The high school baseball season in Wisconsin is in full swing and the Appleton area again is blessed with a lot of talented players.
The WIAA postseason is about a month away as regionals begin Thursday, May 28, with the season culminating in the state tournament June 15-18 at Neuroscience Group Field in Grand Chute.
Here’s a look at some of the top returning players to the diamond.
Braylon Brantner, sr., Hortonville
Brantner was a Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association third-team all-state pitcher last season. He also earned first-team all-North East District at pitcher, Fox Valley Association pitcher of the year and was unanimous first-team all-FVA. Has been dealing with a shoulder ailment but could be back on the mound by the end of May, according to Hortonville coach Greg Yeager.
Micah Byers, sr., Seymour
Byers was all-North Central District second-team at catcher a season ago and unanimous first-team all-Bay Conference.
Jacob Coopman, sr., Menasha
Coopman was unanimous first-team all-Bay Conference at pitcher last season as a junior and honorable-mention all-North Central District.
Max Dolski, sr., Waupaca
Dolski earned all-North East District second team as an infielder and was unanimous first-team all-North Eastern Conference.
Jacob Ernsting, jr., St. Mary Catholic
Ernsting was first-team all-Big East North at pitcher last season as a sophomore.
Noah Faccio, sr., Little Chute
Faccio was unanimous first-team all-North Eastern Conference at designated hitter last season as a junior and honorable-mention all-North East District.
Ryan Halfmann, sr., Kimberly
Halfmann was unanimous first-team all-FVA last season as an outfielder as a junior and honorable-mention all-North East District.
Maddux Hermus, jr., Kimberly
Hermus earned first-team all-FVA at pitcher last season as a sophomore and honorable-mention all-North East District.
Reece Joten, jr., Little Chute
Joten was an all-North East District second-team designated hitter/utility selection and first-team all-North Eastern Conference at utility.
Cal Juckem, sr., Neenah
Juckem earned second-team all-FVA at first base last season as a junior.
Mack Krause, sr., Neenah
Krause was a WBCA honorable-mention all-state infielder, first-team all-North East District infielder and first-team all-FVA at shortstop.
Braylon Krull, sr., Shiocton
Krull earned first-team all-Central Wisconsin Conference East at first base last season as a junior.
Ryan Leahy, sr., Wrightstown
Leahy was unanimous first-team all-North Eastern Conference at catcher last season as a junior and honorable-mention all-North East District.
Brennan Otto, sr., Appleton North
Otto earned second-team all-FVA last season at catcher as a junior and honorable-mention all-North East District.
Matthew Potter, sr., Xavier
Potter was first-team all-Bay Conference at outfield last season as a junior.
Xavier Salzman, sr., Seymour
Salzman earned WBCA honorable-mention all-state at designated hitter/utility, was the North Central District Division 2 player of the year and first-team all-district designated hitter/utility. He also earned Bay Conference player of the year and first-team all-Bay Conference designated hitter/utility.
Bron Schaefer, sr., Kaukauna
Schaefer was an all-North East District second-team pitcher and first-team all-FVA pitcher. He has been playing center field for the Ghosts this season but could return to the mound soon, according to Ghosts coach Michael Jenkins.
Paul Schmolinske, jr., Menasha
Schmolinske was unanimous first-team all-Bay Conference at outfield last season as a sophomore and honorable-mention all-North Central District.
Joe Shimek, sr., Brillion
Shimek was WBCA honorable-mention all-state at infielder and first-team all-North East District at infielder. He was also a unanimous first-team all-Eastern Wisconsin Conference position player and second-team pitcher.
Carson Staffeldt, sr., Seymour
Staffeldt was unanimous first-team all-Bay Conference at outfield last season as a junior.
Cayden Staffeldt, sr., Seymour
Staffeldt was an all-North Central District second-team infielder and unanimous first-team all-Bay Conference infielder.
AJ Thompson, sr., Appleton East
Thompson earned second-team all-FVA last season at second base as a junior.
Gus Weinholzer, sr., Neenah
Weinholzer earned first-team all-FVA last season at outfield last season as a junior and has been one of the top pitchers in the area this season.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Appleton area loaded with talented high school baseball players
Reporting by Mike Sherry, Appleton Post-Crescent / Appleton Post-Crescent
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