Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 8 Oconomowoc
March 24, 2016
The Wisconsin high school season kicks off on March 29, the first day for regular season games. Most teams will begin practicing on March 21, getting their rosters set and finalizing their lineups.
Over the next several weeks, leading up to opening day, we will be rolling out team previews of high school teams all across the state and across all classifications, eventually launching our Preseason Power 25.
We have been sending out our annual Preseason Questionnaire to coaches all across the state and as the responses flood in we will bring you a snapshot of what to expect along with top players and keys to success for that particular team. If you don’t see your team’s season preview make sure your head coach fills out his Preseason Questionnaire.
Team: Oconomowoc
Preseason Rank: 8
2015 Record: 21-7
Conference: Little Ten
WIAA Division: 1
Head Coach: Arno Kirchenwitz
Playoff Run: Lost in State Semifinals
2015 Final Rank: 9
Returning Starters: 7
Returning Pitchers: 4
TOP PLAYERS
Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Commitment |
Zach Clayton | WI | Oconomowoc |
2017 | SS |
Oregon State |
Sean Meyer | WI | Oconomowoc | 2017 | C/3B |
|
Jonah Landowski | WI | Oconomowoc | 2017 | LHP/OF |
|
Alec Esenther | WI | Oconomowoc | 2017 | RHP | |
Austin Meunier | WI | Oconomowoc | 2016 | IF |
X-FACTOR
Junior arms Jonah Landowski and Alec Esenther will be counted on to fill the void left by Logan Wonn on the mound this season. Landowski impressed this winter at the Fox Cities Showcase, after posting a 2.32 ERA as a sophomore. Esenther will need to improve his command in order for Raccoons to make a deep run again this year.
KEY PLAYER LOST
Logan Wonn, RHP (Jacksonville)
Wonn did it all on the mound for Oconomowoc, accounting for over half of the innings pitched in 2015. He went 11-1 with a .28 ERA while striking out 119 in 97 innings pitched with ten shutouts.
OUTLOOK
The Raccoons play in one of the toughest conferences in the state and will compete with Arrowhead this year for the Little Ten title. Junior SS Zach Clayton is coming off a big season where he hit .454 and posted a 1.50 ERA. Clayton, an Oregon State commit, has impressed recently in winter workouts and is primed for another big season. Pitching will be key to the teams success this year as they need to replace Logan Wonn, who accounted for 11 wins and also drove in 35 runs at the plate. Juniors Jonah Landowski and Alec Esenther will need to step up on the mound in order to repeat the teams success of a season ago.
If you are a high school coach and have yet to send in your Preseason Questionnaire please fill one out HERE.