PBR Wisconsin's WIAA All-State First Team
June 22, 2023
By PBR Wisconsin Staff
As we put the finishing touches on the 2023 WIAA season, we’d like to recognize some of the top players in the state of Wisconsin for their consistent performances throughout the entirety of the spring season.
On Wednesday, we announced our state's Player of the Year. Today, we march toward the conclusion of our spring coverage by unveiling our selections to the First Team, All-State roster. We’ve broken the nominations we received down into three All-State rosters. Below are the 17 players who earned First Team All-State accolades for their production over the course of this past season. We'll publish our Second and Third teams in the coming days, as well as the list of players who fell short of All-State honors, but warrant recognition inside of our Honorable Mentions list.
CATCHER
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Thomas Curry C / Arrowhead, WI / 2023
MIZZOU COMMIT
The senior backstop was a leader both offensively and defensively for an Arrowhead team that won a Regional Championship in 2023, as he captained the pitching staff for the Warhawks, a skill that doesn't show up on his own end-of-season stats. In a loaded position category, Curry separated himself with his imposing defense, as well as a 1.249 OPS, displaying his constant ability to reach base, and showcase his power at the plate. Curry hit .406 on the season, recording nine doubles and three home runs, which was good for 20 RBI. His patience in the batters box was key for Arrowhead too, as he walked 21 times on the season, in comparison to his nine strikeouts. His defense should not be overlooked though, as it was solid for the Warhawks when they dealt with multiple injuries on their pitching staff in 2023. Curry controlled the basepaths, utilizing his strong arm to slow down opponents and get outs at times. The trust that his teammates had in him was a difference-maker as well, shaping Curry up to be a First Team All-State honoree, as his overall skill set and impact he had on the team was immense.
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FIRST BASEMAN
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Tyler Butina 1B / RHP / Jefferson, WI / 2023
CENTRAL MICHIGAN COMMIT
Butina once again put up above average numbers for Jefferson this past spring, earning his third straight mention on an All-State team after finishing on the third team in 2022, and the first team in 2021. The lefty hit .451 on the season, leading the Eagles back to the State Tournament for the third straight season as their best hitter, speaking to his importance on the field for Jefferson. He drove in the most runs on the team, displaying one of the highest numbers in the state by plating 41 runners from the middle of the order. He hit six home runs on the season, and in our multiple looks at him, continued to showcase above average power at the high school level. With a 1.349 OPS, Butina walked an impressive 24 times in comparison to his seven strikeouts, walking over three times for every strikeout. In a field of quality first basemen in 2023, Butina stands out amongst the group as he takes his talents to Central Michigan in the fall.
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INFIELDERS
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LOUISVILLE COMMIT
No one in the state had a better regular season than Alicea, as the shortstop recently earned the 2023 PBR Wisconsin Player of the Year award this week. That made him a lock for the first team of infielders, a loaded group of talented prospects. The numbers speak for themselves with Alicea, as the Louisville commit hit exactly .500 on the year with an extremely high OPS. What may be his most impressive stat is his stolen bases, as he set a new record at St. Thomas More with 57 in one season, unheard of in a 30-game stretch. Alicea was never thrown out this year, out-smarting defenders on the basepaths, while also utilizing his advanced speed to frustrate opposing teams. This allowed the switch-hitter to score 50 times in the season as the everyday leadoff hitter for the Cavaliers. He also accumulated 29 RBIs with nine doubles, three triples, and a home run. His defense was nearly flawless, as he only made a couple of mistakes in 84 total chances at the shortstop position in the spring, making clutch plays in big moments. The accolades continue to roll in for the star player after a ridiculous 2023 campaign, where he was the centerpiece St. Thomas More’s run to the State Tournament a couple of weeks ago.
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Jake Schaffner MIF / Janesville Craig, WI / 2023
| .552 |
7 |
8 |
3 |
45 |
51 |
1.558 |
37 |
NORTH DAKOTA STATE COMMIT
Throughout the regular season, Janesville Craig was without a doubt one of, if not the most dominant team in the entire state, and were atop our Power 25 rankings for a majority of the year. Schaffner was a huge reason for the Cougars success as he put up video game-like numbers in his senior season. Schaffner tallied a hit in more than half of his at-bats and finished with a whopping .552 average which included seven doubles, eight triples, and three home runs, which helped him attain a 1.558 OPS. He also finished the year with 45 RBIs, 37 stolen bases and 52 runs scored, too. One of the more eye-popping statistics of Schaffner’s year was that he only struck out once the entire season, which speaks to just how good Schaffner is with the bat in his hands. After earning Honorable Mention honors last year in which he tallied a .533 batting average, Schaffner improved that number, somehow, all while being one of Janesville Craig’s main run producers, and because of that he now finds himself on this First-Team list, as a result.
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Cal Fisher SS / RHP / Deerfield, WI / 2023
FLORIDA STATE COMMIT
Fisher wrapped up his senior season at Deerfield with another set of quality stats, performing consistently at a high level for the Demons. The number that stands out immediately is his 1.522 OPS, demonstrating his power and how often he was running around the basepaths. While manning the shortstop position, the Florida State signee hit .481 with 16 doubles, seven home runs, 41 RBI, and scored 39 times. These electric numbers have earned Fisher his third straight First Team All-State award in Wisconsin, as he’s been a part of this list for all three years of varsity baseball. While receiving those all-state mentions, Fisher was awarded the Trailways - North Conference player of the year award for the third straight season as well, demonstrating his dominance throughout the south-central portion of the Badger State. He also put up solid numbers on the mound, holding a 1.46 ERA while striking out 54 batters with a 3-1 record. His two-way efforts for Deerfield were noteworthy, as they have been for three seasons in the WIAA, inserting himself back on the First Team All-State roster.
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Ethan Hindle SS / Arrowhead, WI / 2023
| .400 |
9 |
1 |
8 |
28 |
39 |
1.516 |
20 |
KENTUCKY COMMIT
As mentioned with Fisher and Butina, Hindle finds his name back on an all-state team in 2023, following up his second team award last season with first team honors award this year. The shortstop once again finished with impressive numbers while playing against tough competition at the plate. He tallied eight home runs and nine doubles on the season with a .400 batting average, good for a 1.516 OPS. The Kentucky commit scored 39 times as well, a trend within this batch of infielders. Hindle recorded 25 walks as well, as he consistently reached base in the middle of a Warhawks’ order that had to do the heavy lifting due to injuries on the pitching staff. The right-hander’s play was key to the success of Arrowhead, who remained in our Power 25 for the entirety of the season, with Hindle as the main producer next to the aforementioned Curry. His clutch moments and above average play on the diamond shapes him up well for the college level, but also earns him a First Team All-State vote as one of the top infielders in Wisconsin.
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OUTFIELDERS
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Garrett Kay OF / RHP / Waterford, WI / 2023
| .500 |
7 |
6 |
6 |
22 |
33 |
1.507 |
30.0 |
0.93 |
51 |
UIC COMMIT
The 2023 spring was a huge year for Waterford as they won their first SLC title since 2015, and Kay was a huge reason for the Wolverines’ success. Offensively, Kay recorded a hit in every other at-bat, good for a .500 batting average and a good chunk of his hits were for extra-bases. Kay tallied seven doubles, six triples, and six home runs, finishing with a whopping 1.507 OPS on the year. He was also responsible for 22 RBIs and 33 runs scored, too. While Kay is placed on the ‘Outfielders’ part of this list, he was also a huge producer on the mound for Waterford, as he logged a .93 ERA, a 4-0 record, and struck out 51 batters, highlighted by pitching five innings of a combined no-hitter on May 10th. too. With this absolutely dominant senior season, Kay solidified himself in the record books at Waterford. He is now the new Waterford career hits leader with 112, and is also in the top-five in single season hits, batting average, home runs, and runs scored, too. The SLC conference player of the year did it all for Waterford, a team that was consistently inside our Power 25 rankings over the course of the year, and has earned our First Team All-State honors, because of it.
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Edison Alonso OF / Reedsburg Area, WI / 2023
MADISON JC COMMIT
Alonso was a home run hitting machine for Reedsburg this year, a team that made a brief appearance inside our Power 25 rankings. In 2023, Alonso recorded double-digit home runs with 10, a new school record, and seven of them came in seven straight games, highlighted by a walk-off home run over Edgewood in a 15-inning thriller. While Alonso’s sheer power is eye-popping in its own right, he also logged a .441 batting average, and drove in 32 runs while also scoring 28. After this impressive season, Alonso was unanimously chosen as conference Player of the Year, and the honors continue to roll in as he makes an appearance on our First Team list, too.
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Lucas Lendosky LHP / OF / Fennimore, WI / 2023
| .536 |
16 |
0 |
5 |
51 |
1.524 |
46.2 |
2.85 |
97 |
UW-STOUT COMMIT
Lendosky put up some of the most insane numbers in the 2023 season, leading a strong Fennimore team to a 21-5 record, with a share of the SWAL Conference title. The left-handed slugger hit .536 on the year, racking up 16 doubles and five home runs for extra base hits. That easy power was utilized by the Golden Eagles, as Lendosky finished with 51 RBI on the season, a rare occurrence in just 26 games. In doing so, the Wisconsin-Stout commit also scored 25 times, as he was constantly on base and producing for Fennimore. Those numbers led him to finish with a high 1.524 OPS as the senior leader of the Golden Eagles. While his offensive numbers were quality enough to get him on this list, his pitching stats should not be overlooked. Lendosky struck out 97 batters in 46.2 innings, while going 5-0 with a 2.85 ERA on the mound for Fennimore, who finished as a solid Division 3 team in the WIAA.
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PITCHERS
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Dylan Questad RHP / Waterford, WI / 2023
ARKANSAS COMMIT
The senior wrapped up his prep career this spring by dominating his competition when he took the field on the mound, earning a First Team All-State award as a pitcher. Despite being on a pitch count, Questad’s numbers pop in 43.2 innings of work. The Arkansas commit finished with a 5-1 record, tallying 89 strikeouts and leading Waterford to a Southern Lakes Conference Championship. Questad finished with a 0.48 ERA and a 0.71 WHIP, only allowing 14 hits on the season, along with three earned runs. His near flawless work on the bump earned him the Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year award a couple of weeks ago, as he added onto his numerous accolades with a First Team All-State award, his first in his time playing for the Wolverines. A quality senior season shapes him up well for the future, whether that is at Arkansas, or a part of an MLB organization.
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Thomas Burns RHP / OF / Hortonville, WI / 2023
ARIZONA STATE COMMIT
Burns ended his season on a high note when he threw against Middleton in the Quarterfinals of the WIAA State Tournament, where he twirled a complete game in a 3-0 victory, striking out eight batters. His final start on the mound was a reflection of his production all season for Hortonville, as he planted himself as the ace of one of the top teams in the state. Burns held a 0.86 ERA throughout the entirety of the year, facing tough competition while earning an 8-1 record in 57 innings pitched. He only allowed seven earned runs in his time on the bump, recording a WHIP of 1.00. The right-hander used an electric fastball, paired with an advanced off-speed mix to strike out 96 batters, one of the top totals in the WIAA. He didn’t lose a game in the state of Wisconsin this season, as his lone blemish to the win-loss record came against Oxford (AL) in Georgia at the beginning of the season. Burns consistently dominated his opponents, and stepped up when it mattered most, making him undoubtedly a First Team All-State award winner.
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Nate Langbehn RHP / DC Everest, WI / 2024
WICHITA STATE COMMIT
Langbehn posted some of the most video-game-esque stats in the WIAA on the mound, accumulating nearly half of D.C. Everest’s wins when pitching. The right-hander ended the season with a 6-0 record, not allowing over four hits in any of his appearances over the course of the season. His most impressive stat may be his earned runs, as he only allowed one against Stevens Point Area in 44.2 innings, good for a low 0.16 ERA. Langbehn made some history for the Evergreens as well, recording 91 strikeouts on the season, which broke his father’s previous record from 1988. He was virtually lights out when D.C. Everest needed him most, taking down that Panthers team and handing them their only loss of the regular season. The Wichita State commit continues to trend upwards as one of the best arms in the state of Wisconsin, and this spring further solidified that point as he enters his senior season in 2024 for the Evergreens.
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Ethan Plog LHP / OF / Bay Port, WI / 2024
| 50.1 |
7-0 |
2 |
21 |
84 |
0.10 |
0.85 |
UNCOMMITTED
Up in the northeast portion of the state, Plog came on the scene and gave Bay Port a share of the Fox River Classic Conference title, finishing with a 7-0 record. The lone left-hander on the first team list tallied 84 strikeouts over 50.1 innings of work, accumulating two saves in the process. What may be his most impressive stat was the fact that he only allowed one earned run when he was pitching, maintaining a 0.10 ERA on the season, the lowest out of all of our submissions. Plog took the ball in every big game for the Pirates, emerging as the ace of a group that had come out of the gates slowly in 2023. The uncommitted to-be senior was a spark for this Bay Port team, as he threw three complete games and earned the Fox River Classic Conferece Player of the Year award after a successful 2023 campaign.
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Noah Wech SS / RHP / Manitowoc Lincoln, WI / 2024
OKLAHOMA STATE COMMIT
Wech put together another phenomenal season as a two-way prospect for Manitowoc Lincoln, but did significant damage on the pitching side of things. The right-hander utilized a four-pitch mix to navigate through lineups all year, and was the main contributor to getting the Ships a share of the Fox River Classic Conference title, similarly to the aforementioned Plog. Wech held a 1.17 ERA by the end of the season, facing a gauntlet of a conference schedule, and tough non-conference opponents. He struck out an impressive 104 batters, a rare occurrence in the spring season. That strikeout total set a new record at Manitowoc Lincoln, while he also earned 1st Team All-Conference and 1st Team All-District, in addition to his First Team All-State award. Wech has one more season with the Ships before heading to Oklahoma State, as he looks to his senior year, coming back as one of the top players in the state.
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UTILITY
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Brayden Olson 3B / RHP / Saint Croix Falls, WI / 2023
| .400 |
7 |
7 |
11 |
36
|
40 |
1.455 |
62.1 |
0.67 |
130 |
0.56 |
PURDUE COMMIT
Olson finally secured his championship ring, as he was the main piece in leading St. Croix Falls to a Division 3 Championship a couple of weeks ago. The Purdue commit earned First Team All-State honors based on his two-way performances at the plate, on the infield, and on the mound. Offensively, Olson hit .400 with a whopping 25 extra base hits, accumulating 11 home runs in the process, including one at Fox Cities Stadium in the State Semifinals. The right-hander had 36 RBI and scored 40 times, once again solidifying himself as one of the top 2023s in the Badger State. On the defensive side of things, the senior threw 62.1 innings on the bump, leading the Saints with an unblemished 11-0 record. His flawlessness on the mound led him to finish with a 0.67 ERA and an even lower WHIP, sitting at 0.56. Olson struck out a whopping 130 batters and only allowed six earned runs, dominating his opponents from the start of the season, all the way to the end. His two-way abilities get him on an All-State list for the third straight season, as he has finished as a first-teamer in his final two seasons of high school baseball.
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Lucas Miller RHP / MIF / Denmark, WI / 2023
| .542 |
12
|
2 |
1 |
38 |
36 |
1.329 |
18 |
61.0 |
0.80 |
69 |
0.93 |
UW-WHITEWATER COMMIT
Denmark ended their 2023 campaign with a win, as they took home the Division 2 State Championship for a third consecutive season, and Miller was a key piece of that formula. As a hitter, Miller took hold of the two-spot in the order and hit .542 with 15 extra base hits, including 12 doubles. His production from there allowed him to plate 38 runs, and score 36 times by the end of the year. The speed of Miller was helpful as well, as the Wisconsin-Whitewater commit stole 18 bases to allow himself to get into scoring position and manufacture runs, something that the Vikings were able to consistently lean on. Miller solidified himself as one of the top team players in the state, despite not presenting an intimidating frame at the plate. In doing those little things, Miller took care of larger problems on the mound for Denmark, going 10-0 on the season. The right-hander finished with a 0.80 ERA in 61 innings pitched, recording 69 strikeouts. The senior only allowed seven earned runs and had a WHIP of 0.93, keeping runners off base and working efficiently, something the Vikings have relied on in the past to continue this dynasty of a program.
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Logan Baumgartner RHP / INF / Medford Area, WI / 2023
| .489 |
12 |
2 |
4 |
36
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1.356 |
51.2 |
0.81 |
98 |
0.81 |
UW-STEVENS POINT COMMIT (basketball)
Up in the northern portion of the state hid a gem in Baumgartner, who once again put up video-game numbers for Medford in the 2023 season. He helped the Raiders earn a share of the Great Northern Conference, as he handed Mosinee their only loss of the season. Baumgartner has always been a two-way threat, but this year’s numbers stand out amongst the competitors. On the mound, Baumgartner was 10-1 with a 0.81 ERA, striking out 98 batters over the course of 51.2 innings of work. Offensively, the righty was a staple in the middle of Medford’s order, hitting .489 with 18 extra base hits, including four home runs. He racked up 36 RBI and 21 runs scored as well, summarizing a dominant year of play. While he will be taking his talents to Wisconsin-Stevens Point for basketball next year, his work on the diamond should not go unnoticed over the course of his multiple seasons as a Raider, earning himself a First Team All-State honor. Baumgartner will represent the West Team at the WBCA All-Star Classic in Oshkosh between June 30th and July 1st after earning an all-star nomination for basketball earlier in the season.
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