The Wisconsin Baseball Association (WBA) playoffs have arrived, and there are some high expectations for Pierce County’s teams.
The playoff format is split into a Division A and Division B system, with Regionals being played on Aug. 8-10 and the State Finals being played the following weekend. Each team is placed into a three-team pool, playing each of the other two teams they are grouped with. Whichever team comes away with the most wins (runs allowed and run differential are the tiebreakers) advances to an eight-team bracket made up of each of the pools’ winners. Divisions are based on population within a radius.

River Falls
After one of the best years in St. Croix Valley League history, posting a 30-2 record while 14-0 in league play, River Falls looks to add to its State championships from 2024… and 2022… and 2020… and 2011. The success seems to keep building for the program, but defending a championship is never an easy task, as they know each team is going to throw their biggest haymaker.
The Fighting Fish still have many players with the experience of being in the lineup for those title runs, but they have mixed in some youth along the way. This season, the Fish have scored 153 runs across the 14 league games, allowing just 29 runs.
River Falls is hosting their Regional group, slated to play against the Spooner Cardinals and the La Crosse 35ers. Their first game is against the Cardinals at 8 p.m. Friday.

Spring Valley
The Spring Valley Hawks had another phenomenal year, going 10-4 in St. Croix Valley League play to finish third of 11 teams, only behind River Falls and Hudson. The Hawks were third in runs scored in league play and had the third least runs against.
They head to the Haugen Regional, matching up with the Eau Claire Cavaliers and the Haugen Knights. Spring Valley joins River Falls as the only other Pierce County team to be a part of the Division A playoffs. Spring Valley has pitched well all year, but the bats have also come alive in the second half of the season, posting double-digit runs frequently since the middle of June.
Their first game is at 3 p.m. Saturday, with the opening opponent still to be determined.

Elmwood
The league’s fourth place team, and highest placing Division B squad, finished 7-6 in league play heads to Abbotsford for their Regional. The Whittlesey Reds and Ashland Merchants are the two squads in their pool, with the first game at 7 p.m. Saturday with the first opponent to be determined.
Between Mason Dado as well as Eli and Brecken Ponath, the Expos have shut out or allowed one to two runs in six of seven league wins. Elmwood is eyeing redemption, as they made a State Championship game a year ago and fell just short against Osceola. Elmwood was one of the two teams to beat Hudson in league play, shutting them out 4-0 back in July with Eli Ponath going all nine innings.

Ellsworth
The Hubbers had the league’s biggest turnaround from last year to this year, going from 5-11 in league play a year ago to 7-7 this season. The Hubbers will go into the postseason as one of the favorites to take Division B.
Ellsworth is another team that can get it done on the mound with James Georgakas, Urban Broadway, Tom Kroohn and more, but they also have an arsenal of solid hitters.
The Hubbers play at the Augusta Regional, pooled with Medford and Augustsa. Their first game is at 4 p.m. Saturday.

Bay City
After a 5-9 season, Bay City will join Elmwood in Abbotsford, but in a separate pool. The Bombers line up against the host squad, Abbotsford, as well as Bangor. The opening game is at 7 p.m. Friday, against Abbotsford.
Bay City has had some big wins this year, including winning 9-2 over one of Division B’s favorites in Elmwood during the Plum City tournament in May. According to Wisco Baseball, Bay City had eight hitters batting over .300 as of July 24.
The Bombers went from 10th of 10 teams a year ago in league play to seventh of 11 teams.

Plum City
The Blues finished the year in eighth with a 5-9 league record. Manager Tony Garner’s squad is young, and he said they are still learning how to play complete games and finish close ones.
They qualified for the Division B playoffs, taking on Rib Lake and Bloomer in Rib Lake. They open their postseason at 3 p.m. Saturday. The first opponent is still to be determined.

Prescott
Prescott missed out on Regionals in Division A this year. The Pirates have a great recent history of winning; however, struggled to a 4-10 league record this year. Their ninth place finish was not enough to keep the season alive.
With a great high school program over the last decade, the team saw a youth infusion over the previous couple of years. When those players are ready to take the next step, the Pirates could be dangerous again.