WIAA Diamond Notes: Week 2
April 17, 2025
Each week, WIAA coaches around the state submit to us their nominations for the Prep Baseball Wisconsin Player of the Week and Prep Baseball Wisconsin Pitcher of the Week honors. Yesterday, we awarded the Week 2 Player of the Week to Christian Collins (Notre Dame Academy, 2025) and the Pitcher of the Week to RHP Ethan Bauerschmidt (Tremper, 2025) for their excellent performances on the diamond. Throughout the week Collins went 9-for-14 with a double, four triples, a home run, driving in 10 RBIs, scoring 12 times, drawing five walks and going a perfect 7-0 on stolen base attempts. Last week, Tremper faced off against Bradford and came away with a 2-1 victory. Bauerschmidt toed the rubber for the Trojans and fired a seven inning no-hitter, striking out 19 batters along the way while walking one batter.
There were a number of other impressive performances that were in the mix for the award and deserve recognition. Here’s a look at some of the most notable.
WEEK 2 DIAMOND NOTES
+ Connor Curtis, RHP/3B (Waukesha North, 2025; Wisconsin-La Crosse):
The La Crosse commit started in Waukesha North’s 11-0 win against Whitnall, tossed a five inning complete game, striking out 12, allowing no hits, no runs, and walked three.
+ Joe Suokko, LHP/1B (Westosha Central, 2025; Wisconsin-Parkside):
Parkside commit Joe Soukko had a quality week on the bump and at the plate. Offensively, Suokko had four hits in ten ABs including two doubles and three RBIs. On Thursday, drove in the game-winning run with a double in the bottom of the 8th inning to beat Union Grove. On Friday, the left-hander threw a complete game shutout to finish the sweep of Union Grove striking out eight, allowing only three hits and no walks in seven innings of work.
+ Yamato Takahashi, LF (Arrowhead, 2025; MIT):
The MIT commit had an impressive week at the plate for Arrowhead, finishing the week 6-for-9 with three doubles, a homer, ten RBIs including two games with four RBIs, one run, and a HBP.
+ Jacob McDonald, C (Pulaski, 2025; Madison JC):
Madison JC commit and backstop, McDonald was hot at the plate last week with six hits in ten at bats, two walks, a triple, and four RBIs, helping Pulaski to a 2-1 record on the week.
+ Aiden Eckert, LHP, OF (New Richmond, 2025; Bethel):
Bethel recruit, the left-handed pitcher and outfielder had a solid showing on the hill and with the bat. Eckert started in New Richmond’s 9-2 win against DC Everest, tossing five innings, allowing one run on two hits, one walk, and struck out five. With the bat, the outfielder was 6-for-11 with a double and five RBIs, helping New Richmond to a 7-0 start.
+ Camden Jeske, 1B/LHP (Oak Creek, 2028):
The freshman has stepped into the leadoff role for the Knights and has impressed. Has been a spark for a team that features 7 new starters this season on offense after graduating 10 seniors from their 2024 state semi-finalist team. Last week, Jeske went 4-for-7 with two walks, three doubles, three RBIs, and two stolen bases.
+ Bron Schaefer, LHP (Kaukauna, 2026; Appalachian State):
App. State commit and southpaw, Schaefer started in Kaukauna’s 2-1 win against Hortonville. The former future gamer tossed six innings allowing no runs, one hit, one walk, and 13 strikeouts.
+ Jaxon Clayton, CF (Brookfield Central, 2025; BYU):
BYU recruit Clayton finished the week 5-for-12 with a walk, double, three RBIs, and six stolen bases. The outfielder had a two RBI, two out single up the middle to tie the game at four in the top of the sixth against Homestead.
+ Peyton Lenell, MIF (Brookfield Central, 2026):
Uncommitted, Lennell had a quality week for the Lancers out of the five hole, finishing 4-for-8 with two walks, and a stolen base.
+ Ryan Wettstein, OF (De Pere, 2025; Minnesota-Duluth(Football)):
A Duluth Football commit, Wettstein had a nice week at the plate for De Pere, going 7-for-11 with a double, three RBIs, and two stolen bases.
+ Zach Hellendrung, 1B (Boyceville, 2026; NDSU (Football)):
The NDSU Football commit had an impressive week offensively for Boyceville, going 5-for-11 with two walks, a double, two home runs including one in the first game of the week and a grand slam in the last game of the week, five RBIs, and two stolen bases.
+ Collin Ehlers, C/RHP (Cedarburg, 2025):
Uncommitted, Ehlers first ever varsity start ended up being a no-hitter against West Allis Hale. The right-hander tossed five innings allowing no hits, no runs, and eight strikeouts.
+ Joey Tamboli, LHP (Sun Prairie East, 2026):
Uncommitted, the left-hander started in Sun Prairie East’s 1-0 win against Sun Prairie West. Tamboli tossed a gem going 6.2 innings allowing only three hits, no runs, walking one, and striking out seven.
+ Gavin Gain, UTIL (Horlick, 2025):
Uncommitted, Gain had a nice week at the plate and also recorded a save against Racine Park with two strikeouts. At the plate, Gain went 6-for-10 with a walk, two doubles, five RBIs, two runs, and four stolen bases.
+ Cayden Burtness, INF (Pewaukee, 2027):
Uncommitted, Burtness was hot last week, in two games, the infielder had five hits in six at bats, one walk, a double, three RBIs, and four runs in two wins against Reedsburg and Cudahy.
+ Marty Hanna, SS/RHP (Sauk Prairie, 2026):
Uncommitted, Hanna was seeing the ball well out of the three hole for the Eagles. Last week, Hanna went 5-for-10 with a triple, four RBIs, two runs, two HBP, and a stolen base.
RANDOM LAKE
The Rams went 4-0 on the week defeating Ozaukee (1-6) twice, Pulaski (0-2), and Racine Park (0-7). Below were some of their top performers.
+ Reed Traas, 3B/P/SS/1B (Random Lake, 2027):
Uncommitted, Traas was seeing the ball well at the plate last week finishing with eight hits in 16 at bats, slugging four doubles, six RBIs, and stealing one bag.
+ Griffin Donahue, SS (Random Lake, 2027):
Uncommitted, Donahue couldn’t get out last week ending the week 8-for-11 with four walks, two doubles, four RBIs, and three stolen bases helping the Rams improve to an 8-0 start to the season.