Urgency imposed by 'Core Four' has Oak Creek baseball striving for state in 2024

OAK CREEK – There is an undercurrent of urgency in the way the Oak Creek baseball team has played on the way to a 7-0 record to start the week.

It was evident in last Friday's 7-0 win over Racine Horlick in the way Payten Jibben meticulously worked through the lineup on the mound as Nathan Hanel showed complete command calling pitches behind the plate. It also showed in the way shortstop CJ Trask instinctively covered second to turn a lineout double play, and the way outfielder Cade Palkowski approached his at-bats and aggressiveness on the base paths. This is a group that has been there before, having reached the WIAA Division 1 sectional playoffs each of the last three seasons, including a sectional finals appearance the Knights lost 2-0 to rival Franklin.

"They’ve been in every big pressure situation they can possibly be in in the last two or three years, so now it’s just breaking down the door and getting to the state tournament," head coach Scott Holler said.

While success has been a hallmark of the "Core Four” a state tournament appearance looms as a goal yet to be achieved. Jibben believes each season has featured a special team, but knowing this group is in its final season together – with 10 upperclassmen in total – brings a renewed focus.

"I think this year we have a chip on our shoulder, and I hope something can work out in the end and we can win a ‘ship, at least go to state," Jibben said.

The Knights have more than hope on their side, with the reigning Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association Division 1 player of the year in Jibben leading a rotation that also features senior Brady Rickert and junior Ryan Buchta working significant innings and senior Ethan Engelbrecht closing things down on the back end. Hanel shows rare expertise of the Oak Creek staff, allowing Holler to trust the catcher to call every pitch of his games since his freshman year.

"He just knows the game, understands the game as well as anyone we’ve ever had," Holler said of the senior Hanel, who is the son of former professional baseball player and 20-year Milwaukee Brewers bullpen catcher Marcus Hanel.

"Going home and talking catching at the dinner table with his dad certainly has helped, and he’s a game-changer back there."

The younger Hanel said a core tenet of the game he calls behind the plate is deception.

"I like mixing up pitches a lot, getting in batters’ heads. I even do a fake shake, so the batter thinks (the pitcher is) shaking off when we really know what the call is," Hanel said. "Just throws hitters off, throws their timing off so we can get them unbalanced."

Offensively, the speed and discipline of Palkowski and Trask set the table for the power of Jibben, junior Nate Schopf and Hanel. Palkowski became the program's all-time leader in career stolen bases last week, tallying his 67th to surpass Alex Binelas, who now plays for the Boston Red Sox Class AA affiliate. Beyond the top five proven hitters are a group of upperclassmen fighting for playing time and unproven players thrust into new roles. Therein lays the Knights depth of talent however according to Holler.

"I’m most impressed with six through nine (hitters). Mack Endres, Reece Doyle, Ethan Mallonee and Gavin Zastrow at the end in the ninth spot. I’m really pleased with how the six through nine hitters have stepped up in the first seven games," Holler said.

The sophomore corner infielder Endres has seen the senior Doyle take him under his wing despite the similar skill sets each bring, which Holler commended in the upperclassman.

"He’s Mack Endres’ biggest fan, even though he and Mack are both first basemen," Holler said.

Trask took the freshman Zastrow to hit and field ground balls during the offseason, knowing he would need the second baseman to efficiently turn double plays this spring.

"I’ve been trying to teach him how to do everything and build him up so he has that guy who tells him what to do," Trask said. "Ethan’s making his plays at third, Gavin’s making his plays at second, they’re all getting their hits. They haven’t given us a reason to not trust anything, so we’re just going to trust it."

While there is urgency, there is not panic among the Knights as they enter a critical stretch of their season. Jibben expressed confidence in the lineup behind him to weather the upcoming slate with poise.

"I don’t know too much about high school sports, but I think this might be the most talented team ever, honestly. Top to bottom we don’t have a flaw, and I think we can really make a run this year," Jibben said.

The Knights were scheduled to face Southeast Conference rival Kenosha Indian Trail three times this week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, followed by a Saturday date with Greendale and three more games next week against conference co-leader Franklin.

"This is our toughest stretch by far, and we’re excited that it’s set up that way," Holler said.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Experienced Oak Creek baseball team strives for WIAA state title