Nine Milwaukee-area high school baseball players to watch this season

The 2024 WIAA baseball season is under way as baseball diamonds thaw across the state, paving the way for a host of contending teams to begin their journey towards a state title. The Milwaukee area sent six teams to the WIAA state tournament at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute last spring, with Whitefish Bay bringing home a Division 1 state title.

Menomonee Falls, Hartford, Franklin, Burlington and St. Thomas More also reached the state tournament a season ago, with STM falling to Denmark in extra innings in the Division 2 title game. The area is poised to be well-represented at state once again this June, with several big bats and strong arms leading the way. Here are nine of the top area baseball players to watch this season and seven more honorable mentions.

Kyle Alivo, sr., St. Thomas More

As a junior, the Iowa commit earned a WBCA all-state honorable mention for his efforts on the mound, which included a 7-0 record, 1.86 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 49 innings. Alivo is recovering from a torn ulnar collateral ligament with surgery tentatively scheduled for late April, but has continued to play effectively with no discomfort in the elbow, according to coach Tim Schultz. Alivo's pitching has been limited this season, but at the plate through three games he was 5-for-7 with four walks, a home run and three RBI.

Jackson Brewer, sr., Homestead

The Columbia University commit earned a WBCA all-state honorable mention for a junior campaign highlighted by a .425 average, six home runs and 27 RBI. Homestead coach Jason Kosanke describes Brewer as a complete player with tremendous skill both in the box and in the field.

JD Dix, sr., Whitefish Bay

While the Blue Dukes graduated leadoff hitter Jack Counsell and other contributing seniors from the 2023 state title run, No. 2 hitter JD Dix returns to lead what should still be a productive lineup this spring. Whitefish Bay coach Zach Hayes called the switch-hitting middle infielder a "gym rat" whose enthusiasm rubs off on the rest of the team.

"JD is always looking for more swings, more reps, more opportunities to get better. Every day around the baseball field is a joy for JD," Hayes said.

A .452 batting average and .569 OBP last season were indicators of not only the Wake Forest commit's high contact rate, but also discipline to lay off pitches out of the zone.

"His knowledge of the strike zone is advanced beyond his years," Hayes said. "When JD does get a pitch he can handle, he has the unique ability to go gap-to-gap with power from both sides of the plate."

Dix was a Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association all-state first team honoree last season. He is expected to be an early-round MLB draft pick should he choose to declare by July's draft.

Jack Hardt, sr., Marquette

The road-grading offensive lineman on Marquette's WIAA Division 1 state title-winning football team this past fall can clear the base paths just as easy as he can a running lane on the gridiron. As a junior, Hardt earned a WBCA all-state honorable mention for a season in which he tallied a .432 average. Marquette went 20-6 a season ago, falling 3-0 to Whitefish Bay in its WIAA D1 sectional final. While he sees some time at third base, Marquette head coach Sal Bando said his answer for anyone who inquires about Hardt's position is: "hitter."

"Kid can just flat out hit. Has real good bat to ball skills, is strong and uses the whole field well," Bando said.

Payten Jibben, sr., Oak Creek

Oak Creek brings back a promising core that led the Knights to the WIAA D1 sectional finals a season ago. Leading that group is the reigning WBCA D1 state player of the year, Payten Jibben. At the plate as a junior, Jibben had a .481 batting average. On the mound, his 8-0 record and 0.95 ERA led the staff while highlighting his two-way versatility. He is committed to Illinois-Chicago.

"Payten is at the top of the list in terms of best two-way players to ever play at Oak Creek," head coach Scott Holler said. "He can change the game on the mound and at the plate."

Eddie Rynders, sr., Wisconsin Lutheran

The WBCA all-state honorable mention infielder hit for a .411 average a season ago on a Vikings team that won the Woodland West Conference and tallied a 20-5 record. Head coach Steve Kargus anticipates the Kent State commit to continue to garner MLB draft prospect interest this season as well.

"His work ethic sets the tone for our program from the freshman team to the varsity," Kargus said. "He never settles for being just good but strives to be great, and lifts our entire program up with him."

Nate Schopf, jr., Oak Creek

The outfielder and pitcher earned a WBCA all-state second team nod last year in a season he hit for a .439 average. Just as impressive as his ability to hit for average is his power, according to Holler.

"Nate has big time potential and can flat out hit for power and average," Holler said. "One of the best pure power hitters we’ve ever had."

C.J. Trask, sr., Oak Creek

The well-rounded shortstop hit for a .453 average last season with three home runs and 26 RBI. The WBCA second-team all-state selection is committed to Bradley.

"CJ Trask is a flat-out ballplayer and grinder that every coach loves to have on their team," coach Holler said. "He has significantly improved his game every year of high school and is like having another coach on the staff."

Mason Roell, sr., West Bend East

West Bend East coach Zachary Fountain highlights Roell's impact as a shortstop, pitcher and three-hole hitter as a critical component for a program that won its first share of a conference title since 2002 last season after winning just six total games the year prior. As a junior, Roell provided lockdown relief pitching as he earned five wins and three saves with a 1.99 ERA with 31 strikeouts. His .493 average, .652 OBP and 1.437 OPS paced the offense. His efforts earned him a WBCA all-state honorable mention last year.

"I have coached many sports and many athletes but have never seen an athlete so dedicated to his sport. He spends all his free time in the gym, field, or finding someway to better himself for our team," Fountain said.

Honorable Mentions

Ryan Berghauer, OF, sr., Brookfield East

Nolan Buss, P, sr., Arrowhead

Eric Kenesie, OF, sr., Kenosha St. Joseph

Tannis Lange, P, sr., Waukesha South

Brock Lulewicz, IF, sr, Muskego

Cade Palkowski, OF/P, sr., Oak Creek

Jake Ross, P, sr., Wisconsin Lutheran

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Nine Milwaukee-area high school baseball players to watch this season