VIP: BASEBALL SOFTBALL POWER FIVE - MAY 1, 2022
By Jason Zaleski
Welcome back to our alphabetical list of five baseball and softball teams that we think you should find a way to watch due to their exemplary play this season. Find them quickly as this list is dynamic and you will see teams come and go from this list regularly due to their performance, lack of, or better performance of another.
Many games mentioned below are broadcast live on Zaleski Sports. See the weekly schedule by clicking here.
Softball Power Five
Almond-Bancroft (9-0)- The Almond-Bancroft Eagles, coached by Randy Yonke have run over the competition in 2022. The Eagles have topped the century mark in runs scored with 107 in only nine games. Combine that with allowing a stingy 14 runs and you have the makings of a state tournament team. The Eagles hold a game lead in the Central Wisconsin South over Pacelli via a walk-off win over the Cardinals at home on April 21st. The rematch and conference clinching game comes on May 10th vs Pacelli at Woyak Park in Plover. Will you be there?
Assumption (8-0)- The Assumption Royals are undefeated through the first eight games of the season. The Royals have outscored opponents 71-21, that's a per game average of 9-3.
If you can score nine runs per game you'll likely win them all. Can the Royals sweep the regular season? Perhaps only Athens on Friday can get in the way of a perfect pre-playoff run for these high scoring Royals. Assumption also plays a home and home vs Marathon (2-8) this week on Monday and Thursday.
Athens (7-0)- Craig Diedrich's Fighting Bluejays are flying high in 2022. A home and home vs Phillips (9-1) on Tuesday (at) and Thursday (home) will decide the five team Marawood North should either the Jays or Loggers sweep. A split likely gives each a share of the title as the other three conference opponents aren't likely to challenge. The Jays are a high energy team that is sure to entertain. An epic collision on Friday in Wisconsin Rapids at Assumption that will also be broadcast live right here on Wisconsin's largest sports broadcaster, Zaleski Sports.
Loyal/Greenwood (8-1)- The Cloverbelt East favorites continue to show why as the Greenhounds have run out to a perfect 5-0 conference record. A home (Loyal) double header against a feisty Columbus Catholic (3-4) squad on Tuesday and then a road trip to Neillsville (3-2) on Friday for the Hounds this week. With L/G already handling Neillsville to the tune of a 9-0 shutout at home on April 21st, you begin to think of an undefeated conference in 2022 for coach Greg Brock and his Greenhouds.
Marshfield (10-1)- The Tigers delivered an absolute pounding to the Holmen Vikings (6-5) on Firday night in Marshfield.
A combined 25-4 double header sweep that included a home run in each game by Madeline Bornbach. Marshfield gets hitting up and down the order to go along with 1a and 1b pitching performances from Courtney Donahue and Sandy Costa. The one loss this year for the Tigers came from Chippewa (13-0) on April 25th in the way of a 6-1 road disappointment. Marshfield has been handled by Chippewa over the past handful of years, in both regular season and playoff exits. It appears that the Cardinals and Tigers are headed for yet another post season clash in 2022. Common knowledge has Chippewa as the one seed, Marshfield as the two. This year's sectional final is scheduled to be played in Marshfield. Advantage Tigers?
Moving out: SPASH (8-2), losses to Marshfield and DC Everest
Baseball Power Five
Amherst (10-0)- Coach Bill Held and his Amherst Falcons have risen to the top of the Central Wisconsin East standings with speed and ease in 2022. With a conference championship being essentially a foregone conclusion, the question for the rest of the regular season is where to find playoff preparation games. The maximum allowed regular season games are 26 and the Falcons have 10 games left on the schedule. Math says coach Held can find six more games. Then the question becomes are there enough dates on the calendar to accommodate additional games. Starting pitcher Ben Lee has been dominant this season and the pitching staff as a unit sports a stifling 1.33 ERA.
Columbus Catholic (5-0)- The Columbus Catholic Dons baseball team has never won a conference title. In over 40 years as a program and multiple conference affiliations, the lack of a conference championship is a little hard to believe, especially considering the high success of other boys programs in the school.
The Dons are in position this season to claim what has been an elusive conference championship. Catcher and senior Cole Timmler brings stability to the team from at and behind the plate. Center fielder Brock Bennington has a big bat and speed to burn. On the base paths, Columbus Catholic is as fast a team that you can find. Three games this week for the Dons; at Neillsville on Monday, at Loyal on Tuesday, and at home vs Neillsville on Friday - all games found live on Wisconsin's largest sports broadcaster, Zaleski Sports.
Mosinee (10-2)- The Mosinee Indians had won seven consecutive coming into Friday's home game against Medford. The Indians had just beat Medford (11-4) on the road on Wednesday night by a score of 2-0. The Indians led at home against Medford 3-0 after the first inning and appeared headed for a sweep over Medford and making room in the trophy case for a Great Northern Conference championship plaque. Funny thing about high school baseball as there isn't a clock you can run out when you have a big lead. You need 21 outs to secure a win and by the end of the game is was a 6-4 comeback win for Medford. Now it's likely share of the conference title for Mosinee with playoff preparations becoming the next goal.
SPASH (6-1)- The Stevens Point Panthers suffered its first loss of the season in game two of a home double header against Onalaska a week ago. The Panthers used that as motivation to mow down on Wednesday and Thursday by scores of 9-1 and 10-0 respectively. It's five games over the course of five days this week for coach Kraig Terpstra and his boys. Make sure to get out and watch this high scoring and exciting brand of baseball soon.
Stratford (8-1)- It was a disappointing end of the 2021 campaign for coach Marshall Lehman and his guys with a home playoff bouncing from the Marathon Red Raiders. We talked about that upset with coach and how a game like that can be used for 2022 motivation. Weather or not last year's game was motivation, Stratford swept Marathon last week and have now taken a commanding two game lead in the Marawood South. Jackson Ormond and Henry Zaleski have been clutch from the plate this year, combining for 15 RBI. Pitcher Cam Daul has been spectacular thru 12 and 2/3 innings pitched, giving up just four hits and zero runs. It's a road game at Athens on Monday followed by a pair vs Auburndale Tuesday and Thursday, and finishing the week with a home game vs Chequamegon. Watch the Tigers play live at zaleskisports.com.
Moving out: Athens