three members of conference champion ….

three members of conference champion Neillsville (11-1) and from runner-up Columbus Catholic (10-2). Third-place Spencer (8-4) put two players on the team, including 2023 Player of the Year Reed Knecht, a sophomore. Kroeplin is one of just three seniors on the first team.

Neillsville’s representatives are juniors Jace Pekol, Bryce Erickson and Reese McDonald. Juniors Emmitt Konieczny, Blake Jakobi and Cy Becker are the first-teamers from Columbus. Seniors Andrew Sieracki of Spencer and Carter Klabon of Owen-Withee fill out the squad.

Jakobi, Konieczny, Erickson and Knecht are repeat first-team choices from 2022.

Podolak used a strong finish to push his way to the honorable mention list. He started the year playing a lot of third base but settled into an outfield role late and made plays there.

At the plate, he was two for three in a 5-2 loss at Owen-Withee on May 16 and three for three in a 13-3 loss to Columbus Catholic in game one of the teams’ May 19 doubleheader to push his batting average over the .280 mark. He had a hit, drew two walks and had a run and an RBI in the 15-6 loss to Spencer.

With an abundance of youth, the conference looks to be stronger next year. It ended this year with only two teams getting a tournament win. Neillsville and Columbus Catholic were eliminated in round two, as was Owen-Withee, who got a first-round bye in Division 4 but lost its first game to McDonell 8-4.