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Top-10 Stories of 2025: No. 6 Thrilling Finishes at the 2025 WIAA State Finals

December 24, 2025
By: Will Calcaterra
Area Scout, Content

At the end of each calendar year, the Prep Baseball Wisconsin staff reflects back on the 10 most intriguing headlines that surrounded the baseball scene in the Badger State. Through the end of the month, we will break down the most impactful storylines from an eventful 2025 campaign, ending with our No. 1 story revealed Dec. 31.

All across the board, the 2025 WIAA State Championship Finals had no shortness of excitement. The Division 1 and Division 2 championships both ended in dramatic walk-off fashion, and the Division 3 and Division 4 championships showcased evenly matched contests. 

Division 4: Pacelli vs. Johnson Creek

The Division 4 championship showcased a matchup between Pacelli and Johnson Creek was an exciting one, with Johnson Creek getting on the board quickly after a leadoff walk followed by a Tanner Herman (Johnson Creek, 2025; Bryant & Stratton) triple. Zach Holland (Johnson Creek, 2025; Northeast Iowa CC) followed this up woth a triple of his own, getting Johnson Creek off to an early lead that they would keep through the entirety of the game, behind 6 scoreless innings of work on the mound for Dugg Hartwig, securing the Division 4 State Championship for the Blue Jays by a final score of 5-0. 

Division 3: Kenosha St. Joseph vs. Kewaunee

A closely contested matchup between Kenosha St. Joseph and Kewaunee saw Kewaunee get on the board first, and keep the lead until Kenosha St. Joseph tied it in the fifth inning by the means of a Mason Ballard (Kenosha St. Joseph, 2025; Highland CC) RBI single. St. Joseph would take the lead in the top of the seventh inning, and a spotless inning on the mound from Dominic Santarelli (Kenosha St. Joseph, 2026; LSU) would secure the State Championship for the Lancers. 

Division 2: New Berlin Eisenhower vs. Seymour

In this contest, New Berlin Eisenhower would get on the board quickly, loading the bases in the first inning and plating two runs on a Sam Hirthe (New Berlin Eisenhower, 2025) base hit.  Seymour would strike back in the fourth inning, loading the bases and scoring two runs on a Micah Byers (Seymour, 2026) double. A Colton Neiland (Seymour, 2026) base hit would tie it. The game would stay tied until a Hirthe double would drive in the winning run for New Berlin Eisenhower, winning the championship in walk-off fashion by a final score of 5-4.

Division 1: Muskego vs. Badger

The division 1 matchup was a back and fourth contest. Going into the third inning tied at two runs a piece, the score would stay tied until the sixth inning, where both scored a run each to find themselves tied again at three going into the seventh inning. After Badger tacked on a run in the top half of the seventh inning, a bases loaded hit by pitch for Danny Hauboldt (Muskego, 2025) ties the game at four, and sets up Carter Nicolato (Muskego, 2026; Wisconsin-Oshkosh) who hits a hard ground ball that gets through, scoring the winning run for the Warriors, with a final score of 5-4.

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