In the first Class "A" poll of the 2017 season, the team that was rated number 1 for much of the season in 2016, the West Allis Nationals, are named the preseason number 1 team in the State of Wisconsin by a panel of 10 managers and league officials throughout the state. The Nationals, received 38 points including 4 first place votes to lead the pace.
The Class "A" of Wisconsin Amateur Baseball encompasses 15 teams that play in the Wisconsin State League, Northeast Wisconsin Baseball League (NEWBL), and the Southeast Wisconsin Baseball League (SEWBL). Many of the teams will participate in the first Wisconsin State Class "A" Championship Tournament August 4-6 at Wildwood Park in Sheboygan.
The dream of a State tournament was hatched by 3 men who are intricately involved in Amateur Baseball in the State of Wisconsin. Steve Elliott, the Wisconsin State League Executive Director and manager of the West Allis Nationals, Jim Ziegler, the Southeast Wisconsin Baseball League Executive Director and manager of the Kewaskum A's, and Craig Larsen, the Land O' Lakes Western Division Executive Director and Wisconsin Amateur Baseball Classic Co-Director, have spent the past few years developing a plan to get the best teams together in one tournament, to find out who is best and promote the game.
"Being able to participate in the SPAMtown Challenge in Austin, Minnesota and hearing how they work their regular season, and with the success of the WABC, it was natural fit to try and incorporate a State Championship in Wisconsin on this level," Jim Ziegler said.
While only a small percentage of teams will participate in the inaugural tournament, Craig Larsen hopes that tournament is just the start of something bigger, "I think guys like Steve (Elliott) and Jimmy (Ziegler) are big dreamers at what can be in this state. In a club baseball culture, travel and playing the best is not a big of hurdle anymore."
Sussex Cardinals manager Cory Gasper values playing the best, "The older veterans still like to see where they match up skill wise, if they still can hang with the young pups, while the younger kids need to test themselves to continue their progression. If you play baseball, you want a chance to call yourself the best."
As stated above the West Allis Nationals of the Wisconsin State League were ranked the top team in the state due to the depth they have established two ways. A mix of younger and veteran players, they are anchored by a pitching staff that can make up for the occasional bad offensive night. West Bend manager Adam Rohlinger called the Nationals, "tough and scrappy, they play the game the right way and compete every pitch." Rick Riddle of the Appleton Legends thinks the Nationals are the "Gold Standard, measuring stick to see how good you are."
Coming in second place was the Menasha Macs of Northeast Wisconsin Baseball League. The Macs got 33 total votes by the 10 man panel and 2 first place votes. A team that has pitching for days, many managers joked that their pitching staff could rival many professional teams. Steve Elliott of the West Allis Nationals, thinks the Macs have "more pitching depth than any team I have ever seen." Jim Ziegler of the Kewaskum A's "wonders how they would match up against the state's best, as they are as good as any team he's seen."
The Sussex Cardinals come in third with 28 votes and one first place vote. The champion of the 2016 Southeast Wisconsin Baseball League, the Cardinals hope to take the next step. "Old School, with new school talent," is how they are being described by the state's managers. Steve Elliott of the West Allis Nationals thinks that they are a dark horse for championship in 2017 as they "have a good mix of youth and vets."
West Bend 7 Up of the Southeast Wisconsin Baseball League and Land O' Lakes Western Division come in 4th in the poll with 26 votes. Champions of the Wisconsin Amateur Baseball Classic in 2016, 7 Up looks to leap frog Sussex and into the top spot in the SEWBL. Kyle Krueger of the Clyman Canners thinks that "7 Up might be the best offensive team in the state for the past decade, and their pitching depth has improved to the point that they have become very dangerous and difficult to beat." Steve Elliott of the West Allis Nationals loves the way 7 Up is built, "every hitter can pitch, and every pitcher can hit."
The Wisconsin State League and Northeast Wisconsin Baseball League's Sheboygan A's come into the top 5 with 23 points and 1 first place vote. Jim Ziegler of the Kewaskum A's says "you can't underestimate the challenge of playing every day with no rollovers on the schedule. Steve Elliott agrees, "when you play the schedule they do, you can't come in without anything but your best."
The Full Class "A" poll is as follows.
Class "A" Poll 4/18/17 Total Votes
1 West Allis Nationals (4) 38
2 Menasha Macs (2) 33
3 Sussex Cardinals (1) 28
4 West Bend 7 Up 26
5 Sheboygan A's (1) 23
6 Kenosha Kings 22
7 Pewaukee Muskies (2) 12
8 Appleton Legends 11
9 Clyman Canners 6
10 Green Bay Storm 4
11 Kewaskum A's 2
12 Marinette Redbirds 1
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