Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 10 Catholic Memorial
March 28, 2022
The Wisconsin high school baseball season kicks off on March 29, opening day for regular season action under WIAA regulations. Over the next two weeks, leading up to opening day, we’ll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2022 spring season, touching on programs spanning all state classifications, counting down 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 2022 preseason coverage continues today.
Team: Catholic Memorial
Preseason Rank: 10
2021 Record: 20-9
Conference: Classic Eight
WIAA Division: D2
Head Coach: Sean Smith
ROSTER
| Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Commitment |
| Rory Fox | WI | CMH | 2022 | RHP/INF | Notre Dame |
| Charlie Jarvis | WI | CMH | 2022 | C/OF | |
| Grant Beth | WI | CMH |
2022 | OF/LHP | UW-Lacrosse |
| Brayden Cooper | WI | CMH |
2022 | RHP | Rock Valley |
| Aiden Haney | WI | CMH | 2022 | INF | Rock Valley |
| JT Kelenic | WI | CMH |
2023 | OF | Grand Canyon |
| Keith Williams | WI | CMH |
2023 | INF | |
| AJ Rieck | WI | CMH | 2023 | 1B | |
| Chris Schaeffer | WI | CMH | 2023 | C | |
| Zach Rechner | WI | CMH |
2023 | RHP | |
| Jack Welak | WI | CMH |
2024 | RHP/3B |
IMPACT UNDERCLASSMAN:
Jack Welak (2025, RHP/INF) is expected to carry meaningful innings for the Crusaders in an attempt to fully fill graduated innings, and will do so with a very talented defense playing behind him. Currently, Welak throws a mid-80’s fastball, a curveball, and a slider, and benefits from being able to trust a veteran defense and an elite no-fly zone outfield crew.
X-FACTOR:
Grant Beth (2022): Overlooked and underappreciated, Beth holds a huge role in the success of the team this year. Beth can get outs on tough at bats, offers multiple times through the lineup from the rubber, plays some of the best defense in centerfield throughout the state, and returns a bat that hit over .400. Beth can do it all, and his success on both sides of the ball will assist CMH in trying to overcome a very difficult conference run at the top of the Classic Eight.
OUTLOOK:
Leading this group is INF/RHP Rory Fox (Notre Dame, 2022), who's back for a crack at another Player of the Year type of season in 2022. After leading the Crusader football team to a state championship in the fall, Fox looks to lead a tough Crusader team through a top heavy Classic Eight conference. The Notre Dame commit does it all. As the teams top pitcher on a roster that lost important innings, Fox offers a low 90’s starters mix with real feel for command and spin. At the plate, Fox has made large strides this off-season, and makes a push as one of the top left hand hitters in the area. Batting .456 in the 2021 campaign, and adding some pop to his bat in the offseason. Following Fox, is battery mate Charlie Jarvis (2022, uncommitted). Jarvis is a well know multi-sport athlete that enjoys success in all of his endeavors. Including holding down the pitching staff, stuffing the running game from the crouch, and offering some fire to the lineup. Other impressive players on this team include Grand Canyon commit, JT Kelenic (2023). As one of the best position players in the state, and one of the more promising talents in the outfield, Kelenic has made strides this offseason as well. Showing improved capacity and feel for his skills on the PBR showcase circuit, and looking the part of a physical corner outfield with power upside.
Other front line contributors include two-way X-Factor, Grant Beth. Beth was a top end contributor on the offense last year (.402), and provided very meaningful innings as a competitive left hander on the mound with an idea of how to miss barrels while pitching and mixing in the mid-80’s. Senior middle second baseman Aiden Haney (Rock Valley, 2022) has been a mainstay in the lineup (.352), and packs a punch for a little man. Keith Williams (2023, uncommitted) may offer the most improved look year over year for the Crusaders. Currently built for D1 football, and producing some of the best ball speed PBR Wisconsin saw all winter. Worth noting that Williams has made great improvement defensively, and will patch up the infield play.
Replacing innings for the Crusaders may appear a tall task on paper, but the arms are more than equipped to pick up what graduated. Along with Fox and Beth, Brayden Cooper will step up in 2022. With more command and feel for his secondary in 2022, the Crusaders will ask a lot of Cooper, and he’ll deliver. Additionally, the team will add youngsters Jack Welak, and Jeff Makinen to an experienced group, and the group will see contributions from Zach Rechner, and AJ Rieck as well.
BOTTOM LINE
In 2022, the Crusaders will get the opportunity to compete against some of the best the state has to offer, and their talented and veteran lineup will be tested heading down the stretch on another hopeful championship run. Many on the roster have improved year over year, and the components are there to deliver a championship.
Make sure to follow @PBRWisconsin on Twitter for the most up-to-date coverage throughout the 2022 season.