(WIAA) – The 78th Annual Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Baseball State Tournament will take place Monday-Thursday, June 15-18, at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute, Wis.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE AND PAIRINGS: The State Baseball Tournament features four divisions. The single elimination tournament includes eight teams in Division 1 and four each in Divisions 2, 3 and 4.
Monday, June 15
Division 1 Quarterfinals – 9 a.m.
Game 1 – #4 Madison Memorial (20-7) vs. #5 Fond du Lac (21-8)
Game 2 – #1 Muskego (24-4) vs. #8 Marquette (16-13)*
Division 1 Quarterfinals – 2:30 p.m.
Game 3 – #3 Kaukauna (21-7) vs. #6 River Falls (18-9)
Game 4 – #2 Milton (24-5) vs. #7 Nicolet (18-11)*
Tuesday, June 16
Division 4 Semifinals – 9 a.m.
Game 1 – #2 Potosi/Cassville (19-7) vs. #3 Reedsville (19-6)
Game 2 – #1 Columbus Catholic (22-6) vs. #4 Loyal (16-8)*
Division 3 Semifinals – approx. 2:30 p.m.
Game 1 – #2 Marathon (26-4) vs. #3 Cedar Grove-Belgium (21-5)
Game 2 – #1 St. Croix Falls (27-1) vs. #4 Dodgeville (24-2)*
Wednesday, June 17
Division 2 Semifinals – 9 a.m.
Game 1 – #2 Kenosha St. Joseph Catholic (24-6) vs. #3 Waupun (24-5)
Game 2 – #1 Pewaukee (28-2) vs. #4 Somerset (20-9)*
Division 1 Semifinals – 2:30 p.m.
Game 5 – Winner of Game #1 vs. Winner of Game #2
Game 6 – Winner of Game #3 vs. Winner of Game #4*
Thursday, June 18
Division 4 Final – 9:05 a.m.
Game 3 – Winner of Game #1 vs. Winner of Game #2
Division 3 Final – 12:05 p.m.
Game 3 – Winner of Game #1 vs. Winner of Game #2
Division 2 Final – 3:05 p.m.
Game 3 – Winner of Game #1 vs. Winner of Game #2
Division 1 Final – 6:05 p.m.
Game 7 – Winner of Game #5 vs. Winner of Game #6
* Game begins approximately 35 min. following first game of session.
TEAM TOURNAMENT HISTORY: The WIAA has been sponsoring the State Baseball Tournament since 1948. Sun Prairie, before it split into two schools in 2023, has won the most State championships with nine, followed by Appleton West with seven, and then Catholic Central and Nekoosa with five. La Crosse Central has appeared in the most State Tournaments with 18. Sun Prairie is next on the list with 17, and Stevens Point follows with 16. Milwaukee Bradley and Eau Claire North have reached State 15 times. Appleton West, Bay Port, Fond du Lac, Janesville Craig, Middleton and Oconomowoc have appeared in 14, and Eau Claire Memorial is next with 13.
LAST YEAR: Seventh-seeded Muskego won the Division 1 championship with a 5-4 victory. Top-seeded New Berlin Eisenhower captured the Division 2 title by defeating third-seeded Seymour in the championship final, 5-4. In the Division 3 title game, top-seeded Kenosha St. Joseph was a 3-2 victor over Kewaunee in the championship, and second-seeded Johnson Creek shut out top seeded Pacelli 5-0 in the Division 4 championship game to claim the title.
THE DIVISION 1 FIELD: Defending champion Muskego is the #1 seed in the bracket. The Warriors won the title in their first appearance in the baseball tournament held in the spring. They also made five trips to State while sponsoring summer baseball, winning the summer title in 2018 and finishing runner-up in 2002. This season, they finished atop the Classic Eight Conference standings. The Warriors cruised past Franklin 13-1 in five innings in the sectional final at Westosha Central to advance to the State quarterfinals. Second-seeded Milton’s only other State Tournament appearance resulted in a championship in 2022. The Red Hawks return to the State quarterfinals after an 8-3 triumph over Monona Grove in the Janesville Craig Sectional final. They are the champions of the Large Division of the Badger Conference this season. Third-seeded Kaukauna is making its fourth appearance in the State Tournament and its first since 1954. All three of the Galloping Ghosts’ previous appearances came during a four-year span from 1951-54. They won their lone State title in 1953 and bowed out of title contention in the other appearances in 1951 and 1954. This spring, the Galloping Ghosts qualified by defeating Bay Port 6-3 in the Kimberly Sectional final. They finished runner-up in the Fox Valley Association this season. Fourth-seeded Madison Memorial is the #4 seed in the bracket. The Spartans qualified for the State Tournament for the ninth time and for the first time since 2008. They have won two championships, capturing the Class A title in 1990 and the Division 1 title in 1992. They also advanced to the championship game in 2007 and finished runner-up. This season, they trounced Verona 10-0 in six innings in the Sun Prairie West Sectional final. The Spartans finished runner-up in the Big Eight Conference this spring. Sixth-seeded River Falls qualified for the third time in program history and for the first time since 2015. The Wildcats’ first appearance came in 1976 when the tournament featured a single division. They fell in the quarterfinals that season and advanced to the semifinals in 2015. The Wildcats placed fourth in the Big Rivers Conference this season. They earned their State berth with a 1-0 victory over Menomonie in the Chippewa Falls Sectional final. Fifth-seeded Fond du Lac returns to the State Tournament for the 14th time and for the first time since 2019. The Cardinals have advanced to the championship game on two previous occasions, winning the title in 2000 and finishing runner-up in 1959. They tied for third in the Fox Valley Association during the regular season. To advance to State, they defeated Neenah 3-2 in the Manitowoc Lincoln Sectional final. Seventh-seeded Nicolet will make its second State appearance in the past three seasons after making the program’s first State Tournament appearance in 2024. The Knights were eliminated in the quarterfinals that season. They earned their return trip to State with a 10-4 victory over Wauwatosa East in the sectional final played at Nicolet. The Knights tied for fifth in the North Shore Conference standings this season. Eighth-seeded Marquette will make its first appearance in the spring baseball tournament. The Hilltoppers were frequent qualifiers in the summer Tournament Series, advancing to State 11 times. They won State titles in 2006 and 2008 and finished runner-up in 1999, 2009, 2016 and 2017. Marquette placed third in the Greater Metro Conference standings this season. The Hilltoppers earned their State berth with a 5-2 victory over Wisconsin Lutheran in the Waukesha West Sectional final. Prior to joining the WIAA, Marquette won WISAA championships in 1959, 1962, 1982, 1992,1993, 1995 and 1997.
THE DIVISION 2 FIELD: Top-seeded Pewaukee makes its third State Tournament appearance and its first since qualifying in consecutive seasons in 2021 and 2022. The Pirates lost in the Division 1 quarterfinals in 2021 and the Division 2 semifinals in 2022. They also made three appearances during the summer baseball era, with their best finish coming in 1972 when they advanced to the semifinals. Pewaukee earned its trip to the State semifinals this year with a 10-5 victory over New Berlin Eisenhower in the sectional final at New Berlin Eisenhower. The Pirates were co-champions of the West Division of the Woodland this spring. Kenosha St. Joseph Catholic, the defending Division 3 champion, moves up a division and enters the tournament as the #2 seed. The Lancers have now qualified for the fifth time in the past six seasons and for the 10th time overall. They made four State appearances in a five-year span from 2005-09, winning the Division 2 championship in 2005 and the Division 3 title in 2006. They added Division 3 championships in 2009 and 2021, giving them five WIAA State titles. The Lancers also won WISAA championships in 1965, 1970, 1977 and 1988. This season, they tied St. Thomas More for first place in the Metro Classic Conference. St. Joseph Catholic advanced through the Portage Sectional with a 13-8 victory over Edgewood in the final. Third-seeded Waupun advances to the State Tournament for the first time since winning the championship in 2018 and for the ninth time overall. The Warriors also captured the title in 2007 during a run of three consecutive State appearances from 2006-08. They advanced to the championship game in 2017 before finishing runner-up. Waupun won the Capitol Conference North Division title this season and secured its berth in the State semifinals with a 5-4 victory over Little Chute in the sectional final. Somerset is seeded fourth. The Spartans are making their first State Tournament appearance during the spring baseball era. Their only previous State appearance came in 2004 during the summer baseball era, when they lost in the quarterfinals. Somerset finished second in the Middle Border Conference this spring and punched its ticket to Grand Chute with a 7-0 shutout of Wisconsin Dells in the Altoona Sectional final.
THE DIVISION 3 FIELD: St. Croix Falls is the top seed, returning to the State Tournament field for the fourth time overall and the first time since 2023 when the Saints won the State title. They also advanced to the title game in 2022 and finished runner-up. They continue their journey through the Tournament Series following a nine-inning, 3-1 victory over Elk Mound in the Cumberland Sectional final. The Saints are the champions of the Heart O’ North Conference in 2026. Second-seeded Marathon qualifies for State for the seventh time and for the first time since 2021. The Red Raiders have captured three State championships, winning titles in 1992, 2008 and 2010. To advance to the tournament field this year, they edged Kewaunee 2-1 in the Crivitz Sectional final. The Red Raiders are the co-champions of the South Division of the Marawood Conference this season. Third-seeded Cedar Grove-Belgium will make its first appearance in the spring-season State Tournament, but the Rockets qualified twice when summer baseball was offered. They advanced to the semifinals in 1977 and fell in the quarterfinals in 1984. The Rockets won the Big East Conference title this spring and advanced to the State semifinals with a 6-2 victory over Lake Country Lutheran in the Horicon Sectional final. Fourth-seeded Dodgeville will make its fourth State Tournament appearance and its first in 63 years. All three of the Dodgers’ previous appearances came during the one-division era in 1949, 1962 and 1963, with each ending in a quarterfinal loss. They qualified for this year’s tournament by outlasting Viroqua 5-4 in 11 innings in the sectional final at Riverdale. The Dodgers are the champions of the Southwest Conference this season.
THE DIVISION 4 FIELD: Top-seeded Columbus Catholic advances to the State Tournament for the second time after the Dons made their inaugural appearance in 2024, which resulted in a semifinal loss. They return to the semifinals this season following a decisive 15-5 victory over Rib Lake in six innings in the Rosholt Sectional final. The Dons also captured the East Division title in the Cloverbelt Conference this year. Second-seeded Potosi/Cassville makes its first State Tournament appearance as a co-op program, although both schools qualified previously as stand-alone programs. Potosi qualified five times, winning the Division 3 championship in 1993 and finishing runner-up in 2001. The Chieftains last advanced to State in 2013, falling in the Division 4 semifinals. Cassville appeared in the 1968 tournament, when only one division was contested, and again in Class C in 1981. The Comets lost in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively, in those appearances. Potosi/Cassville finished second in the Six Rivers Conference this spring and advanced to the semifinals by trouncing Cochrane-Fountain City 10-0 in five innings in the sectional final hosted by River Ridge. Reedsville, the #3 seed in the bracket, makes its first State Tournament appearance in program history. The Panthers earned their berth by defeating Barneveld 6-5 in the sectional final at Pecatonica. During the regular season, they tied for second place in the Big East Conference. Loyal is seeded fourth. The Greyhounds are making their first-ever State Tournament appearance. They continue their quest for the program’s first title after shutting out Mellen 5-0 in the Bruce Sectional final. Loyal finished second in the East Division of the Cloverbelt Conference behind top-seeded Columbus Catholic.
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