Kimberly fell short last season in its bid for a second straight Division 1 state baseball championship. Coach Ryan McGinnis' squad won the 2007 title but lost 3-1 in the 2008 state title game to Kenosha Bradford.
Kimberly was 21-5 as state runner-up last season and has started off this spring at 1-1.
“We had quality pitching and played pretty good defense. Obviously, that's the key to any success in baseball,” McGinnis said. “We had a pretty good feeling that we'd be successful. Of course, you never know. You have to go out and play.
“It's shaping up pretty good. We have some key returners and some new guys stepping in. It will be fun to see how they take on the challenge.”
Brad Schrieber is a senior pitcher-first baseman who had a 0.9 ERA last season.
“I expect him to be extremely competitive. He's a hard worker. He's a dominating pitcher,” McGinnis said. “He developed a pretty good changeup. He's the real deal.”
Jamison Wells a senior shortstop, batted .400 last season.
“He's a great athlete,” McGinnis said. “He's an electric-type player. He runs extremely well. He's a difference maker. He can change the game in a heartbeat because of his footspeed and athleticism."
Bryce Bellin is a junior pitcher-first baseman who batted .290 last year with a 1.5 ERA.
“He has good command of his pitches, is competitive and throws a lot of things well,” McGinnis said. “He's a good fielding pitcher, has a good pick-off move and is smart. He changes speeds well.”
More Baseball: Lewer sparks Bradford attack
One of the state's top players, Matt Lewer, returns for defending Division 1 state baseball champions Kenosha Bradford. The senior outfielder hit .506 with 22 runs scored and 22 stolen bases last season.
“He's very dependable,” Kenosha Bradford coach Matt LaBuda said. “No matter where you pitch him, he's tough to stop. He reads the strike zone well.”
LaBuda said Lewer is among the top three players in school history.
Brenden Schulz is the team's No. 1 pitcher this season.
“He has good velocity and good control,” LaBuda said.
Bradford won the Division I state title with a 19-7 record last season.
Softball: Eisenhower looks for repeat
Jeff Setz's New Berlin Eisenhower team was 24-1 and Division 2 state champions last season. It was a team that returns some standout players who hope to take Eisenhower to another softball title run.
“We had very good defense last season,” Setz said. “We also scored runs.”
Setz has six of his nine starters back from that championship team. He has two standout pitchers back in Lauren Beres and Kayla Schelgel, a pair of righthanders.
“They both pitched in big games,” Setz said. “If your team is winning, it's playing in big games.”
Beres pitched a one-hitter for her team last week in a 17-0 victory. She also struck out 17 batters.
Kelly Brubakken is a standout shortstop, who is returning after batting .350 last season. Her batting could improve as she grows in confidence, Setz believes.
Liz Wiese was the team's leading hitter last season with a .410 batting average as the lead-off hitter.
“She's a pretty good lead-off hitter,” Setz said. “She gets on base anyway she can.”
