During the past few days a group of FPC rankers have been working on a pre-season list of teams that could be very good this spring. We’re still working on the pre-season rankings list but we have determined perhaps, some of the top teams in all four divisions of WIAA play.
Rankings are always subjective with some objectivity used to determine the end result. For some, rankings provide interest and stir up conversation both positive and negative. As you peruse the lists below we’re sure some will question why certain teams are listed and others aren’t. If you find yourself doing just that, just send an email to faspich1@aol.com and let us know your thoughts and what teams we’ve missed or what it is about a listed team we’ve missed on. There are only 20 or so listed.
In Division 1 the top ranked team is Kimberly. After winning the D-1 title last year in an amazing extra inning game against Westosha Central we feel the Papermakers have enough key players returning to be the #1 ranked team in the Fastpitch Chronicle Pre-Season rankings. Following the Papermakers will be Westosha Central as they too return a great nucleus of players to make another run at a title including a retunring starting pitcher who is now a sophomore. Also in the top five is Kaukauna who will give Kimberly a run for their money in the FVA regular season. It’ll be a dogfight from there and is difficult to predict as we have Union Grove, SPASH, and Hortonville right up there with Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire North, Germantown, Watertown, D.C. Everest, Menomonee Falls, Bayport and D.C. Everest. Middleton could sneak into the picture as well as could Kenosha Bradford, Mukwonago and of course we can never count out the Wildcats from Verona.
In Division 2 Mosinee returns as the defending champion and returns a nucleus of players that certainly warrants the top spot in the pre-season rankings. They are in a tough sectional though as LaCrosse Logan, a 1-0 loser to Baldwin-Woodville in the sectional semi last year haulted their run to Goodman Diamond. McFarland returns enough players from their state tournament trip to warrant a top five pre-season list but they will have to be on top of their game as other teams in that sectional such as Delavan-Darien, River Valley and Platteville will be in the mix. We’re listing New London in the top five to begin with based upon past success and experience. Rhinelander has moved down from Division 1 and handed Mosinee a loss in 2014. The Hodags round out the top five for now. Marshall, a sectional qualifier last year has dropped down to Division 3 for this season.
In Division 3 Laconia sits atop the pre-season rankings after taking Arcadia to the bottom of the seventh in the title game last year. There are a lot of other teams in the mix near the top including Marshall dropping down from Division 2 and possessing both starting pitchers among other front line players, Grantsburg, Horicon, Poynette, Luther and Arcadia.
Division 4 has an interesting twist to it in 2015 as Pacelli, a Final Four Participant in Division 3 three of the last four years drops down into the Division. Oakfield opens the season as the #1 ranked team with the three other top fives being Catholic Central (Burlington), Athens and McDonell Central. There are other really good teams in this division this year.
All in All the lists below provide a good list of teams to take a look at early. There are others that surely warrant mentioning within the lists and there may be a few who we’ve posted that may not be as good as some think but until we are able to generate more information it’s tough to list them all. However, ultimately, that’s exactly what we want to do.
Division 1
1 – Kimberly
2 – Westosha Central
3 – Kaukauna
4- Union Grove
5 – SPASH
Others Alphabetically
Bayport
Beaver Dam
Chippewa Falls
D.C. Everest
Eau Claire North
Germantown
Hortonville
Kenosha Bradford
LaCrosse Central
Marshfield
Middleton
Menomonee Falls
Oshkosh North
Verona
Division 2
1 - Mosinee
2 – LaCrosse Logan
3 – McFarland
4 – New London
5 - Rhinelander
Others Alphabetically
Adams-Friendship
Delavan-Darien
Adams-Friendship
Fox Valley Lutheran
Luxemburg-Casco
Monroe
New Berlin Eisenhower
New Berlin West
Northwestern
Platteville
Rice Lake
Turner
Winneconne
Xavier
Division 3 Division 4
1 – Laconia 1 - Oakfield
2 – Marshall 2 - Pacelli
3 – Grantsburg 3 – Catholic Central
4 – Poynette 4 - Athens
5 – Horicon 5 – McDonell Central
Others Alphabetically Others Alphabetically
Algoma Assumption
Arcadia Augusta
Bonduel Barneveld
Boscobel Belmont
Brodhead Cashton
Chequamegon Elmwood
Cuba City Flambeau
Elk Mound Gilman
Hurley Highland
Lake Country Lutheran Northwood
Luther Pepin/Alma
Neillsville Potosi
Spencer Racine Lutheran
Stratford Thorp
Westby Wausaukee
Weyauwega-Fremont
Tag(s): Bulletins