Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 13 St. Thomas More
March 27, 2023
The Wisconsin high school baseball season kicks off on March 28, opening day for regular season action under WIAA regulations. Over the next week, leading up to opening day, we’ll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2023 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. We also utilized some of the information published inside the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association's 2023 Yearbook, which is available for purchase here.
Our 2023 preseason coverage continues today.
Team: St. Thomas More
Preseason Rank: No. 13
2022 Record: 20-7
Conference: Metro Classic
WIAA Division: 2
Head Coach: Tim Schultz
ROSTER PREVIEW
NAME | POS. | SCHOOL | CLASS | COMMITMENT |
Alexander Alicea | SS | St. Thomas More | 2023 | Louisville |
George Benske | 3B/OF | St. Thomas More | 2023 | - |
Jacob Brooks | OF | St. Thomas More | 2023 | - |
Elijah Niemiec | RHP | St. Thomas More | 2023 | Wisconsin-Stevens Point |
Kyle Alivo | RHP/MIF | St. Thomas More | 2024 | Iowa |
Oliver Gonzalez | INF | St. Thomas More | 2024 | - |
Brady Johnson | C/INF | St. Thomas More |
2024 | - |
Evan Rinzel | OF | St. Thomas More |
2024 | - |
Bennett Karolewicz | OF/C | St. Thomas More |
2024 | - |
Sam Mommer | C/INF/RHP | St. Thomas More |
2024 | - |
Johnny Kendzierski | 1B/P | St. Thomas More | 2024 | - |
Andrew Dodge | INF | St. Thomas More | 2025 | - |
Manuel Sostre | RHP/OF | St. Thomas More | 2025 | - |
Gabe Schmidt | INF/RHP | St. Thomas More | 2025 | - |
Brayden Alivo | INF/OF/RHP | St. Thomas More | 2026 | - |
KEY PLAYERS LOST
+ RHP/1B Isaiah Malison (2022; Concordia, NE)
X-FACTOR
+ RHP/INF Kyle Alivo (2024; Iowa commit) has always been a name that has impressed our staff, but during the summer of 2022, he took it to another level. Alivo earned an invite to one of our most prestigious events of the year, the PBR Future Games, where he represented Team Wisconsin at LakePoint complex in Emerson, Ga. During his outing in Georgia, Alivo turned many heads and ultimately committed to Iowa soon after. Our first look at him in 2023 came just last weekend at the Milwaukee Preseason ID and there he arguably put together the day’s top ‘pen. During his ‘pen, Alivo used his gangly 6-foot-1, 162-pound frame to run his fastball up to 91.1 mph which in and of itself is already impressive. He also showed feel for a slider, changeup and sinker which only adds to his already impressive stock. Not only will be one, if not the top starter for this Cavalier squad, he will also most likely be an everyday starter on the infield, too. He will return a .313 batting average from last year and it wouldn’t be surprising to see this number rise as we have seen Alivo impress offensively against formidable opponents previously. Despite being just a junior, Alivo will step into a large role for this talented Cavalier squad but he certainly has the talent to even exceed some expectations.
Former #PBRFG22, RHP Kyle Alivo (@CavBaseball, 2024; @UIBaseball commit) continued to impress at the #MKEID.
— PBR Wisconsin (@PBRWisconsin) March 21, 2023
6-foot-1, 162-pounds
FB sat 90-91 mph. Spun in a 2200+ rpm SL. Killed spin on CH with avg. of 14.7' of HM. SNK avg. 16.7' of HM.
?PROFILE: https://t.co/5Zkq4PCDB3 pic.twitter.com/VKJ3On5MKE
IMPACT UNDERCLASSMAN
+ RHP Manuel Sostre (2025) was another name in attendance at last week's Milwaukee Preseason ID, and there he put himself on the map as a name to know heading into the spring season. Listed at a ultra-projectable 6-foot-3, 175 pounds, Sostre impressed on the mound with an easy and repeatable operation, and sat 84-86 mph with his fastball throughout his ‘pen. He also spun in a curveball and slider during Saturday’s ‘pen. Both pitches have shorter action, with the slider being slightly more firm. Sostre is also expected to being a piece of the Cavalier’s offense and while we haven’t seen him at the plate, head coach Tim Schultz is confident in this young prospect.
RHP Manuel Sostre (St. Thomas More, 2025) showed an athletic, low effort delivery at the #MKEID.
— PBR Wisconsin (@PBRWisconsin) March 23, 2023
6-foot-3, 175-pounds
Heavy mid-80s FB (86.0 mph max) while flashing the feel to spin two different breaking balls.
?PROFILE: https://t.co/F6QutesVqK pic.twitter.com/BD5X3MVQEs
OUTLOOK
After winning a Regional championship in Division 2 last season, St. Thomas More returns a majority of the group that led them to a 20-7 overall record. Coach Schultz and the Cavaliers look to take the next step in 2023, aiming for another sectional appearance and beyond.
It all starts with the highly touted prospect in SS Alexander Alicea (2023; Louisville), one of the best players in the state and in the region. Alicea, standing at a compact 5-foot-8, 150 pounds, is a pesky switch-hitter that tore up the WIAA last season, hitting .515 and earned himself a 2022 PBR Wisconsin First Team All-State nomination. The senior has an advanced feel for the barrel, and has consistently demonstrated the ability to hit the gaps. He also uses his blazing speed to put pressure on opposing defenses, as he’s run a 6.52 in the 60-yard dash in front of us, making him a stolen base threat every time he reaches. Defensively, he's as elite as it gets at this age level. He's accustomed to making the game-changing play at shortstop, and it ignites the team in all other facets.
Alexander Alicea (6/21/22)
Alicea and St. Thomas More have major upside in their surrounding pieces as well. Alivo, mentioned previously as an impact two-way player, will be taking on two-way duties for the Cavaliers, including being Alicea’s middle infield partner.
C Brady Johnson (2024) and INF Oliver Gonzalez (2024) are both under-the-radar athletes that produced offensively and defensively for St. Thomas More last season, and will be relied on in adding onto the depth of this Cavalier squad in 2023. Johnson, who we saw at the West Milwaukee Preseason ID this past February, is a lengthy and solid prospect who has a clean and fluid swing, allowing him to elevate the baseball and make strong contact. OF/RHP Evan Rinzel (2024) is another junior to watch, with low-80s velocity on the mound and he's an overall athletic player.
Brady Johnson (2/18/23)
As for pitching, two of the names have already been mentioned previously in both Alivo and Sostre, but the arms do not drop off after that for the Cavaliers. At the top of the rotation is RHP Elijah Niemiec (2023; Wisconsin-Stevens Point commit), who flashes ace material, as he’s showcased it multiple times during the WIAA season. Last year, he punched out 100 batters over 53-plus innings, and Niemiec is primed for success in 2023. With an extra offseason of development under his belt to add to his fastball and further sharpen his stuff, he gives St. Thomas More a go-to arm atop a deep, talented staff.
Quality look at RHP Elijah Niemiec (@CavBaseball, 2023) who rose up our most recent ‘23 rankings.
— PBR Wisconsin (@PBRWisconsin) September 25, 2022
6-foot-4, 205-pound frame. FB 84-86 T87. Earned off-balance S/Ms on a big 11/5 BB with late bite. #PBRatTheRock | @stiksacademy pic.twitter.com/dv1hMPrKnN
Along with those big three, C/RHP Samuel Mommer (2024) had a closing role for St. Thomas More last season, earning himself three saves over the course of the season. His bat will be important to the Cavaliers too, as his middle-of-the-order presence as a run producer will be key to the offensive success of St. Thomas More.
Samuel Mommer (7/12/22)
Along with Sostre, some underclassmen should be contributors to this team, including INF/RHP Brayden Alivo (2026), an athlete that represented Team Wisconsin at the PBR Junior Future Games this past summer and showed well, completing this solid group of Cavaliers.
BOTTOM LINE
If St. Thomas More can eliminate some cold spells offensively that cost them a couple of games last season, then they will be a team to fear in the state, as their pitching staff is one of the most electric in Wisconsin. Non-conference play will be an important part of the season for Cavaliers in preparing them for the postseason, as they face some of the top teams in the state throughout the entirety of the 2023 season, setting themselves up as a potent Division 2 team.
Make sure to follow @PBRWisconsin on Twitter for the most up-to-date coverage throughout the 2023 season.
Find more information on the 2023 Cavaliers below:
+ Team Website
+ Team Schedule
+ Team Twitter