2024 Prep Baseball Wisconsin First Team All-State
June 24, 2024
By: Prep Baseball Wisconsin Staff
As the spring season comes to a conclusion, the Prep Baseball Wisconsin staff is ready to unveil its WIAA All-State teams after an eventful couple of months in the Badger State. Coaches from around Wisconsin submitted some of their top performers throughout the year, as our staff has sifted through the numbers and determined who is worthy of these accolades.
We start by breaking down the First Team All-State group, which will be followed by the Second and Third Team in the upcoming days. Check out the 18 names listed below and all of their in-season production and accomplishments.
CATCHER
 |
| C |
.406 |
5 |
7 |
5 |
35 |
26 |
11 |
1.260 |
Uncommitted. In his first season of prep baseball, Lessard took the varsity stage by storm and wound up being the best performing hitter on a loaded Muskego team. The catcher, who’s always solid defensively, hit .406 at the plate with an impressive 17 extra base hits and 35 RBIs. His production from the middle of the order allowed the Warriors to find success in 2024, as he was a staple and will be going forward. Lessard presents all sorts of confidence in his game, as the No. 1 ranked player in Wisconsin’s 2027 class emerged on top in one of the deepest groupings of prospects within our catcher category. He produced in the Classic 8 as well, which houses some of the top athletes in the state in arguably the deepest conference in Wisconsin. Lessard has a bright future ahead of him, as his freshman season only added to the momentum he’s gained throughout his early prep career—priming himself for a strong summer on the showcase and tournament circuit.
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FIRST BASEMAN
 |
| 1B |
.465 |
12 |
9 |
5 |
37 |
34 |
25 |
1.590 |
Louisville commit. Santarelli is the second underclassmen to make this list, as he emerged as the top first baseman in a competitive category after leading Kenosha St. Joseph to the State Tournament. The left-handed slugger hit .465 on the season with 40 hits—including five home runs and 37 RBIs. He was a mainstay in the three-spot for the Lancers, as Santarelli demonstrated his easy power and consistent production for an offense that had its rhythm all season long. With an OPS of 1.590 and 25 walks to add to his totals, Santarelli was an on-base machine and hit for power in the process. The sophomore launched two home run during Sectionals to punch the Lancers’ ticket to Appleton, highlighted by the game-winning one against Lake Country Lutheran. Even when he didn’t get on base, Santarelli understood situations and clutched up for Kenosha St. Joseph. He had what proved to be the difference-making RBI against Bonduel right away in the first inning—summarizing a stellar sophomore campaign as the everyday first baseman for a Power 25 program.
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INFIELDERS
 |
Eddie Rynders SS / Wisconsin Lutheran, WI / 2024
| SS |
.430 |
5 |
3 |
5 |
29 |
36 |
20 |
1.318 |
Kent State commit. Rynders emerged as one of the most highly regarded infielders in Wisconsin entering the 2024 season, and lived up to the hype as he prepares for the MLB Draft in the near future. The slick-fielding shortstop was a problem on the offensive end for Wisconsin Lutheran, batting .430 with 13 extra base hits and 36 runs scored. Rynders capitalized on strikes when he saw them, but also provided a disciplined eye at the plate. The senior finished with 20 walks and only nine strikeouts during the regular season—finishing the year with a 1.318 OPS. He led the Vikings to a conference championship amongst quality programs in the greater Milwaukee area, along with a Regional Title in the Division 1 field. Even when he didn’t produce extra base hits, the No. 2 player in the state found himself in scoring position often. Rynders swiped 25 bags in 2024—summarizing his dominance on the offensive end. In the field, Rynders finished with a 0.96 fielding percentage at the shortstop position—continuing to raise his stock on the infield as a defender. The senior has a bright future ahead of him, as our staff will be intrigued to see where he takes the field next after concluding his prep career on a high note.
|
 |
Eddie Peters SS / La Crosse Aquinas, WI / 2024
| SS |
.524 |
10 |
1 |
4 |
30 |
39 |
15 |
1.442 |
Xavier commit. For the second straight season, Peters finds himself amongst the top group of infielders after an elite year. The right-handed batter was one of the main difference-makers in La Crosse Aquinas’ run to a Division 3 State Championship, as he homered and doubled once in Appleton—combining for three RBIs on the week. It summarized his excellence against mostly Division 1 competition during the regular season, where Peters hit .524 with 15 extra base hits. Peters finished with an OPS of 1.422, which ranks amongst the highest within this group of infielders. The Xavier commit was a staple in the middle of the order for this unit, as they were the lone program in Division 3 to make an appearance on the Power 25 rankings during the regular season. He was nearly flawless at the shortstop position, too—establishing himself as one of the top middle infielders in the Midwest. He once again took on the role of closer for the Blugolds—tallying four saves on a team that finished 25-4 on the year.
|
 |
Mason Roell SS / West Bend East, WI / 2024
| INF |
.526 |
8 |
4 |
2 |
36 |
28 |
17 |
1.364 |
Southern Indiana commit. In a similar fashion to Peters, Roell finds himself back on an All-State team for the second year in a row. The senior was the top producer in the North Shore Conference in 2024—winning Player of the Year against tough competition. Roell hit an impressive .526 from the middle of West Bend East’s lineup—accumulating 36 RBIs and 28 runs scored in the process. He was named the Prep Baseball Wisconsin Player of the Week earlier in the year after carrying the Suns to a couple of wins over conference foes. Roell highlighted the season with a two-out, game-tying three-run home run against Slinger, all while following it up with a grand slam versus Whitefish Bay. It summed up a quality two seasons turned in by the star senior, who committed in the middle of the year to Southern Indiana. He added to his value as a shut down arm on the mound, too. Roell tallied four saves and was 4-2 on the bump—allowing three earned runs in 31.2 innings of work. His individual performances elevated the Suns in conference play and beyond, as he completed his prep career in style.
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 |
Tanner Hraby SS / Medford Area, WI / 2024
| INF |
.443 |
13 |
5 |
35 |
42 |
21 |
15 |
1.319 |
Wisconsin-River Falls commit. Medford was a team that only had four losses during the season, much of which having to do with the production turned in by their leader in Hraby. The senior was the igniter from the top of the order for the Raiders, as he had 18 extra base hits and broke multiple school records in the process. Hraby launched a game-tying home run in their Regional Final matchup to keep their season alive and send his team to Sectionals—summarizing a storied career in central Wisconsin. From the leadoff spot, Hraby had a 1.319 OPS with 21 walks and 15 stolen bases. What may be the most impressive is his five strikeouts, as the Wisconsin-River Falls recruit put pressure on the defense in nearly every at bat. He scored 42 times for Medford, an offense that put up quality numbers throughout the season. Additionally, Hraby took on the ace role for this unit and excelled. He finished at an 8-1 clip with an ERA that was just below 1.00—emerging as an do-it-all piece for this Raiders squad.
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OUTFIELDERS
 |
Logan Dunn OF / Wautoma, WI / 2024
| OF |
.621 |
14 |
4 |
1 |
20 |
43 |
27 |
1.737 |
Missouri State commit. Dunn did it all for Wautoma in his senior season, as he earned the 2024 Prep Baseball Wisconsin Player of the Year to cap off an elite four-year career as a Hornet. Dunn excelled at the plate from the leadoff spot for his program—hitting .621 with a ridiculous .737 OBP. He went on to steal 37 bases and provided 19 extra base hits to add to his offensive totals, too. An OPS of 1.737 sums up his elite levels of production with the bat—earning him the South Central Conference Player of the Year, and more. The left-hander, while playing a stellar centerfield, went on to strike out 85 opponents in just 47.2 innings of work on the mound—including a no-hitter against Nekoosa during the regular season. Dunn was one of the main reasons Wautoma was able to make it to a Regional Final, as he won two games in a row on the bump, all while accumulating five hits in three playoff games. The POTY in the Badger State now takes his talents to Missouri State, as he looks to bring the same energy and production to the Bears as he did with the Hornets.
|
 |
Tennessee commit. Despite being sidelined from throwing for the second half of the season, Deering continued to prove to be an extremely valuable piece to a competitive Kimberly unit, as he hit nine home runs on the season—leading this group of First Team All-State honorees. In addition to hitting for power, Deering hit for average, too. He batted .452 during the season against tough competition, providing 26 RBIs and 25 runs scored from the top of the Papermakers’ lineup. Deering was the spark plug all season long at the plate, setting himself up for a strong senior season after an eventful summer and fall.
|
 |
| OF |
.426 |
7 |
5 |
5 |
26 |
43 |
25 |
1.324 |
Wisconsin-Milwaukee commit. Palkowski emerged as one of the top bats in the state down the stretch for Oak Creek, as the leadoff hitter overcame a slow start to the season and capped off his career on a high note. Right away at the State Tournament, Palkowski launched a home run and made numerous quality catches in the centerfield position. He then followed it up by closing their game against Nicolet on the mound, which proved to be a theme throughout the season for the left-hander. Palkowkis hit .426 with 17 extra base hits and 43 runs scored—tallying 25 walks and 28 stolen bases in the process. Palkowski’s OPS continued to rise throughout the season—finishing at a 1.324 clip. His presence and leadership at the top of the order for Oak Creek over the course of multiple seasons was valuable, as Palkowski will take his talents to Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the fall after a storied prep career.
|
 |
John Hadley OF / Sun Prairie East, WI / 2024
| OF |
.526 |
40 |
3 |
2 |
27 |
20 |
13 |
0.98 |
Wisconsin-Milwaukee commit. Hadley was an igniter from the middle of the order for a solid Sun Prairie East team—leading them to the Division 1 State Championship game to cap off his high school tenure. Hadley batted amongst the highest in this First Team All-State group—ending his senior campaign with a .526 BA. The outfielder provided some pop from the middle of the Cardinals’ lineup—including a home run during Sectionals at Middleton. Hadley came up clutch as a run producer for this unit on multiple occasions, as he was heavily relied upon and executed his plan consistently. In similar fashion to Palkowski, Hadley will also join the Wisconsin-Milwaukee program in the fall after dominating the WIAA stage in the spring of 2024.
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PITCHERS
 |
Avery Duncan RHP / Notre Dame De La Baie Academy, WI / 2024
Dallas Baptist commit. Duncan took on the ace role for a strong pitching staff within Notre Dame Academy, and lived up to the hype during the 2024 season. In numerous looks, the right-hander dominated on the mound, which translated to his final numbers at the season’s conclusion. Duncan allowed zero earned runs during his time on the bump—finishing the year with 38.1 innings pitched and 46 strikeouts in the process. The Dallas Baptist commit was nearly flawless with a 5-1 record, that lone loss coming when he twirled a no-hitter against Bay Port. Duncan was tasked with dueling against some of the top arms and bats in the state during his work in the Fox River Classic Conference, as he put up elite numbers to cap off a successful prep career.
|
 |
Noah Marschke LHP / Stevens Point Area, WI / 2024
| 68 |
11-1 |
1 |
0.62 |
6 |
106 |
0.88 |
Madison JC commit. After being shut down for all of his junior season, Marschke made his presence felt in a big fashion on the bump for SPASH on their road to another successful season. The left-hander threw a ton of innings for the Panthers—finishing 11-1 on the year with a 0.62 ERA in 68.1 innings of work. Marschke dominated his opponents on a consistent basis—leading SPASH to a top-10 rank in the Power 25 for a majority of the season. The southpaw struck out an impressive 106 batters against mainly Division 1 competition—winning Player of the Year in the Wisconsin Valley Conference. He also hit .446 from the middle of their lineup—adding another valuable dynamic to his game. The numbers speak for itself with Marschke, as he emerges as an upside prospect to follow during his upcoming JUCO career in the next couple of years.
|
 |
Ethan Plog LHP / Bay Port, WI / 2024
| 39.1 |
4-2 |
2 |
0.71 |
4 |
73 |
0.89 |
Iowa Western CC commit. It was more of the same on the mound for Plog in the 2024 season, as the left-hander added another All-State award to his resume after being on the First Team in 2023. Plog pitched to a 4-2 record in 2024, but that didn’t tell the entire story. The southpaw tallied 73 strikeouts in 39.1 innings pitched—allowing four earned runs during the season to maintain his status as one of the top performers in the 2024 class. Plog earned one no-hitter during the 2024 season, in addition to his four complete games and two one-hitters. He was dominant every time he took the mound, all while taking on the role of closer, too. Plog racked up two saves during the season—showcasing his versatility for the Pirates and their pitching staff. After a storied prep career, Plog now takes his talents to the next level as an intriguing left-hander.
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 |
Craig Kabat RHP / Bay Port, WI / 2024
Gonzaga commit. Kabat joined his teammate as one of the top one-two punches in the state—leading the charge in turning around Bay Port’s season. The Pirates made their way back onto the Power 25 after falling off early in the year, much of which having to do with the prowess of Kabat on the mound. The right-hander was elite in 2024—striking out 78 batters in 38.1 innings pitched with a 0.73 ERA. Kabat garnered Prep Baseball Wisconsin Pitcher of the Week honors midway through the season, too. He tallied four complete games, which included a no-hitter and two one-hitters. Kabat’s only two losses on the year was to a talented program out of New York, and the No. 1 ranked De Pere Redbirds, as he was elite for Bay Port all season long.
|
 |
Nolan Buss RHP / Arrowhead, WI / 2024
| 52.1 |
8-0 |
1 |
1.07 |
8 |
73 |
0.88 |
Kansas State commit. Buss has been a constant performer in one of the toughest conferences in the WIAA. Leading a potent Arrowhead staff throughout the year which was one of the top teams in the state and a perennial contender within the WIAA, Buss performed like a true ace. Across 52.1 innings in his final prep year Buss went 8-0 with one save while striking out 73 batters and only allowing eight earned runs on the year. Buss helped the team to a state tournament berth where they would come up short in the quarterfinals. Buss has been one of the more consistent and impressive performers in the WIAA over the last two years and will look to continue his career in the Big 12 at Kansas State next fall, reuniting with his brother.
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UTILITY
 |
Payten Jibben RHP / Oak Creek, WI / 2024
| .505 |
52 |
22 |
49 |
1.421 |
54.1 |
11-0 |
1.16 |
73 |
Illinois-Chicago commit. Expectations were high for Jibben entering the 2024 season, and the senior lived up to the hype throughout his senior year. Jibben finished his senior campaign as one, if not the, most valuable two-way prospect in any program. The right-hander was electric on the mound—finishing the year at a flawless 11-0 in 54.1 innings of work. He then went on to only allow nine earned runs all season—taking the ball in the Knights’ biggest matchups of the season. Jibben then took his extreme production to the plate, where he hit an impressive .505 and clubbed 22 extra base hits. The senior tallied 49 RBIs as a staple in the Oak Creek lineup, all while finishing the season with a 1.421 OPS. Jibben consistently put together strong showings for the Knights—including hitting a home run in his final high school game against Sun Prairie East. His value cannot be understated, as the senior will head south to Illinois-Chicago after taking home his second straight All-State award.
|
 |
Noah Wech RHP / Manitowoc Lincoln, WI / 2024
| .409 |
38 |
10 |
26 |
23 |
52.2 |
7-1 |
0.93 |
88 |
Oklahoma State commit. Wech was a mainstay as one of top prospects in the Midwest—ending his prep career on a high note with a Manitowoc Lincoln team who placed themselves in the middle of our staff’s Power 25 rankings for a majority of the regular season. Wech batted .409 with 38 hits—stacking double digit extra base hits and stolen base totals onto his resume. On the mound, the right-hander excelled for most of the season. He finished 7-1 in 52.2 innings pitched, punching out 88 batters while only allowing seven earned runs. It was good for a 0.93 ERA, which perfectly summarized his dominance on the bump during his prep career. Wech takes his talent to Stillwater this fall—looking to make some noise at Oklahoma State after completing his prep journey.
|
 |
| .417 |
30 |
7 |
20 |
1.221 |
49 |
6-1 |
0.72 |
56 |
Winona State University commit. Arendt was one of the toughest outs in De Pere’s lineup down the stretch in their run to a Division 1 State Championship, as he completes this First Team All-State group with elite two-way numbers. Before the State Tournament, the senior hit .417 with 20 RBIs and 22 runs scored—clutching up in the big moments for the Redbirds. He hopped on the mound and excelled in his final start of the year against Menasha—twirling a complete game shutout in the Division 1 Quarterfinals. That outing summarized his season on the bump, as Arendt was 6-1 with three saves—taking the ball in high-leverage moments for De Pere. Arendt racked up 56 strikeouts with a 0.72 ERA, dominating in nearly every one of his starts. The senior wound up being one of the most valuable players in the Redbirds’ program—earning him First Team All-State honors for his efforts on the diamond.
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