The Wisconsin high school baseball season kicks off on April 27, opening day for regular season action under WIAA regulations. Over the next several weeks, leading up to opening day, we’ll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2021 spring season, touching on programs spanning all state classifications, leading into a countdown 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. These preseason previews are also assembled with the help of Joe Waite and his comprehensive Baseball Wisconsin Yearbook, and the 2021 edition will soon be available for purchase here.

Our 2021 preseason coverage continues today.

Team: Menomonee Falls
Preseason Rank: No. 10
2019 Record: 17-7
Conference: Greater Metro
WIAA Division: 1
Head Coach: Tim Gotzler

TOP PLAYERS

OUTLOOK

Finally, head coach Tim Gotzler gets to coach his first game for Menomonee Falls. Since switching from Catholic Memorial to take the reins from WBCA Hall of Fame inductee Pat Hansen, Gotzler’s initial season in charge was scrapped and Falls changed mascots – so, a lot’s changed in a short, yet exhausting, time.

Regardless, Coach Gotzler’s first real season managing Falls has the new-look Phoenix filled with optimism and high expectations, led by a deep, gifted senior class.

Leading the charge for the Phoenix is one of Wisconsin’s top players, regardless of class, in OF Luke Nowak, who’s committed to East Carolina. There’s several MLB Draft targets in Wisconsin’s upper classes, and Nowak is firmly among them. His skill set should put him in the running for our state’s PBR Wisconsin Player of the Year as well, as he’s a do-it-all prospect with impact talent at all angles. Nowak’s a prototypical lead-off hitter at the next level, though his strength should result in even greater run production at the prep level until he’s moved onto his next landing spot.

Luke Nowak (7/25/20)

With top-scale speed, Nowak bursts out of the box to turn in elite home-to-first times, and that speed seamlessly translates out in center field, where he also projects to be an asset long-term. Offensively, Nowak’s among the toughest at-bats in the state. He has a true feel for the strike zone aided by selective eye, and that combination will allow him to walk plenty. And with Nowak, walks quickly turn into doubles, as he’ll often have the green light to steal second base – and even third – soon after.

Joining Nowak, the Phoenix have several more dependable seniors to lean on throughout the spring, starting with RHP Billy Howard. Howard’s back, healthy, and capable of becoming a need-to-know uncommitted senior in the state. He’d previously been one the most physical, athletic right-handers in this 2021 class, and that physicality remains, as he’s listed at 6-foot-2, 215 pounds. We last saw him up to 87 mph back in 2019, and if he can recapture that form this spring, both he and Falls will enjoy a productive season. We’re eager to see Howard this spring as he climbs back onto the mound. 

OF/RHP Cole Fialco (McHenry County CC) is another senior in this dugout who should be a daily jumpstarter for the Phoenix. We’ve long known Fialco for his athleticism and quality left-handed stroke, but it seems like he’ll also be handling some important pitching duties this spring for the Phoenix as their projected No. 2 starter. He’s a competitive strike-thrower who will fill up the zone and consistently give the Phoenix quality innings on the mound, all while being a potential spark on offense, too.

Cole Fialco (7/14/20)

Then there’s senior C Zachary Alburg (Wisconsin-Parkside), who will be tasked with captaining this team on defense and guiding this relatively inexperienced pitching staff throughout the spring. Alburg can be an asset offensively too, as we’ve seen his right-handed stroke flash power potential and he’ll get plenty of opportunities to drive in runs out of the three-hole in this lineup. Hitting right behind Alburg in the cleanup spot is senior 3B/RHP Brandon Anderson, who remains uncommitted. 

Menomonee Falls has a handful of athletes outside of their senior class that will have to rise to the occasion throughout the season if this team wants to reach their state championship expectations. Standing at a hulking 6-foot-5, 225-pounds, junior RHP Nolan Klug (uncommitted) brings an overpowering presence to this Phoenix pitching staff. His fastball consistently sat at 87-90 mph at last month’s Madison Preseason I.D. and while he’s still fully harnessing a high-octane arsenal, Klug’s pure physicality on the mound should be enough for him to still get outs. 

Nolan Klug (3/14/21)

INF Keli Grennier (2023) and RHP Zach Wolfram (2023) are two sophomores who will get their first taste of varsity action this spring. Grennier is currently slated to play everyday as Falls’ starting second baseman, where his sure-handed defensive actions and athleticism can bring a reliable presence at an up-the-middle position. He showed well at the Badger State Battle last summer offensively, going 6-for-12 with three doubles and seven runs scored. Wolfram is a name we’ve yet to see in person, although we’ve heard some positive things about the 6-foot-0, 210-pound right-hander, including a report that he’s been up to 85 mph with his fastball. He’ll be vying for innings behind a handful of more experienced arms, but he undoubtedly provides valuable depth to this Menomonee Falls’ pitching staff.

BOTTOM LINE 

The Greater Metro is particularly packed with senior talent, some of the best ‘21s in the state. This class will be locked in a typically competitive battle for the GMC’s top spot, and we think this Falls group has the best chance to win this conference. Nowak’s energy should spark the Phoenix to a successful spring, alongside his senior classmates, with a trip to Appleton on the mind.

Find more information on the 2021 Phoenix below:

+ Team Website
+ Team Schedule
+ Team Twitter

PRESEASON POWER 25 COUNTDOWN