The 2025 Wisconsin high school baseball season is quickly approaching and, as usual, excitement is abound throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across the Badger State.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in their respective WIAA Division State Championship, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams with this initial Preseason Power 25 release which will take us right up to first pitch.

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across Wisconsin. Each week we will be releasing our Power 25, Players of the Week, Diamond Notes, Scout Blog and much more.

Our 2025 preseason coverage continues today.

High School: Edgewood
Preseason Rank: 22
Head Coach: Richard Newton
WIAA Division: 2
Conference: Badger Small
Last Year’s Record: 22-6
2024 Season Highlights: WIAA Division 2 State Champions
Key Players Lost:

• RHP Henry Bishop (DePauw)
• RHP Steffen Mello (UW-Oshkosh)

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ROSTER PREVIEW

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X-FACTOR

SS Preston Yaucher (2025, Penn State) is a four year starter for Edgewood and one of the key pieces from last year's State Championship run. On the field, Yaucher helps solidify the defense up the middle, ranging to both sides with ease with athletic and natural actions to pair. At the plate, the ability to impact the ball seemingly ticked up last fall, consistently driving the ball with authority in game. The added game power adds another element to Yaucher’s overall profile as one of the top shortstops in the Midwest.

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NEWCOMER TO WATCH

OF/RHP Kaleb Oeth (Edgewood) is a freshman with two-way upside. Standing at 6-foot-3, 160 pounds the right-right athlete has shown an advanced skillset to pair with a ceiling. On the mound, the right-hander has flashed feel for a four pitch mix that he is able to throw for strikes. At the plate, Oeth swings a strong right-handed bat with feel to drive the ball on a line. Oeth has the talent to contend for a significant role on this roster and could be a valuable piece for the Crusaders this season.

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TEAM OUTLOOK

“We're an experienced team with the desire to play baseball at a very high level. We have the ability combined with work ethic to make this an interesting season.” – Richard Newton, head coach

The reigning Division ll champions return a heavy hitting lineup with the aforementioned Yaucher and returning All-State catcher Bennett Cagle (2025, Missouri-St. Louis) who was one of the top bats in the state as a junior. Entering the state finals last year, Cagle had already collected 14 doubles and four home runs serving as one of the main run producers for the Crusaders.

Cagle will offer more of the same entering his final year as a prep paired with a steady presence behind the plate.

INF Seth Myers (2025, Winona State) is another returning bat that will be relied on heavily. The physical left-handed hitter is a sneaky athlete with some quick twitch. It’s a more than capable bat that slides into the middle-of-the order alongside Yaucher and Cagle.

Infielders Jack Halloran (2025), Davis Halbleib (2025) and Alex Schoepp (2026) are all capable bats that add depth and extend the lineup for the crusaders.

Senior two-way Carson Jesberger (2025) is another capable bat that will also be relied on to lead the pitching staff. Last season the right-hander went 2-2 with a 2.96 ERA on the season, mostly showing a two-pitch mix with a fastball that’s gotten into the low-80s to pair with a BB.

Other returning arms that will be relied on include RHP Frankie Arnold (2025) along with junior right-handers Jack and Liam Bishop.

Juniors Ben Smarrella and Mac Lombardo along with freshman newcomer Oeth provide further depth to the pitching staff.

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BOTTOM LINE

Returning the bulk of their lineup from last season’s team elevates the floor for the Crusaders. Two First Team All-Conference bats in Cagle and Myers, along with Yaucher’s ability to get to his power more consistently the Crusaders have a potentially potent lineup able to keep them in any game.

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