Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 2 Arrowhead Union

The Wisconsin high school baseball season kicks off on March 29, opening day for regular season action under WIAA regulations. Over the next two weeks, leading up to opening day, we’ll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2022 spring season, touching on programs spanning all state classifications, counting down through the official PBR Wisconsin Preseason Power 25 Rankings.

Perennially, we’ve submitted a Preseason Questionnaire to high school head coaches across the entire state. Their responses have been flooding in and we’re using the detailed insight they’ve provided in our team-by-team preseason analysis.

Our 2022 preseason coverage continues today.

Team: Arrowhead Union
Preseason Rank: 2
2021 Record: 20-9
Conference: Classic Eight
WIAA Division: D1
Head Coach: Nick Brengosz

ROSTER:

RETURNING:  90% innings returned, 62% at bats returned. 

IMPACT UNDERCLASSMAN:

Nolan Buss (2024, Uncommitted) The sophomore right hander is the top uncommitted arm in the 2024 class, and provides one of the more challenging set of pitch problems the state has to offer. His fastball has worked into the low 90’s with 20i of horizontal tilt. Buss delivers a funky windup that gets on top of hitters quickly, and everything moves in his three pitch mix. Expect Buss to perform throughout the years to come.

X-FACTOR:

RHP James Vargas (@DiamondWarhawks, 2022) solidifies himself as a high-follow uncommitted name in WI.

Strong, compact frame. Easy effort on the mound, sitting 87-89 mph through two with the FB. Feel for two secondaries, too. #PBRatTheRock | @toptiernorth pic.twitter.com/JlCGjZqYd2

— PBR Wisconsin (@PBRWisconsin) July 23, 2021

JJ Vargas (2022, Upper Iowa)is a strong and dense two-way player that'll pull a large role in a potent Arrowhead roster. On the mound, Vargas offers strike throwing presence up to 90 mph, and in the box he provides middle-of-the order slugging. In tournament appearances last year, Vargas even posted multi-home run days in addition to all the other things he contributes to on the diamond. Vargas is a name easily overlooked with such a powerful top end of the roster for the Warhawks. 

OUTLOOK:

Arrowhead looks the part of a state title contending favorite heading into the 2022 season. Starting with their competitive excellence on the mound beginning with the bulldog Mason Buss (Kansas St, 2022). Buss has dominated the high school level for years, and produced time and again for innings pitched, and has produced hundreds of uncomfortable at bats. Following in the steps of his older brother, up and coming sophomore talent Nolan Buss (2024, Uncommitted) gives the appearance of a staff ace when Mason graduates. In addition to an excellent 1-2 punch at the front end, the Warhawks are full of pitching depth. JJ Vargas (2022, Upper Iowa) is very capable of being an ace for other programs, as well as left hander Michael Carpenter (2023, Uncommitted). Carpenter was in the upper 80’s on the PBR showcase circuit, and is capable of pulling plenty of innings at the high school level and beyond. 

Checking in on the @hittersbaseba11 Fall Invite today, where RHP Mason Buss (@DiamondWarhawks; @KStateBSB) is carving through 3️⃣ for the ‘22 squad - 6Ks, 0 R.

FB coming out clean at 86-89 mph, lower average release slot. Feel to spin a low-70s CB, too. pic.twitter.com/uLBytCQ3M5

— Diego (@DeegsBaseball) October 2, 2021

The Warhawk lineup looks like a beast. From top to bottom, this group possesses all the talent needed to contend for the title, and will have days that they won’t be denied on the scoreboard. Ethan Hindle (2023, Kentucky) will be one of the position players to watch for this roster. After breaking out during the summer and fall, he looks to carry that momentum into the spring. Thomas Curry (2023, Mizzou) has looked the part of “the guy” this offseason. Turning himself into one of the premier backstops in the midwest, and packing a large punch at the plate. Curry’s ability to manage the Warhawks talented pitching staff will make for some fun-to-watch baseball this spring. James Duncan (2022, Illinois State) offers some senior leadership to the left side of the plate, and adds some pop and balance to the lineup.