Marion’s Stuhr crowned CWC-North’s top player again

Marion High School’s Jaden Stuhr was named the Central Wisconsin Conference-North Division’s top player for a third straight spring after a dominant senior baseball season.

Stuhr played all over the diamond for the Mustangs and played at an elite level at every spot.

“To be named Conference Player of the Year during my senior season means a lot, but not as great as having the opportunity of winning it in each of my high school seasons,” said Stuhr. “There has been tons of work that’s been put into building off each year to become better, along with many challenges to face and overcome as well.

“Life threw a curveball at me before my senior season, and it feels amazing to say that I’ve been able to not let it affect me but instead knock it out of the park by playing what I believe to be the best baseball that I’ve played throughout high school.”

Stuhr, who dealt with an auto-immune disease before the season, finished his senior season with a .500 batting average. He tallied 19 extra-base hits, drove in 42 runs, walked 27 times, stole 35 bases and scored 33 runs.

As a pitcher, he owned a 10-1 record, striking out 103 batters over 47 innings. He allowed just two earned runs to record a 0.30 earned run average.

Stuhr was one of eight Marion players to earn an all-conference nod. Senior Nick Malueg and juniors Jay Brei and Ryan Malueg joined Stuhr on the first team. Senior Jack VanKooy and junior Jackson Krohn were both second teamers, while senior Andy Faehling and sophomore Braxton Genskow were honorable mentions.

Joe Stuhr was tabbed the CWC-North Coach of the Year after the Mustangs went 10-0 in conference play, outscoring teams 141-21 along the way.

Tigerton seniors Asher Michaelis and Colby Wanta both landed on the first team. Senior Ryder Graham, sophomore Joey Zimdars and freshman Caleb Dahlstrom made the second team, while junior Loghan Wanta was an honorable mention.

Bowler senior Marcus Malone and junior Danian Schultz both made the all-conference first team. Senior Beau Brunner and junior Gavin Klose earned second team honors, with juniors Karter Kolpack and Tully Kroening receiving honorable mention nods.

Sophomore Kale James was the lone Gresham player to make an all-conference team, making the second team.

Nick Malueg hit for a .434 average for Marion, delivering six extra-base hits and 12 RBIs. He walked 23 times, stole 34 bases and scored 40 runs.

On the hill, the senior struck out 12 batters over 9⅓ innings.

“It’s an amazing feeling to be a part of the first team all-conference group again,” said Nick Malueg. “My team was awesome, and I was glad to be a part of something so special for Marion High School…”

Ryan Malueg hit for a .453 average and tallied nine extra-base hits, 27 RBIs, 34 stolen bases, 11 walks and 35 runs scored.

The junior earned six wins on the mound, covering 37⅔ innings and striking out 42 batters.

“It means a lot to mean since I now only have one season left and it motivates me to try and get conference Player of the Year next year,” said Ryan Malueg.

Brei, the Mustangs’ primary catcher, had a .385 batting average while collecting seven extra-base hits. He also drew 12 walks, drove in 31 runs, stole seven bases and scored 12 runs.

Brei covered 17⅓ innings on the mound, striking out 28 batters and earning two wins.

“It definitely was cool being named first team all-conference after working hard all offseason,” said Brei. “I won’t really celebrate too much over it. I just go out there and play my game and what others think is what others think, I’m not out there to impress, I’m just out there to do my job.”

Tigerton’s Michaelis collected 14 hits in conference play, including five extra-base hits, to earn his spot on the first team. The third baseman drove in 20 runs and scored 15 times.

Michaelis also did some pitching for the Tigers, earning one win.

“I’m very appreciative to have gotten first team my senior year — not only was it special to get it my senior year but it was even more special to have gotten it two years in a row,” said Michaelis. “I’m glad I ended my high school career with a bang and (hope to) bring that success to sports I plan to play outside of high school.”

Colby Wanta tallied 12 hits to land on the first team. Six of the hits went for extra bases, and the shortstop also drove in 10 runs, scored 19 times and stole 21 bases. The senior also did some pitching for Tigerton.

“Being named all-conference first team for my last year of high school baseball truly means a lot to me,” said Colby Wanta. “I feel like I deserve every bit of this award. With me receiving second team my last two years it was my goal to get this award and have a winning season along with it. Both of these happened and I couldn’t be any happier on how high school baseball had ended.”

Schultz made the all-conference first team for Bowler mostly for his work on the mound. He picked up three wins and a save while covering 24⅔ innings over seven appearances. Schultz struck out 29 batters along the way.

At the plate, Schultz drove in four runs on four hits, while scoring 12 runs. He walked 10 times and stole 10 bases.

Malone recorded 13 hits in conference play. He drove in six runs and scored 16 times. Malone drew seven walks and swiped 19 bases.

The senior also did some pitching, earning a save while working 2⅓ innings.

“It meant the world to me,” said Malone of the conference honor. “I started baseball my junior year because of COVID.

“Last year I wanted to make first team really bad, but my coach said it was because it was my first year. So going into my senior season that was my main goal. I’m glad that I earned this achievement and it’s nice way to go out on my senior season.”

Brunner earned his conference nod despite missing four conference contests. At the plate, he tallied 10 hits, eight RBIs, six stolen bases and scored four runs.

He pitched in four games, earning a win and a save while covering 13⅔ innings.

Klose finished the conference portion of the season with 12 hits. He scored 10 runs and drove in six.

Graham, Tigerton’s catcher, earned his spot on the second team after tallying 13 hits in conference play. He drove in 11 runs and scored 13 times.

Zimdars collected 12 hits in CWC-North play and made the list as a center fielder. He drove in 12 runs, scored 12 times and swiped seven bases.

Dahlstrom posted 13 hits to be recognized in his freshman season. The utility player scored 13 runs and drove in 11. He also earned two wins on the mound.

Marion’s Krohn earned his second team spot after hitting for a .316 average across the full season. He also recorded 22 runs, 18 RBIs, 18 stolen bases and 17 walks.

VanKooy hit .351 this spring, with seven RBIs, eight stolen bases and 14 runs scored.

Gresham’s James landed on the second team after collecting eight hits in conference play, half of which went for extra bases. He drove in three runs and scored five times.

“(It’s) Pretty special to me personally because I strive to play baseball and always find chances to play,” said James. “It will motivate me to keep pushing through the toughest obstacles that come my way and to overcome them.”

Tigerton’s Loghan Wanta made the honorable mention list after tying Dahlstrom with two wins on the hill in conference play. At the plate, he recorded 10 hits, 10 RBIs, nine stolen bases and six runs scored. He played left field when he wasn’t on the hill.

Marion’s Faehling received recognition after hitting .254 this spring. He also had 16 walks, 15 RBIs and 14 runs scored. Faehling also pitched, striking out 17 batters over 8⅔ innings.

Genskow hit for a .317 average to get recognized. He tallied 17 walks, 10 stolen bases, 16 RBIs and scored 20 times.

Bowler’s Kolpack drove in five runs on seven hits and scored 11 runs in conference play to make the honorable mention list. He walked seven times and stole six bases.

Kolpack also pitched 17 innings across seven games, earning a win and two saves. He struck out 16 batters.

Kroening collected 14 hits in conference play, driving in nine runs to lead the team’s all-conference players. He also led the group in runs scored (16). He walked eight times and swiped nine bases.

Behind Marion’s 10-0 finish and conference title, Tigerton came in second in the CWC-North with a 7-3 record. Bowler tied for third at 5-5, while Gresham took fifth at 3-7.

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