Prep Baseball Report

PBR Wisconsin's WIAA All-State First Team


By Andy Sroka & Diego Solares
Wisconsin Staff

The 2021 WIAA season has finally come to an end, with all four divisions crowning a state roughly two weeks ago in Appleton. After scavenging through statistics and digging up as much information as we could, the PBR Wisconsin staff has officially named its First Team All-State squad. 

We heavily based the selection of these teams on statistical performance and took into account outside factors like strength of conference and competition, etc., and we landed on the names listed below representing all pockets and divisions from Wisconsin.

Over the next couple of days we will unveil our second- and third-team rosters, but for now, we present to you our 2021 PBR Wisconsin First Team All-state selections.

CATCHER

Anthony Tomczak C / Muskego, WI / 2021

Tomczak had an outstanding senior year for the Warriors, leading the Classic 8 Conference in nearly every single offensive statistic en route to the conference’s player of the year honor. He also set Muskego’s single-season school record for batting average (.594), finishing his year with a .594/.632/1.000 slash line, with 14 doubles, three triples, and two home runs. Tomczak served as a staple inside Muskego’s lineup all season, driving in 37 runs, and walked (9) more times than he struck out (8), too.

INFIELDERS

Tyler Butina 1B / Jefferson, WI / 2023

Butina had a monster first year of varsity action, playing a major role for the Eagles’ offense, powering them to the D2 state championship game. The left-handed masher slashed .462/.532/.840 with as many doubles (21) as singles (21) in 106 at-bats. Butina also clobbered five home runs and drove in 43 runs, all while walking (15) more than he K’d (11) throughout the spring.

Noah Miller SS / Ozaukee, WI / 2021

Prior to being selected No. 36 overall by the Minnesota Twins in the 2021 MLB Draft, Miller dominated the Badger State’s prep scene, putting the finishing touches on a historic high school career for Ozaukee. In 42 at-bats for the Warriors, Miller’s numbers are video game-like; .667/.700/1.381 with 16 extra-base hits, including five home runs. Miller drove in 20 runs and scored 33 times, without striking out once all spring.

Cal Fisher SS / 3B / Deerfield, WI / 2023

Committed to Notre Dame, Fisher’s offensive numbers for anyone would be eye-popping, nonetheless for a sophomore in his first season at the varsity level. He led the state with 10 home runs, slashing .486/.571/1.071 with 40 RBIs and he struck out just once in 70 at-bats. Fisher got it done for Deerfield on the mound as well, twirling 38.1 innings to the tune of a 0.91 ERA, 70 strikeouts, and a 5-1 record.

Alexander Alicea SS / 2B / St. Thomas More, WI / 2023

Another high-profile name in the state’s 2023 class, Alicea’s full-season numbers with the Cavaliers match up with just about anyone. In 66 at-bats, the Louisville commit slashed .515/.609/.818 with 13 extra-base knocks, including two home runs. He was also a perfect 22-for-22 in the stolen base attempts, and he manned shortstop all season for St. Thomas More. Alicea was named to the Metro Classic Conference All-Conference first team as an infielder and he’s one of the top-ranked ‘23s in the Midwest.

OUTFIELDERS

Luke Nowak OF / Menomonee Falls, WI / 2021

Nowak was a huge reason why Menomonee Falls made it to the state playoffs. Committed to East Carolina, Nowak slashed .410/.508/.680 with 18 extra-base hits, including a state-leading seven triples. He walked (19) nearly four times as much as he struck out (5) and swiped 35 bags, too. Nowak’s defensive value can’t be ignored here either, as he played a near-perfect center field for Falls all season long, giving them a staple at one of the diamond’s most important positions.

Carson Hansen OF / Pewaukee, WI / 2022

Hansen’s been trending upward in a big way over the last 12 months and he showed that all season long with Pewaukee, primarily out of the leadoff spot. He set the school record in batting average (.520) and doubles (17), adding three triples and two home runs to the mix, too. Hansen also drove in 46 runs, scored 49 times, and swiped 23 bags in 26 attempts. He was a first team all-conference selection in the Woodlands West as well. Still uncommitted, Hansen returns to the Pirates next season to help reignite this lineup in 2022.

Landon Behringer OF / North Fond du Lac, WI / 2022

If there was a school record at North Fond du Lac prior to this season, Behringer likely shattered it. He had a historic season for the Orioles, setting the school record in practically every major offensive category. Behringer slashed .629/.723/1.043 with 44 hits, 17 doubles, six triples, 40 RBIs, and 43 runs scored – each of which broke school records. The uncommitted junior outfielder also set the new state record with 56 stolen bases, shattering the previous high of 44.

PITCHERS

Jared Lessman LHP / St. Croix Falls, WI / 2021

Lessman flat-out dominated each time he toed the rubber this spring for St. Croix Falls, pitching to a perfect 11-0 record with a 0.96 ERA. He amassed a whopping 158 Ks, opposite just 16 walks. Committed to Iowa Western CC, Lessman’s final campaign with the Saints is one of the more dominant ones we’ve ever seen. It’ll be really interesting to watch Lessman continue to develop post-grad, because he’s been a diamond of the D3 class, while representing northwestern Wisconsin.

Alex Hayes LHP / Muskego, WI / 2021

Hayes was an ace in every bit of the word for Muskego all season long. He got the nod each time the Warriors squared up against a tough opponent and delivered, hurling 33.2 innings with a 0.81 ERA across seven starts, not losing once. Hayes struck out 59 batters and walked just nine in that span, too. The Madison College commit is a high pitchability lefty with a bright future.

Walker Retz RHP / OF / Boyceville, WI / 2021

Boyceville won their first-ever D4 state championship a few weeks ago and Retz was a massive reason why the Bulldogs were positioned to do so. Retz posted a 0.51 ERA and 0.65 WHIP across 41.1 innings, striking out 84 batters and walking just seven – including a 13-strikeout complete-game shutout in the state championship game. Committed to the University of St. Thomas, Retz was also one of the Bulldogs’ best hitters, with 51 RBIs collected with the help of 41 hits, 24 of which went for extra bases, including six home runs.

Reece Piontek LHP / Denmark, WI / 2021

Denmark also captured its first state title in program history, and Piontek helped lead a staff that was arguably the state’s best, regardless of class. Piontek didn’t lose a start all season, including one in the state semifinal, posting a perfect 11-0 record. He struck 93 batters out and allowed just four earned runs (0.44 ERA) across 62.2 innings pitched. Committed to Concordia-St. Paul, Piontek ended his prep career on the highest of notes, earning his first and only save of the season in the D2 championship game.

UTILITY

Owen Washburn INF / RHP / Webster, WI / 2021

For us, Washburn was the MVP of the WIAA this past season, putting up jaw-dropping numbers throughout his senior season at Webster. Offensively, Washburn batted .741 with 61 RBIs and 22 extra-base hits, including seven home runs. Washburn also scored 44 runs and swiped 18 bags. As productive as he was offensively, Washburn also owns one of the most staggering stats in the state, a strikeout to walk ratio of 84-to-1 in his 34 innings pitched in the regular season. His astounding two-way performance in the spring also propelled him to the honor of the 2021 PBR Wisconsin Player of the Year.

Josh Caron C / OF / RHP / Sun Prairie, WI / 2021

Sun Prairie captured their eighth WIAA state championship – the most in the WIAA – this spring and Caron was the main cog in the machine-like offense that motored the Cardinals through the season as the top-ranked team from beginning to end. He clobbered eight home runs and drove in 49 runs, posting a .438 batting average in the process. Further adding to his versatility, Caron swiped 13 bags and scored 23 runs, too, and he also served as the Cardinals’ closer throughout the year, shutting the door down for Sun Prairie in multiple key situations. He’s committed to play baseball at reigning Big Ten champion Nebraska.

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