Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 8 Pewaukee

April 27, 2021
By Diego Solares
Wisconsin Staff

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.

Our 2021 preseason coverage continues today.

Team: Pewaukee
Preseason Rank: No. 8
2019 Record: 23-6
Conference: Woodland West
WIAA Division: 2
Head Coach: Adam & Marc Dobberstein

TOP PLAYERS

NAME	POS	CLASS	COMMITMENT
Grant Ross	RHP/INF	2021	Valparaiso
Vince Zipperer	LHP/1B	2021	Cornell College
Logan Dobberstein	RHP	2022	Kansas State
Nick Doubek	OF/LHP	2022	-
Carson Hansen	OF	2022	-
Jack Sandvik	C	2022	-
Luke Sopha	INF/RHP	2022	-
Gavyn Bowen	LHP	2023	-
Logan Schill	OF	2023	-

OUTLOOK

Pewaukee is home to three arms that each boast frontline starter potential, and they’re going to have a chance at winning a large chunk of games when a member of this three-headed monster toes the rubber – which will obviously account for just about every game.

RHP/SS Grant Ross, a Valpo recruit, is among the leading preseason candidates to earn the PBR Wisconsin Player of the Year honor. Ross is an impact level talent on both sides of the ball, and he’ll actually be the Pirates’ starting shortstop when he’s not pitching, but the overall presence he brings to the mound is what makes him special. Ross is a fierce competitor who pitches with a contagious moxy, and he has the stuff to back it up. We’ve seen him touch 91 mph with his fastball in the past, settling comfortably into the mid- to upper-80s range, and he’s capable of spinning a mid-70s curveball for swings-and-misses, too. He’s the ace of Pewaukee’s pitching staff and they feel confident that they can win each game he’s pitching in.

Grant Ross (7/2/20)

Right behind Ross is junior RHP Logan Dobberstein, committed to Kansas State, who’s also a go-to type of pitcher. The 6-foot-6, 185-pound Dobberstein represented Team Wisconsin at the PBR Future Games this past summer, and he’s trended upwards in our state’s 2022 rankings over the past calendar year, after multiple impressive performances. Dobberstein’s arsenal consists of several different pitches, including two different breaking balls that have flashed sharp spin in the past. He’s still learning how to sync up his levers on a consistent basis, but the upside that Dobberstein brings to the mound is unquestioned.

Logan Dobberstein (8/2/20)

Sophomore LHP Gavyn Bowen popped as a follow name in the state’s 2023 class last fall and he built off that strong first impression at the West Milwaukee Preseason I.D. this February. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound Bowen bumped his fastball into the 84-87 mph range six weeks ago, and he can really spin it from a lower release angle, measuring in around 2,200-plus rpm. His first choice secondary pitch is a tight swing-and-miss curveball that plays at 67-69 mph. Bowen’s full arsenal is still in need of some polish, but his pure raw stuff is good enough for him to still get outs as things stand.

Gavyn Bowen (2/21/21)

OF Carson Hansen (2022) is an arrow-up name in the state’s junior class, and he’s set to operate as the table setter for Pewaukee on offense. The left-handed hitter boasts a mature 6-foot-3, 205-pound frame with athleticism that plays up on the field and he’s poised for a strong spring season this year. The aforementioned Ross and Dobberstein are going to be key offensive pieces for Pewaukee when they’re not pitching, too. Juniors INF/RHP Luke Sopha and OF/LHP Nick Doubek, as well as senior 1B/LHP Vince Zipperer, are each penciled in as everyday starters as things stand right now, and the three all possess a skill set that plays on the mound too. Catching these high-octane arms will be junior backstop Jack Sandvik, and how he navigates this pitching staff will certainly play a pivotal role in the success that Pewaukee has on that side of the ball. It’s a productive all-around group that’s capable of providing support for their talented pitching staff.

BOTTOM LINE

The table’s set for yet another early postseason meeting between the Pirates and the neighbors (and rivals) Catholic Memorial. It’s a shame these two can’t meet deeper into the postseason, but the D2 favorites look like, again, the top two D2 teams in the WIAA. For Pewaukee, they can compete with any squad in the state, regardless of class, because of the talent they’re trotting to the mound game in and out. Their offensive attack has question marks and it isn’t the most experienced group, but count on them to win the majority of their games while owning arguably the top 1-2-3 staff in the state. It’s state or bust for Pewaukee, and they’re prepared to cope with that kind of pressure.

Make sure to follow @PBRWisconsin on Twitter for the most up-to-date coverage throughout the 2021 season.