We’re finally closing the book on another memorable spring in the WIAA, releasing our First Team, All-State roster today, with our Second and Third teams rolling out over the next week or so. Coaches from around Wisconsin submitted some of their top performers throughout the year, and our staff has sifted through the numbers in order to determine who is worthy of these end-of-spring accolades.

You can find our 2022-2025 all-state honorees listed on this page, if you’re interested.

Now, here are the 19 players who have earned a place on the 2026 Prep Baseball Wisconsin First Team, All-State roster.

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CATCHERS

Maddux Lessard C / Muskego, WI / 2026 AVG 2B 3B HR RBI BB OPS FLD% .461 7 2 7 37 19 1.408 .992 Lessard was last an all-state catcher back as a freshman back in 2024, the summer in which he re-classed up into the Class of 2026. After a “down year” by his own lofty standards, the Minnesota recruit was back in 2026 as the most consistent bat for the team that spent more time than anyone ranked as the No. 1 club in the state this spring. He hit .461 with 16 extra-base hits, including seven homers, drove in 37 runs, and drew 19 walks against just 12 strikeouts, all while handling the position well enough to post a fielding percentage of .992. Muskego’s 25-5 season and D1 state semifinals finish was due in part to Lessard's offensive reliability, finshing as the Classic 8 Conference Player of the Year, District Player of the Year, and now named to our First Team, All-State roster.

Chase Beahm C / Waupun, WI / 2026 AVG OBP SLG OPS 2B HR RBI BB K .451 .516 .986 1.502 11 9 48 15 6 Beahm claimed the other First Team catcher spot after a monster senior spring in which he led the state’s backstops in a number of offensive categories, including home runs and RBIs. He hit .451 and slugged nearly 1.000, launching nine long balls and driving in 48 runs, and he did it with strong plate discipline, striking out just six times all spring. The Rock Valley JC commit was named the Prep Baseball Wisconsin Player of the Week on April 15, and he saved his best moment for when the Warriors needed it most, in the D2 sectional final against Little Chute. Beahm broke a 4-4 tie with a walk-off homer to send Waupun to the state tournament and it was an exclamation point on one of the state’s most productive offensive seasons behind the plate.

INFIELDERS

Jace Mataczynski SS / Hudson, WI / 2026 AVG OBP SLG HR RBI R BB K SB .436 .561 1.038 13 41 43 24 9 16 Mataczynski is back on our First Team, All-State roster in back-to-back springs, and the Auburn commit did it this time by adding even more game power to an already advanced offensive profile. After hitting for average and gap power a year ago, he led the state in home runs in 2026, launching 13 while slashing .436/.561/1.038 with 41 RBIs, 43 runs, and nearly a 3-to-1 walk-to-strikeout ratio. Just as impressive was his maturation in the field, where he committed only six errors and made the difficult look routine to become one of the best shortstops in the state. He was also named Prep Baseball's National Player of the Month after an April onslaught offensively. Mataczynski has blossomed into one of the top MLB Draft prospects in the Midwest, headed into next week with his stock higher than ever.

Nolan Julseth SS / New Glarus, WI / 2027 AVG OBP SLG HR RBI R BB K SB .537 .652 1.045 6 31 42 18 6 13 As one of the best uncommitted juniors in the state, Julseth turned in a season that stacks up against any hitter in Wisconsin, regardless of age, size, or position. He hit .537 and reached base at a .652 clip, slugging better than 1.000 with 19 extra-base hits and 31 RBIs while striking out only six times all season. After his junior season, Julseth is now all over the New Glarus record book, breaking the program’s single-season batting average and runs records and tying its home run mark. A captain since his sophomore year, Julseth pairs elite production with the leadership and that's what makes him among the top uncommitted bats in the Midwest.

Cooper Sievert SS / Wisconsin Lutheran, WI / 2027 AVG OBP SLG HR RBI R SB K .492 .692 1.105 7 29 32 18 3 Already one of the top Class of 2027 prospects in the state, Sievert took another leap forward in his junior season. The West Virginia commit hit .492 and reached base at nearly a .700 clip, slugging better than 1.100 with seven home runs and just three strikeouts all spring. Most notably, four of those seven homers came in the sixth inning or later to give Wisconsin Lutheran the lead, including go-ahead shots against New Berlin Eisenhower, Pewaukee, and Waukesha West. He's also reliable shortstop defender and it's that combined profile that has his ceiling raised higher headed into his last summer as a high school-aged player.

Trey Kerkhoff SS / Burlington, WI / 2026 AVG OBP SLG HR RBI BB K SB .500 .655 .945 5 38 26 8 25 Few hitters in the state were as consistently productive from the first pitch of the season to the last as Kerkhoff, the Purdue recruit who put together a record-setting spring at Burlington. He hit an even .500 with 17 extra-base hits, 38 RBIs, and 25 steals, walking 26 times against just eight strikeouts. That level of production broke Burlington's single-season OPS record (1.600), and this is one of the most historically competitive programs in the state under longtime head coach Scott Staude. The Southern Lakes Conference and Racine County Player of the Year backed it up in the biggest spots, too, combined with the fact that he's a well-rounded left-side defender with a bright future who will be headed to West Lafayette, Ind., this fall.

Cayden Burtness SS / Pewaukee, WI / 2027 AVG OBP SLG H RBI R SB K .610 .667 .876 65 39 51 36 6 Batting third and manning shortstop, Burtness was the engine of a 30-2 Pewaukee team that captured the program’s first-ever state championship. The uncommitted junior hit an unconcious .610 this spring, a number that never dipped below .600 after the season’s third game, and he set Pewaukee’s single-season records for both batting average and hits (65). He scored 51 runs, stole 36 bases, and struck out just six times, marrying that offensive explosion gave him arguably the best singe-season season output in Pewaukee's decorated history. Burtness is also arguably the best pure defender on this entire roster, which should earn him next-level attention this summer from college recruiting coordinators.

OUTFIELDERS

Dominic Santarelli OF / St. Joseph Catholic, WI / 2026 AVG OBP SLG HR RBI R BB SB .562 .717 1.125 9 33 68 40 46 The No. 1-ranked senior in the state and our back-to-back Prep Baseball Wisconsin Player of the Year, Santarelli closed his prep career as one of the most celebrated players Wisconsin has ever produced. The LSU commit led the state in OPS (1.842), hitting .562 while reaching base at a .717 clip, and he did it despite being pitched around to the tune of 40 walks. He also scored 66 runs and swiped 46 bags, pairing his elite bat strength with premium athleticism. He's known for his authentically elite power, a tool that contended with college draft prospects most recently at the MLB Draft Combine. Having moved from first base to center field, he looked like a natural in his new home, adding even more overall value as SJCA reached its third straight WIAA state final in 2026, finishing as narrow runners-up to Pewaukee. Whether it's at LSU or in an MLB organization, Santarelli will proudly represent Wisconsin at the next level.

Alex Michna OF / New Berlin Eisenhower, WI / 2027 AVG OBP SLG HR RBI R BB K SB .516 .603 .925 5 43 51 22 7 23 As maybe the the breakout prospect of the entire spring, Michna established himself as the top uncommitted hitter in the state along the way. He hit .516 with 48 hits, 43 RBIs, and 51 runs scored, flashing a rare blend of production and bat-to-ball skill, considering he struck out just seven times all season. His biggest swing came in the sectional semifinal against Whitnall, when he launched a go-ahead home run in the bottom of the sixth to propel New Berlin Eisenhower into the sectional final. With across-the-board offensive production, real speed on the bases, and a recruitment that figures to heat up in a hurry, Michna is one of the more intriguing 2027 bats in the Midwest. Michna will represent Wisconsin at the 2026 Prep Baseball Senior Future Games at the end of the month.

Ezra Liggon OF / Madison Memorial, WI / 2026 AVG OBP SLG HR RBI BB K SB .436 .568 .927 5 29 17 5 10 Liggon missed the first eight games of the season with an injury, but then made up for lost time in a hurry. The Bradley recruit is one of the top athletes in the state at 6-foot-4, 195 pounds, with 6.41 speed, and it shows with true center field defense, but his left-handed bat made big gains this spring, setting Madison Memorial's single-season slugging record in the meantime. More than half of his 24 hits went for extra bases, and he saved his best for the D1 state championship game where he ripped two triples against Kaukauna that had them in the lead for a time before the Spartans finished just short of becoming D1 champs. Just as encouraging for his projection was the way he trimmed the swing-and-miss that had dogged him earlier in his career, striking out only five times and turning into one of the toughest outs of the entire postseason, especially.

Dawson Luther OF / LHP / Pittsville, WI / 2026 AVG OBP SLG H 2B RBI R K .585 .656 .877 62 16 45 60 4 Luther authored one of the most statistically impressive careers the WIAA has seen in some time, capping his four years at D4 Pittsville with an all-time memorable senior season. The UW-Stevens Point recruit hit .585 with 62 hits, pushing him to a program-record 202 for his career, while driving in 45 runs, scoring 60 times, and striking out just four times all spring. That left-handed bat, which made him a four-year varsity starter and a two-time WBCA D4 Player of the Year (as a sophomore and again this season), is his calling card, and it earned him our Player of the Week nod on April 29. He was also Pittsville's best pitcher, posting a 2.77 ERA with 70 strikeouts over 60.2 innings. Along the way, his teams won four conference titles, three regionals, and a sectional across his four years as a varsity starter.

PITCHERS

Mason Schmidt RHP / Somerset, WI / 2026 IP ER H BB K ERA WHIP 62.0 4 26 21 127 0.45 0.76 One of the top-ranked right-handers in the state, Schmidt was simply dominant for D2 Somerset, carrying the Spartans to a WIAA D2 state tournament appearance. In 62 innings, he allowed just four earned runs on 26 hits and 21 walks and he struck out an overwhelming 127 batters over that span. That workload translated to a 0.45 ERA and a 0.76 WHIP, numbers that reflect the kind of swing-and-miss stuff with command/control that have him ranked as one of the very best pitchers in Wisconsin. The UW-Milwaukee recruit projects as an impact arm at the next level, and his combination of missed bats and strikes made him one of the first choices you'd choose in a winner-take-all game in the WIAA.

Tyson Grulkowski RHP / Muskego, WI / 2026 IP W-L H K ERA WHIP 42.1 7-0 29 73 1.49 0.97 The top-ranked pitcher in the state’s senior class, Grulkowski was the ace of a Muskego club that entered the year as the D1 favorite and reigning champion. He went 7-0 with a sub-1.00 WHIP (0.97) and struck out 73 batters in just 42.1 innings, the kind of production made all the more impressive by the fact that he was routinely matched up against Muskego’s toughest opponents from inside what is typically the most competitive conference in the state. A returning First Team, All-State arm, Grulkowski heads into next week’s MLB Draft with a chance to hear his name called, the culmination of a career that made him one of the most reliable big-game starters in Wisconsin.

Reed Vorlob LHP / Horicon, WI / 2026 IP W-L H K ERA WHIP 48.2 7-1 18 100 1.15 0.68 Vorlob turned in a season for the Horicon record books, setting the program’s single-season strikeout mark with an even 100 punch-outs. The Milwaukee Area Tech JC commit was borderline untouchable, allowing just 18 hits across 48.2 innings en route to a 1.15 ERA and a microscopic 0.68 WHIP. He tossed no-hitters on both May 4 and May 28, and that May 4 gem was especially brilliant, in which he racked up 16 strikeouts in just five frames. Whether it’s the strikeout totals or the opponent's BAA, Vorlob’s season was among the most dominant in the WIAA.

Maddux Hermus RHP / Kimberly, WI / 2027 IP W-L H K ERA WHIP 48.0 8-1 23 71 1.00 0.79 One of the top uncommitted right-handers in the state's '27 class, Hermus was named the Fox Valley Association Pitcher of the Year, a conference that was loaded with arms and offensive talent this spring. He went 8-1 with a 1.00 ERA and a 0.79 WHIP, striking out 71 batters in 48 innings while limiting opponents to just 23 hits. Hermus also produced a 1.045 OPS at the plate with a team-high seven home runs, giving Kimberly an offensive boost that should keep them looking like a state contender again next season, as per usual. Hermus' two-way skills and athleticism, combined with his high-spin stuff on the mound, make him one of our favorite uncommitted '27s in Wisconsin.

Colton Semmelmann LHP / Brookfield Central, WI / 2026 IP W-L H K ERA WHIP 45.1 3-3 22 77 1.08 0.99 The top-ranked left-handed pitcher in the state’s senior class, Semmelmann was a strikeout artist for Brookfield Central, punching out 77 batters in just 45.1 innings. He reigned in the control this spring yet allowed only 22 hits despite living in the zone more often, posting a 1.08 ERA with a 0.99 WHIP, and he was typically pitching without much run support. He recently de-committed from South Carolina and the lefty carries real MLB Draft buzz into next week, so it'll be especially interesting to see where Semmelmann will be pitching in 2027, ultimately. He has the arsenal to be one of the top southpaws to emerge from Wisconsin in recent history.

UTILITY

Brett Paulsen LHP / OF / Kewaunee, WI / 2026 AVG 2B RBI R SB OPS IP W-L K ERA WHIP .464 9 32 41 25 1.106 53.0 11-0 123 0.53 0.49 Paulsen was, unofficially, our Pitcher of the Year in the state. With that said, he was simply too good with the bat to limit him to one side of the ball on this roster. On the mound, he was untouchable, allowing just nine hits across 53 innings while striking out a state-best 123 batters and posting a 0.53 ERA with a 0.49 WHIP for a Kewaunee club that went undefeated in the regular season. He tossed a perfect game against Escanaba, three additional solo no-hitters, and was part of another combined no-hitter, shattering Kewaunee’s single-season and career (319) strikeout records in the process. At the plate, the UW-Parkside recruit hit .464 with a 1.106 OPS, 32 RBIs, and 25 steals and he struck out just twice all season. He scored 41 runs, or 37 more than the four he allowed on the mound, a stat line that just about sums up his season.

Ira Hilbelink UTL / RHP / Cedar Grove-Belgium, WI / 2027 AVG 3B HR RBI R SB OPS IP K ERA WHIP .557 7 6 36 57 29 1.678 55.0 96 1.66 1.06 The WBCA Division 3 Player of the Year, Hilbelink is the odds-on favorite to win the 2027 Prep Baseball Wisconsin Player of the Year award at this rate, after he was arguably the runner-up for the award as a junior this season. He fueled the Rockets to the program's first-ever WIAA state championship, hitting .557 with a 1.678 OPS and striking out just twice all spring. His signature moment came in the state semifinals, in a 13-4 win over Marathon, when he broke the single-game WIAA state tournament triples record (3), part of a 5-for-6 showing at the state tourney that included two doubles, those three triples, five runs, and six RBIs. He was every bit as valuable on the mound, striking out 96 batters in 55 innings with a 1.66 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. Simply put, he was the best player on the D3 state champions and you can see why he's currently our No. 1-ranked '27 in the state.

Zach Rizzo 1B / RHP / St. Joseph Catholic, WI / 2026 AVG OBP SLG 2B HR RBI OPS IP K ERA WHIP .479 .532 .947 10 10 58 1.479 48.2 56 1.73 1.56 Even while sharing a lineup with the back-to-back Prep Baseball Wisconsin Player of the Year, Rizzo carved out a monster season of his own, leading St. Joseph Catholic in both doubles (10) and home runs (10). That 10th homer was nearly an all-timer, a two-run shot to center in the top of the WIAA D2 state title game that pulled SJCA back within a run of Pewaukee, where it ultimately finished. Along the way, Rizzo hit .479 with a 1.479 OPS and what was likely a state-best 58 RBIs, and his two homers against Jefferson in the state playoffs helped push the Lancers to a third consecutive state tournament berth. He was the team’s ace on the mound as well, striking out 56 with a 1.73 ERA over 48.2 innings. The UW-Parkside recruit was essential to a memorable SJCA run and one of the most productive two-way players in the state as a senior.

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