Week 8 Games
May 17, 2024
The Wisconsin Scout Blog provides insider information and scouting notes from the Prep Baseball Scouting Staff during the season. This running blog will feature information on underclass prospects, unsigned seniors, draft prospects, and anything else that is notable. We will provide a wide range of information, including player evaluations, velocities, pop times, home to first times, and more. Simply put, the Wisconsin Scout Blog is loaded with information …
THURSDAY, MAY 16
WISCONSIN LUTHERAN VS NEW BERLIN EISENHOWER
By: Josh Fields
Area Scout
Eddie Rynders, INF, Wisconsin Lutheran, 2024
Kent State commit, currently ranked No. 3 in Wisconsin’s senior class and No. 145 nationally. Rynders is a true arrow up prospect and has seen his stock rise tremendously over the past six months and continues to make improvements. Standing at an imposing and athletic 6-foot-1, 198-pounds, Rynders looks the part on the field and especially in the left-handed batters box. Going for two hits in this look, the first came with two strikes, Rynders went to a no-stride and found the barrel on a 87 mph fastball driving it to right field. The second, Rynders legged out an infield single with a 4.10 home-to-first run time. On the mound, Rynders operated in the mid-80s throughout the night with ease, reaching 87 mph. Most impressively was the number of plays Rynders was able to make while on the mound still making his presence felt defensively. Coming of being named our National POTW, Rynders continues his loud senior season as he looks towards starting his potential pro or collegiate career this summer.
Sam Hirthe, RHP, New Berlin Eisenhower, 2025
Uncommitted, Hirthe is a athletic 6-foot right hander with a considerable ceiling. Against Wisconsin Lutheran, Hirthe tossed 5.2 innings allowing one earned run on six hits and struck out two batters. Hirthe delivers the baseball with relative ease and perceived low effort, running his fastball up to 89 mph early and sat 85-87 throughout his outing. Hirthe went to his breaking ball as his go-to secondary offering, where he struggled to find feel for the pitch throughout the first few innings before gaining feel for the pitch action later on. His breaking ball played at 74-75 mph and flashed sharp break. Still some untapped potential with the right-hander as the combination of frame, athleticism and arm speed could see him tapping into more velocity as he matures into his frame. A breakout prospect this past winter that has continued to show what he can do on the mound this spring. Hirthe is a name-to-know inside the state’s junior class moving forward into the summer circuit.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 15
KETTLE MORAINE LUTHERAN VS WAUPUN
By: Maddox Durst
Staff Writer
Brett Biondich, RHP/1B, Kettle Moraine Lutheran, 2026
Texas Christian commit, currently ranked at No. 8 in Wisconsin’s 2026 class, listed at a mature 6-foot-2, 200-pounds. Biondich came on in a short stint for Kettle Moraine Lutheran in their extra innings win, rushing his FB up to 92 mph in his outing, ranging in the upper-80s-to-low-90s. Heavily utilized the FB, showcasing life through the zone while drawing weak contact. The right-hander flipped up a hard SL at times as well—landing the offspeed pitch for a strike, between 75-78 mph. Struck out a pair of batters in two innings—attacking the strike zone, mainly with his FB. Put together a couple of quality at bats, too. Steady, repeatable approach at the plate paired with raw power that continues to develop in his physical frame. Hit a hard line drive to the pull-side and capitalized on strikes when he saw them. Biondich walked twice and scored twice in the Chargers’ win, including the game-winning run.
TUESDAY, MAY 14
BROOKFIELD CENTRAL VS WAUWATOSA WEST
By: Maddox Durst & Josh Fields
Wisconsin Staff
Colton Semmelmann, LHP, Brookfield Central, 2026
Uncommitted, currently ranks at No. 4 in the class of 2026 in the state of Wisconsin, listed with an athletic 6-foot-1, 176-pound frame. Semmelmann dominated his start on Tuesday against Wauwatosa West—attacking the strike zone and staying on top of hitters throughout his entire five-inning start. His fastball played in the 82-85 mph range (T87), featuring life and the ability to locate throughout the zone, rarely missing middle-middle. The left-hander complemented his main pitch with a BB, thrown numerous times to left-handed hitters—providing uncomfortable swings consistently. He struck out 10 batters in those five innings—continuing a stellar season on the mound for the Lancers after striking out 15 in a game last week.
Adam Urban, RHP, Wauwatosa West, 2025
Minnesota commit, currently ranked at No. 8 in the state’s 2025 class, presenting himself at 6-foot, 194-pounds. Urban was electric on the mound against Brookfield Central—striking out seven batters in six innings. The right-hander heavily utilized the FB during his outing, which played at 87-90 mph (T92) with life through the zone. To cap off his arsenal, Urban went to a hard BB with a sweeping 10/4 action—landing it for strikes often. The Minnesota commit also mixed in a splitter at times—providing fade in the lower half of the zone. Urban worked around a couple of walks and settled in nicely after a two-run first inning. Showing feel for his delivery and was competitive in his outing—setting up for a quality summer.
GERMANTOWN VS WAUWATOSA EAST
By: Josh Fields
Area Scout
Montgomery O’Brien, LHP, Wauwatosa East, 2026
Uncommitted, currently ranked at No. 28 in the state’s 2026 class, standing at 6-foot-1, 177-pounds with room for continued growth in his frame. The left-hander threw out of the stretch exclusively with feel to repeat his delivery down the mound, O’Brien also possesses an athletic and loose arm action combined with considerable arm speed. O’Brien ran his fastball up to 84 mph in this look with two different breaking balls. The fastball played with life out of the hand and played with true four-seam action with some ride through the zone. O’Brien looks to have more velocity in the tank, as we have seen him up to 87 mph in the past. He has feel for both of his breaking balls, a hard 75-77 mph slider and a low-70s curveball and they look to continue to tick up as he matures into his frame.
Logan Zaverl, RHP, Germantown, 2025
Uncommitted, currently ranked at No. 34 in the state’s 2025 class, standing at a strong 6-foot-1, 195-pounds. On the mound Zaverl showed some ability to repeat on the mound, still a raw prospect overall with a high ceiling. Zaverl showed four pitches in this look, his fastball reached the mid-80s with life out of the hand and showed some arm-side movement. Zaverl threw two different breaking balls as well and showed feel to land each in the zone for strikes, he mixed in a changeup rounding off his arsenal. Still possessing a high ceiling and intrigue on the mound Zaverl will garner attention throughout the rest of his prep career.
MONDAY, MAY 13
VERONA VS. NO. 18 MADISON MEMORIAL
By: Josh Fields
Area Scout
Noah Latham-Woodruff, OF, Madison Memorial, 2024
Wisconsin-Oshkosh commit, the No. 48th ranked prospect in the state’s senior class listed at an athletic and upside 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame. Latham-Woodruff has long caught our staff's eye and attention with the combination of size, athleticism and toolset he possesses. At the plate, Latham-Woodruff is an imposing presence in the box, with a compact and adjustable right-handed swing that is able to use the whole field. In the field, profiling as a strong armed right-fielder with clear arm strength that has been up to 88 mph and steady actions.
Owen Davis, INF, Verona Area, 2024
Edgewood college commit, listed at 6-foot-3, 188-pounds with strength throughout his frame. A middle-of-the-order bat for Verona, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a double for the game. A right-handed hitter with a quiet and fluid swing that showed power to his pull side. Defensively at first base Davis showed steady hands and actions at first and projects to be a quality defender at the position moving forward.
WHITEFISH BAY VS HOMESTEAD
By Maddox Durst
Staff Writer
JD Dix, MIF, Whitefish Bay, 2024
Wake Forest commit, currently the No. 1 ranked prospect in the Badger State’s 2024 class, presenting himself at an athletic 6-foot-2, 179-pound frame. Dix has continued his storied prep career, including his most recent appearance at the inaugural Prep Baseball All-American Game, with a quality season for Whitefish Bay—looking the part at the plate and in the field for the Blue Dukes. The switch-hitter made loud contact throughout from the left side of the plate—featuring quick hands and a loose, whippy barrel. Finished with one hit and two walks on the evening, including two stolen bases and scoring the eventual game-winning run. At second base, Dix once again demonstrated his smooth and athletic actions with advanced and active feet and a consistent, accurate arm that continues to build up from the summer and fall of 2023. Dix was comfortable around the bag on throw-downs—making multiple picks on a dirt infield while providing quick tags on baserunners.
Paul Nuetzel, RHP/MIF, Homestead, 2024
Madison JC commit, currently ranks at No. 40 in Wisconsin’s 2024 class, listed at 6-foot-1, 175-pounds with room to fill in his frame. Nuetzel hopped on the mound for a start and ranged in the mid-80s (T86 mph) with the fastball, effortlessly tossing the pitch for strikes. Mixed in a sharp breaking ball at times—providing swings and misses consistently. At the plate, Nuetzel launched a clutch three-run home run in his second at bat to put Homestead out in front, his seventh of the season. The switch-hitter approaches with quiet hands and a slight leg kick—generating power from his lower half to elevate, drive the baseball. Has a repeatable approach in the batters’ box, always comfortable and ready to attack.
Griffin Bowers, C, Homestead, 2024
St. Thomas - MN (football) commit, currently ranked at No. 174 in the state in a wiry 6-foot, 165-pound frame. Bowers impressed behind the dish for the Highlanders on Monday night—making numerous blocks with balls in the dirt to stop baserunners from advancing or even scoring at times. The catcher presented quality footwork, paired with a strong arm, much of it to do with his prowess on the gridiron at defensive back. Bowers showcased a more upright stance at the plate, staying balanced and level throughout his swing, and went 4-for-5 for Homestead. At the top of the order, he used an opposite field approach for the most part—driving the baseball into gaps in being one of the main threats in the batting order for the Highlanders.