By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor - Wisconsin/Illinois

The WIAA state playoffs begin Thursday May 26 with the first round of regional action for Divisions 2-4, Division 1 teams open up regional play on Tuesday, May 31. Several of the top teams have first round byes and won’t begin action until June 2.

The Prep Baseball Report will continue to roll out its Daily Roundup with all of the up to date scores and highlights.

As the playoffs are about to kick off we have filled out our brackets and made our predictions for all four Divisions starting with Sectional play. Here’s a look at who we think will be holding the hardware in Appleton.

Division 1

CLICK HERE for entire WIAA Division 1 Brackets.

Indian Trail is playing like a team on a mission and they are our pick to win the title in 2016. The Hawks have arguably the best player in the state in Gavin Lux and surround him with a plethora of talent. The Hawks made it to Appleton last year and return with more experience and a fire to get it done. Arrowhead clearly has the arms to get there as well and after their early exit last year should have all the motivation. Keep an eye out for Eau Claire North. I know Eau Claire Memorial beat them twice in the regular season but the Husky offense can be extremely potent.

Green Bay Preble
Sectional 2	Green Bay Preble
Bay Port
		Green Bay Preble
Middleton
Sectional 3	Middleton
DeForest
			Kenosha Indian Trail
Janesville Craig
Sectional 5	Janesville Craig
Verona
		Kenosha Indian Trail
Kenosha Indian Trail
Sectional 8	Kenosha Indian Trail
Burlington
				Kenosha Indian Trail
Eau Claire Memorial				State Champion
Sectional 1	Eau Claire North
Eau Claire North
		Eau Claire North
Kimberly
Sectional 4	Kimberly
West De Pere
			Arrowhead
Sun Prairie
Sectional 6	Sun Prairie
Oconomowoc
		Arrowhead
Arrowhead
Sectional 7	Arrowhead
Milwaukee Riverside

 

Division 2

CLICK HERE for entire WIAA Division 2 Brackets.

Milwaukee Lutheran won the Division 2 title last season and return nearly their entire team. They have been rolling rather smoothly this season playing mostly a Division 1 schedule until some recent hiccups. Look for the Red Knights to right the ship and take the Division 2 crown again this year.

Ellsworth
Sectional 1	Altoona
Altoona
		Waupaca
Tomahawk
Sectional 2	Waupaca
Waupaca
			Milwaukee Lutheran
Lodi
Sectional 3	Lodi
Turner
		Milwaukee Lutheran
Columbus
Sectional 4	Milwaukee Lutheran
Milwaukee Lutheran

Division 3

CLICK HERE for entire WIAA Division 3 Brackets.

Coleman has been the year-long favorite in Division 3, beating opponents by landslide margins and we anticipate them taking their undefeated record straight through the playoffs. Lake Country Lutheran has the playoff experience and should be primed to make another run. We anticipate them facing undefeated Markesan in the Sectional Championship so they have to get by them first.

Unity
Sectional 1	Elk Mound
Elk Mound
		Coleman
Pacelli
Sectional 2	Coleman
Coleman
			Coleman
Aquinas
Sectional 3	Aquinas
Prairie Du Chien
		Lake Country Lutheran
Markesan
Sectional 4	Lake Country Lutheran
Lake Country Lutheran

Division 4

CLICK HERE for entire WIAA Division 4 Brackets.

Ithaca lost the title game to Rio last year and lost only one senior starter. We are likely to see a rematch of last year’s Division 4 title game in the semi-finals this year, predicting Ithaca takes the rematch and the title in 2016.

Shell Lake
Sectional 1	EC Immanuel Lutheran
Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran
		EC Immanuel Lutheran
Rib Lake
Sectional 2	Wausaukee
Wausaukee
			Ithaca
Hillsboro
Sectional 3	Ithaca
Ithaca
		Ithaca
Rio
Sectional 4	Rio
Pecatonica