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Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 16 Janesville Craig

March 12, 2015

By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor – Wisconsin/Illinois

The Wisconsin high school season kicks off on March 31, the first day for regular season games. Most teams will begin practicing on March 23, getting their rosters set and finalizing their lineups.

Throughout the month of March we will be counting down our Preseason Power 25 Team Rankings leading up to the No. 1 team right before opening day.

CLICK HERE for complete Preseason Power 25.

No. 16 Janesville Craig

2014 Record: 16-11
WIAA Classification: 1
Conference: Big Eight
Head Coach: Victor Herbst
2014 Playoff Run: Regional Champions

TOP PLAYERS

Nick Blomgren, C, 2015 (High Point)
McCauley Cox, MIF, 2015 (Illinois-Springfield)
Kevin Brandt, 1B, 2015
Alex Marro, RHP, 2015
Connor Perkins, RHP, 2015
Chase Nyborg, LHP, 2016
Evan Spry, 3B/RHP, 2017
 

UP AND COMING

Craig will have a core of seniors that Coach Herbst will be counting on but there is a young crop of players at Craig that will keep the Cougars amongst the top of the Big Eight for years to come. Sophomore Evan Spry should give them a boost with his left handed bat as well as some quality innings on the mound. Spry got good varsity experience last that should help in 2015. Sophomore Nick Cramer could also provide an impact on the mound, already touching 80 mph, Cramer has good feel for multiple pitches and can fill up the strike zone. Time behind the plate could be hard to come by with returning first team all-conference selection Nick Blomgren at the helm, but freshman Jacob Campbell will be more than capable to take over the reins in coming years. Campbell is one of the top freshman prospects in Wisconsin along with fellow teammate Noah Berghammer who could also see varsity time.

OUTLOOK

The Big Eight is one of the toughest conferences in the state and playing the cream of the crop all spring should bode well for Janesville Craig down the stretch, especially for their young talent. The Cougars have a solid group of returning seniors that should provide good leadership including two returning all-conference selections in McCauley Cox and Nick Blomgren. As mentioned above the Cougars have some high end young talent that if they get their feet wet early enough could be big contributors down the stretch for Craig. Look for big offensive years out of Craig’s middle of the lineup which should consist of a trio of seniors in Cox, Blomgren and Kevin Brandt. The cougars have a very balanced lineup with more left handed hitter than most high school programs. Their offensive output could be the straw that stirs the drink for Craig to make a deep run in 2015.

If you are a high school coach and have yet to send in your Preseason Questionnaire please fill one out HERE.

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By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor – Wisconsin/Illinois

The Wisconsin high school season kicks off on March 31, the first day for regular season games. Most teams will begin practicing on March 23, getting their rosters set and finalizing their lineups.

Throughout the month of March we will be counting down our Preseason Power 25 Team Rankings leading up to the No. 1 team right before opening day.

CLICK HERE for complete Preseason Power 25.

No. 16 Janesville Craig

2014 Record: 16-11
WIAA Classification: 1
Conference: Big Eight
Head Coach: Victor Herbst
2014 Playoff Run: Regional Champions

TOP PLAYERS

Nick Blomgren, C, 2015 (High Point)
McCauley Cox, MIF, 2015 (Illinois-Springfield)
Kevin Brandt, 1B, 2015
Alex Marro, RHP, 2015
Connor Perkins, RHP, 2015
Chase Nyborg, LHP, 2016
Evan Spry, 3B/RHP, 2017

 

UP AND COMING

Craig will have a core of seniors that Coach Herbst will be counting on but there is a young crop of players at Craig that will keep the Cougars amongst the top of the Big Eight for years to come. Sophomore Evan Spry should give them a boost with his left handed bat as well as some quality innings on the mound. Spry got good varsity experience last that should help in 2015. Sophomore Nick Cramer could also provide an impact on the mound, already touching 80 mph, Cramer has good feel for multiple pitches and can fill up the strike zone. Time behind the plate could be hard to come by with returning first team all-conference selection Nick Blomgren at the helm, but freshman Jacob Campbell will be more than capable to take over the reins in coming years. Campbell is one of the top freshman prospects in Wisconsin along with fellow teammate Noah Berghammer who could also see varsity time.

OUTLOOK

The Big Eight is one of the toughest conferences in the state and playing the cream of the crop all spring should bode well for Janesville Craig down the stretch, especially for their young talent. The Cougars have a solid group of returning seniors that should provide good leadership including two returning all-conference selections in McCauley Cox and Nick Blomgren. As mentioned above the Cougars have some high end young talent that if they get their feet wet early enough could be big contributors down the stretch for Craig. Look for big offensive years out of Craig’s middle of the lineup which should consist of a trio of seniors in Cox, Blomgren and Kevin Brandt. The cougars have a very balanced lineup with more left handed hitter than most high school programs. Their offensive output could be the straw that stirs the drink for Craig to make a deep run in 2015.

If you are a high school coach and have yet to send in your Preseason Questionnaire please fill one out HERE.