Returning Starters/Contributors

Spring Valley Coach Brandon Walczak: Returning starters will be Will Biggs, Braden Gregg, Wyatt Smith and Jake Hannack.

EPC Coach Cory Brathall: Seniors: Pitcher Hudson Hewitt (DSC Honorable Mention in '25), pitcher/shortstop Ari Perez, pitcher/infielder Nick DeLong, infielder Skylar Fischer. Juniors: Catcher Logan Auth, infielder Oliver Mendlik, pitcher/outfielder Robbie Duffy, outfielder Teigan Bauer. Sophomores: Utility Caleb Kopp, outfielder Lucas Hartung.

Ellsworth Coach Kasey Bass: Gavin Klos, Jack Stoltenberg, Parker Peterson, Vincent Orrichio, Grayson Jensen, Evan Beissel, Wyley Myers.

Prescott Coach Brad Matzek:  Brody Temmers (catcher/pitcher), Max Monteith (first base/pitcher), Evan Kochendorfer SS/pitcher, Zac Matzek (outfield/pitcher), Jack Matzek (pitcher/infield).

River Falls Coach Ryan Bishop through the Wisconsin Coaches Association Yearbook: Ethan Jeffers, Landon McQuade, Chase Rudolph, Cal Dumond, Ryan Dumond, Kingston Quinn, Colten Maves, Lane Amidon, Cayden Kroll.

Who are you looking to for team leadership?

Walczak: Our leaders should be our returning starters, especially Biggs and Gregg. And our strengths should be the pitching of those two guys.

Brathall: We are looking for our seniors and juniors to lead this season. They have a lot of varsity experience under their belts. Hudson, Ari and Nick have been four-year contributors on varsity for us. Really hanging our hats on our upperclassmen to have solid seasons.

Bass: We are bringing back a good amount of senior leadership to our team this year. We will be looking to them to help guide our team during the course of the season.

Matzek: Two players with two years of experience on varsity as starters (Brody Temmers and Max Moneith).

River Falls: The Wildcats return a ton of talent and leadership from a year ago, bringing a ton of experience to the table in 2026.

What do you expect to be your team strengths?

Brathall: We only graduated two from last year's team, so we return a lot of experience.

Bass: I expect our team to play solid defense and play clean baseball. That was a strength for us last year, and we return many players who contributed to that success. We also have good team speed and expect to run the bases very well.

Matzek: We have five returning players that have pitched in a number of varsity games last year.

River Falls: The lineup this season does not have much for holes, with capable players batting first through ninth.

What are your goals for this year’s team?

Walczak: Our goals for the season are to compete in every game with competitive pitching and putting the ball in play. I’d like to push for us to be at the top of the conference, but usually the teams at the top of the conference are very quality so we will have our work cut out for us.

Brathall: To continue to grow as a team. I believe if we can be consistent on the mound and at the plate, we could get to double-digit wins and possibly host a playoff game.

Bass: My goal for this year’s team is to compete in everything we do, whether it’s in practice or during games. That means bringing focus, energy, and intent to every drill, rep, and situation. We want to create an environment where players push each other to improve daily and take pride in doing the small things right.

Matzek: To win a conference championship and a Sectional championship.

What will be the difference maker in whether or not the team finds success?

Walczak: I think for our team the difference makers will be quality defense and limiting big innings along with being able to get guys on base and putting the ball pressure on the opposing D to try to score runs.

Brathall: Consistency! We have shown flashes of being a good baseball team in years past, now with the experience we have coming back it's time to put it together on a more consistent basis.

Bass: The practice habits we commit to and focus on making sure the little things are done the right way. We need to focus on being process oriented vs results oriented.

Matzek: After offseason shoulder surgery last June (after his junior year), if Max Monteith can get back to full strength, we feel that we can accomplish our team goals. Max had a great sophomore year on the mound; however, he was unable to pitch last year (his junior year) due to a shoulder injury. Making minimal mistakes on defense and solid pitching will be the keys to our success.

River Falls: Senior Chase Rudolph was First Team All-Big Rivers Conference a year ago and will be an X-factor this year. He is one of the Wildcats’ pitchers, plays shortstop and bats in the heart of the order, so expect to hear his name called plenty.