WIAA Power 25: Update
April 20, 2026
Today, for the first time this spring, we’re updating the Prep Baseball Wisconsin Power 25 Rankings. The weather has been particularly unkind to us this season so far, so here’s to hoping we’re in store for some sun and warmth to wrap up April.
In this update, we actually have a new No. 1-ranked squad already after the top two teams on our preseason board met each other on Saturday in the Prep Baseball High School Invitation at The Rock in Franklin, Wis. – though, more than just that head-to-head matchup went into our consideration for the top-ranked squad on the board.
WIAA HEADLINES
Let’s break down the movement inside our first Power 25 update of 2026. Two teams climbed into the rankings, and two teams fell out.
AT THE TOP
+ No. 1 Hudson (8-0): Hudson is off to an undefeated start this spring, winning all eight of their games so far this young season, including a 10-8 victory over the previous No. 1 team in the state, Muskego. They also have other key wins over Hartford Union (7-6), and conference sweeps of Eau Claire North and Marshfield already.
(Jace Mataczynski; 4/18/26)
Senior star SS Jace Mataczynski (2026; Auburn) is slashing .522/.576/1.217 this spring already with four home runs in his first 23 at-bats, two of which were extremely important in their two wins at The Rock over the weekend. Junior C Logan Hagman (2027; Minnesota) isn’t far behind his teammate’s levels of production, with an OPS of 1.706 and eight extra-base hits (team-high), including seven doubles. OF Sam Manchester (2026; Bryant & Stratton JC) has a 1.281 OPS and LHP/1B Mark Susa (2027) has yet to allow an earned run in 11 innings with 13 Ks as the team’s ace – he’s also up to two homers this spring, and his two-run shot in extras against Muskego ultimately earned his team the signature victory.
+ No. 2 Muskego (3-2): The Warriors are down a spot from their preseason No. 1 ranking, but they’re still the team to beat as reigning Division 1 champions rostering, probably, the most talented team in Wisconsin baseball history. We were treated to an absolute classic on Saturday at the Prep Baseball Wisconsin HS Invitational at The Rock between Muskego and Hudson, a game in which the Warriors lead 8-2 before some late-game heroics from the Raiders spoiled an early season statement for the defending champs.
(Callen Tomsyck; 4/18/26)
Nevertheless, Muskego is getting some solid starts out of C Maddux Lessard (2026; Minnesota commit), CIF Carter Nicolato (2026; UW-Oshkosh), and OF/RHP Callen Tomsyck (2026; South Dakota State), which only bodes well for the outlook here. Prior to their Hudson matchup, the Warriors split a series with Kettle Moraine and earned wins over Burlington and Union Grove.
+ No. 3 Whitefish Bay (5-0): Whitefish Bay, up from No. 5, is off to a strong start with a 5-0 record, highlighted by wins over Waukesha West (3-2), No. 5 Sun Prairie East (8-5), Nicolet (4-0, 12-2), and Wilmot Union (10-0). It’s a deep lineup that’s been getting a ton of production out of its lead-off hitter, senior OF/LHP Charlie McIntyre (2026; Youngstown State). RHP/SS Chase Wolter (2026; UIC) has been equally impressive this spring, and on both sides of the ball, while RHP Linus Pajot (2026; Loras College) has two wins and 12 Ks in 9.2 innings this season. RHP Nicky Vitucci (2028) has pitched 10 shutout innings this spring with 14 Ks, extending the depth on staff.
+ No. 4 New Berlin Eisenhower (3-2) & No. 5 Sun Prairie East (4-2): These two are technically moving down a spot in this update, but both have challenged themselves with competitive schedules to start this spring and both feel like they remain state contenders inside their respective divisions.
TOP-10 RISERS
+ No. 6 Milton (6-1): Milton is off to a strong start with a 6-1 record and up three spots on the Power 25 as a result. Key wins include No. 23 Badger (10-0), Madison LaFollette (12-1), Middleton (6-3), Verona (4-3), and a sweep of Waunakee (3-2, 4-2).
(Jake Cummins; 3/31/26)
The Red Hawks’ seniors SS Jake Cummins (UW-Milwaukee) and OF Easton Agnew are each hitting over .500 this spring, and the two have seven of Milton’s 11 extra-base hits combined. Cummins is a stellar defender on top of it and he’s yet to strike out this season. On the mound, RHP Ben Schultz (2028) has 20 punch-outs in 16.2 innings with a 2.10 ERA.
+ No. 8 Kimberly (3-0): Kimberly pitching has not yet allowed a run this spring in its three wins over Oshkosh North (6-0), Appleton East (11-0), and Seymour (9-0), that’s courtesy of a fantastic trio of starters: RHP Maddux Hermus (2027), LHP Bryce Mischler (2026; Heartland JC), and LHP Braeden Hermes (2027), who’ve allowed just six hits in 13 combined innings.
No. 9 Hortonville (8-0): Hortonville is one of the biggest risers in this update, entering the top-10 and No. 9 overall after debuting at 14. They earned two out-of-state wins to begin their season in Illinois but they’ve since added six more wins against Wisconsin opponents: Neenah (5-3), Oshkosh North (6-5), Wausau West (9-1), Seymour (6-2), Appleton East (8-0), and Fond du Lac (5-2). SS Gary Wuest (2026) has a hit in all but one of the team’s eight games this spring, while junior RHP/INF Elijah Yeager (2027) has been effective on both the mound and from the batter’s box. RHP Mason Burrichter (2026) has been especially clutch on the mound for the Polar Bears, with a complete-game shutout over Appleton East, with eight Ks, and he allowed just one to Oshkosh North in five strong innings with another three strikeouts.
No. 10 Bay Port (8-1): The Pirates climbed seven big spots on the Power 25 to enter the top-10 overall, and their only loss came to an out-of-state program on their spring break trip. Since their return home, Bay Port has collected wins over: Pulaski (3-0), De Pere (9-3, 5-3), Notre Dame Academy (4-0), Escanaba (MI; 16-7), and Green Bay Southwest (14-1).
Notably, the Pirates’ offense is really producing right now. The team has hit a combined seven homers through nine games, and OF/RHP Carson Hawley (2026; Winona State) and C Arthur Adams (2027) have two each. Hawley has really been one of the most productive players in the state to this point. He has a 1.655 OPS with six extra-base hits and 11 RBIs, and he’s also racked up 16 strikeouts in seven innings. CIF Cayden Heier (2026) leads the team in hits (12) and RBIs (13), and he’s totaled five extra-base hits already this season too. RHP Parker Lawson (2026; UW-Oshkosh) has also dominated, he’s not allowed a run in 19 innings this year with just nine hits, two walks, and 27 Ks.
MORE ARROW-UP SQUADS
+ No. 12 Germantown (4-0): Germantown is off to an undefeated start with a two-game sweep of Brookfield East (6-4, 8-7) under the belt, as well as wins over Greendale (10-7) and Kingsford (MI; 6-5). OF John Murkowski (2026) has picked up where he left off last year from where he left off last season, hitting lead-off and producing while playing center field. DH Carter Gordon (2027) can also be relied on as the team’s most threatening hitter, and he, too, is off to a strong start at the plate. RHP Tye Cretens (2026; Eureka College) was effective in the team’s win over Kingsford this past weekend, and he was credited with the win over B’East in the team’s opening day win as well. Ace RHP Liam Hagland (2026; South Dakota State) is likely in line to take the ball in this team’s key game today against No. 11 Menomonee Falls, the first of two.
+ No. 13 Appleton North (4-1): The Lightning have a ton of momentum to open the spring and this may just be the first of several climbs up the Power 25 as the season rolls on. They split their two games in southern Illinois to start the year – against some solid out-of-state competition too – and they’ve won three in a row back home in Wisconsin: Appleton West (9-2), Oshkosh West (14-4), and Notre Dame Academy (13-3).
(Owen Reuland; 3/1/26)
RHP/INF Owen Reuland (2027) has had some key moments this spring already, including a homer against Oshkosh North, the same game in which he K’d two in two shutout innings and earned the win. OF/1B Aedan Waterstreet (2027; Central Michigan) is also heating up and he launched his first homer of the spring in that same game. There’s pitching depth here combined with a lineup that’s averaging nearly 11 runs a game.
+ No. 15 Wisconsin Lutheran (4-1): WISCO split a series with pesky Pewaukee but has won all of its games otherwise, including two over Waukesha South (13-2, 14-6) and another over a strong Division 2 club, Reedsburg (15-5), during our festivities at The Rock this weekend.
(Carter Fry; 4/18/26)
We anticipated the Vikings’ lineup to be one of the state’s best, but they’re exceeding even our own expectations this year. OF Carter Fry (2027) is one of the top uncommitted juniors in the state and he’s on a torrid pace already, going 9-for-17 with six extra-base hits and sub-6.50 speed that’s clearly turned doubles intro triples, considering he’s already up to three triples this spring. SS Cooper Sievert (2027; West Virginia) has been the one primarily moving Fry from the basepaths to home plate, and he’s 10-for-17 with a homer, two triples, and two doubles so far.
+ No. 16 Kaukauna (5-0): The Ghosts are 5-0 and they move into No. 16 on the latest Power 25 Rankings after earning wins over two Illinois programs followed by convincing in-state victories over Appleton East (11-0), Fond du Lac (11-2), and Appleton West (11-0). INF Bennett Geitner (2027) is hitting over .500 thus far with a couple extra-base knocks with a team-high nine RBIs; OF Blake VandeLoo leads the team with nine runs scored, nine hits (two doubles), and six steals. RHP Carson Gates (2026) is 2-0 with 21 Ks (five walks) in 16 innings with a 0.86 ERA.
+ No. 17 Franklin (5-0): The Sabers look impressive right now, they’re 5-0 with an athletic lineup behind some positive early results from their pitching staff, beyond just go-to RHP/INF Samuel Ortiz (2026; Bryant & Stratton JC). 1B Bennett Schueller (2026; Heartland JC) looks like he could be one of the tougher outs in the Southeast Conference, while sophomore C Tavin Nass (2028) is already providing the back-half of this lineup some much-appreciated thump. LHP Prescott Sanford (2027) is one of the early spring’s winners so far, he’s been very effective in three outings already this spring. And an outfield of Nicholas Firle (Highland JC), Dillon Herling (2027), and Dominick Walters (2026) is simply one of the most athletic in the state.
+ No. 20 Chippewa Falls (4-1): Chippewa Falls is off to a strong start with wins over Rapids Lincoln (11-3), Eau Claire Memorial (5-0, 5-4), and they split their series with a tough Holmen squad, which marked their first and only loss so far.
The Cardinals have already seen a number of quality pitching performances from a trio of arms: RHP Brady Smith (2026; Augsburg), LHP Evan Weiler (2026; Bryant & Stratton JC) and LHP Sam Bresina (2027). Smith operates as the team's ace and routinely receives the toughest assignments, performing well in the early part of the spring season, limiting walks through nine innings pitched and only allowing three runs while striking out nine. Weiler has been used in a variety of roles and will continue to be a reliable option. Bresina has struck out 11 batters across 9.2 innings so far this spring, seemingly still ramping up and could be in line for a heavier workload as the spring progresses.
WELCOME…
+ No. 24 Slinger (3-1): The Owls have tested themselves early to start the season, opening the spring 2-0 against a pair of Power 25 opponents in Oak Creek (7-3) and Menomonee Falls (5-2). Picking up a crucial early season conference victory against a quality and gritty Hartford (4-2) squad. They suffered their first loss of the spring to Neenah (6-5) on Saturday after an eventful final inning allowed the Rockets to walk it off.
RHP Brayden Zimmerman (2026; UW-Stevens Point) authored a signature win of theirs so far, a seven-inning complete-game effort in which he allowed just two unearned runs on three hits, one walk, and he punched out 11 batters at No. 11 Menomonee Falls. SS Grady Chvosta (2026; MSOE) has had at least one hit in each game so far, and he’s up to three doubles this spring too.
+ No. 25 West Bend West (6-0): The Spartans are off to a hot 6-0 start making their debut inside the Power 25 this spring. Highlighted by a pair of conference series wins over Port Washington (7-0, 3-2) and a sweep of previously ranked Kewaskum (14-10, 8-4), boost an already strong resume in addition to wins over Nicolet (6-4) and Milwaukee School of Languages (10-1).
The lineup has been hot to start with leadoff hitter MIF Maddex Welzien (2028) leading the way and reaching base at over a .600 rate through the first 6 games, while playing quality defense at both shortstop and second base to start the year.
DROPPED OUT
+ Oak Creek (0-4)
+ Kewaskum (3-2)
ON THE BUBBLE
+ Barron (6-1)
+ Brillion (6-2)
+ Crivitz (7-0)
+ Green Bay Preble (4-1)
+ Hartford Union (4-3)
+ Holmen (4-2)
+ Iola-Scandinavia (4-1)
+ Kettle Moraine Lutheran (5-0)
+ Kewaunee (6-0)
+ La Crosse Central (5-0)
+ Living Word Lutheran (5-1)
+ Marinette (6-1)
+ Middleton (4-2)
+ Milwaukee Reagan (4-1)
+ Monona Grove (6-3)
+ New Richmond (3-0)
+ Omro (6-0)
+ Pewaukee (5-2)
+ Pittsville (6-1)
+ Pulaski (4-2)
+ Random Lake (8-0)
+ Reedsburg Area (5-2)
+ River Falls (4-1)
+ St. Thomas More (5-2)
+ Stevens Point Area (4-0)
+ Stratford (6-0)
+ Union Grove (7-2)
+ Waterford Union (4-1)
+ Waupun (5-1)
+ Wauwatosa East (5-1)
+ Winneconne (5-3)
+ Wittenburg-Birnamwood (7-1)