regionals.

However, the Vikings find themselves playing in Sectionals and have made noise in order to get there. West was dealt a five-seed for the state’s tournament and consequently run-ruled the 12-seed, St. Augustine Prep. After that, they went on to hang double digits against Delavan-Darien which set the stage for a Regional title match against their cross-town rivals, New Berlin Eisenhower.

Without question, the top-seeded Lions would be one of the Vikings’ toughest tests of the spring. However, the contest seemed to be anything but that. New Berlin West ended up stunning their rival with a 15-3 final score to claim a Regional title. RHP/1B Rocco Conrad (2025) got the start in the New Berlin clash and reinforced why he has been the Vikings’ No. 1 throughout the spring. The right-handed junior struck out seven and surrendered just one earned run.

At the plate, SS Nathan Hinek (2026) has served as the leadoff and has been followed by MIF Ben Shingledecker (2025). Both have contributed to some big wins and certainly contributed to last Thursday when they both recorded doubles in multi-hit performances. 3B Daniel Kibler (2025) is the latest of the notable last-name to come through the New Berlin program and has found a knack for getting on base as of late.

A two-way to note for the upcoming games is RHP/OF Payton Kaiser (2024; Rock Valley JC) who will surely be featured on the mound after Conrad. However, the pitching signee has flashed a bat this spring with an average in the .400s and an OPS in the 1.000s. Some notable runs have been driven in and created by the senior this season and is certainly someone to watch for when the baseball begins in Big Foot on Tuesday.

New Berlin West’s road to Appleton will begin against No. 12 St. Thomas More in a 1:00 PM start on Tuesday.

ST. THOMAS MORE (21-7)

After some key injuries looked to prove tough to overcome, the Cavaliers have done just that as they went 12-0 in the Metro Classic and finished with a record of 21-7.

The Milwaukee-based program looks to return to Appleton after a heartbreaking defeat in last year’s Division 2 State Championship. After being dealt a two-seed in this year’s tournament, the team looks ready to challenge for their spot in Appleton’s coveted tournament.

A big weapon of St. Thomas More’s arsenal has been RHP/C Sam Mommer (2024; Wisconsin-Parkside signee). The right-hander has had to step into the team’s No. 1 role and did so in their 4-1 victory over Whitnall. Mommer has been great on both sides of the ball and has featured in the heart of the Cavaliers’ order. One thing that can be taken away from last year’s tournament is that Mommer unquestionably has the ability to impact important games in the month of June.

INF/RHP Oliver Gonzalez (2024) is another name to watch for the Metro Classic champions as he will likely step onto the mound after Mommer does – whether that is in game one or a potential second. Gonzalez has featured all over the field for St. Thomas More, along with SS/RHP Brayden Alivo (2026). With his brother, Kyle, sidelined, Alivo has taken a big leap this season and been a reliable source of innings and hitting for the Power 25 team. The 22nd-ranked sophomore in the state is another name to watch out for in Big Foot, as he has been great in short relief stints as of late.

Other names such as C/3B Brady Johnson (2024; McHenry County JC) and MIF/SS Andrew Dodge (2025) populate the order for St. Thomas More and make their lineup a tough one to face at times. The Cavaliers will need standout performances from their supporting cast should they make a deep run in the playoffs.

The Big Foot sectional will have some top talent that should put on some of the best baseball the area has to offer. The championship game to decide which one of the four teams will head to Appleton will start at 4:00 PM with all four having a case to be ones to make it out.

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