Prep Baseball Report

Western Wisconsin Open: Statistical Analysis


By Andy Sroka
Staff Writer

The Western Wisconsin Open was held on Monday, July 9, in Eau Claire at Carson Park where 30 of the area's prospects participated in a workout, including the 60-yard dash, positional evaluations, live batting practice and pitcher bullpens. Here's a look at Monday's event from a statistical standpoint, with additional and more detailed breakdowns coming the next couple of weeks.

CLICK HERE for complete statistics in .pdf form

TOP 60 YARD DASH
Two players in attendance on Monday recorded sub-7.00 dash times: Payton Schott (Caledonia, MN; 2019) and Brandon Merfeld (Aquinas, 2019). There were also a few others who fell just short of breaching the sub-7.00 mark.
Name State School Class Pos 60-Yard Dash
Payton Schott MN Caledonia 2019 2B 6.81
Brandon Merfeld WI Aquinas 2019 SS/OF 6.89
Kevin Koelbl WI Holmen 2019 OF 7.02
Sam Killian WI Independence 2019 RHP/3B 7.07
Gavin Gillitzer WI Prairie du Chien 2019 2B 7.08
TOP FASTBALL VELOCITY
Brendan Strenke (Turtle Lake) may not have come away with the event's top velocity, but as a 2022 his 82 mph high did turn some heads. His frame and arm have landed him on the prospect map. Killian put his name all over the event and featured the day's top fastball velo, too. 
Name State School Class Pos Fastball Velocity
Sam Killian WI Independence 2019 RHP/3B 84
Connor Stoik WI Eau Claire Memorial 2019 RHP/SS 82
Brendan Strenke WI Turtle Lake 2022 OF/RHP 82
Alec Strupp WI Slinger 2019 RHP 81
Brady Drazkowski WI Cochrane-Fountain City 2019 RHP/SS 81
TOP EXIT VELOCITY
Stoik produced the top exit velocity in his hometown Eau Claire by a large margin. He was the sole batter to record a number in the 90s and he fell just a few ticks shy of triple digits. While many others were tied with an 85 mph exit velo, a few were able to top it, including Minnesota's Lucas Anderson (Eden Prairie, 2019).
Name State School Class Pos Exit Velocity
Connor Stoik WI Eau Claire Memorial 2019 RHP/SS 97
Lucas Anderson MN Eden Prairie 2019 3B/RHP 87
Brandon Merfeld WI Aquinas 2019 SS/OF 86
Ryan Rubin WI Hudson 2019 3B/1B 86
TOP INFIELD VELOCITY
Another category and another appearance for Stoik, who sits atop this list for highest infield velocity. Ryan Rubin (Hudson, 2019) recorded the only other 80-plus mph infield velocity at the event.
Name State School Class Pos Infield Velocity
Connor Stoik WI Eau Claire Memorial 2019 RHP/SS 82
Ryan Rubin WI Hudson 2019 3B/1B 81
Andrew Schroeder WI Wausaukee 2020 SS/RHP 79
Payton Schott MN Caldeonia 2019 2B 78
Ryan Adams MN Bloomington-Jefferson 2019 RHP/3B 78
TOP OUTFIELD VELOCITY
Holmen's Koelbl notched the day's hardest throw from the outfield, the only one to record an 80-plus mph throw. Three other attendees tied for the next hardest velocity, including the 2022 Strenke and Grady Gorgen (Mineral Point, 2020).
Name State School Class Pos Outfield Velocity
Kevin Koelbl WI Holmen 2019 OF 82
Grady Gorgen WI Mineral Point 2020 LHP/OF 79
Carson Holsclaw WI Northwestern 2019 OF/3B 79
Brendan Strenke WI Turtle Lake 2022 OF/RHP 79
TOP CATCHER POP TIMES
The most interesting portion of the catchers evaluations was the number of underclassmen among them. Two 2021s found their way onto this list, including Trett Joles (Boyceville) who recorded the day's quickest pop time. Brigs Richartz (Menomonie) joined Joles as a fellow 2021 and the rest of the list is made up of 2020s.
Name State School Class Pos Pop Times
Trett Joles WI Boyceville 2021 C 2.11-2.25
Levi Jensen WI Luck 2020 C 2.11-2.26
Landon Rocheleau MN Burnsville 2020 C 2.12-2.30
Brigs Richartz WI Menomonie 2021 C 2.25-2.44
Alex Gavrilos WI La Crosse Logan 2020 C/3B 2.26-2.33
Anthony Pogodzinski WI Eau Claire North 2020 3B/C 2.26-2.36
TOP CATCHER VELOCITY
The order is the same here as it is in the pop time category, making Joles that much more intriguing as an advanced defender for his age. Levi Jensen (Luck, 2020) trailed Joles, in both pop and velo, by just a hair so it can be said that he turned in a quality performance as well.
Name State School Class Pos Catcher Velocity
Trett Joles WI Boyceville 2021 C 75
Levi Jensen WI Luck 2020 C 73
Landon Rocheleau MN Burnsville 2020 C 69
Brigs Richartz WI Menomonie 2021 C 68
Alex Gavrilos WI La Crosse Logan 2020 C/3B 67
Anthony Pogodzinski WI Eau Claire North 2020 3B/C 67

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