By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor
BROWN COUNTY – Baseball players Jett Thielke from Bay Port and Green Bay Preble’s Max Wagner were recently named the co-players of the year in the Fox River Classic Conference.
Preble’s Andy Conard was the coach of the year for leading the Hornets to a 24-4 record and a fourth consecutive trip to the WIAA Division 1 state tournament.
The senior Thielke, a Madison College pitching commit, was 5-2 in conference play and led the FRCC with a minuscule 0.17 earned run average.
Thielke, who throws in the upper 80s, struck out 66 batters, walked seven and gave up only one earned run in his 40-plus innings of work.
Wagner, a three-time FRCC player of the year, is a Clemson University recruit.
He hit .419 in conference play, knocked in 22 runners, walked 17 times and hit three homers from his shortstop position.
The junior Wagner was also 4-1 on the mound with a 0.97 ERA.
He struck out 45 in his 36-plus innings on the mound.
First team (*unanimous selection): Ben Basten* (De Pere – outfield), Chase Reinke* (Pulaski – outfield), Bennett Spaeth (De Pere – outfield), Carson Williquette (Pulaski – catcher), Henry Donaldson* (De Pere – infield), Wagner* (Preble – infield, pitcher), Ethan Taylor (Pulaski – infield), Josh Nicklaus (Preble – infield), Ryan Stefiuk* (Preble – pitcher), Thielke* (Bay Port – pitcher), Will Semb* (De Pere – utility/DH).
Second team: Connor Shefchik (Preble – outfield), Call Verlanic (Bay Port – outfield), Carl Cano (Bay Port – infield), Ian Way (Green Bay Southwest – infield), Donaldson (De Pere – pitcher), Tyler Nystrom (Notre Dame Academy – utility/DH).
Honorable mention: Sam Nooyen (Ashwaubenon – outfield), Riley Siudzinksi (Ashwaubenon – outfield), Derek Weber (De Pere – outfield), Jake Berg (Bay Port – catcher), Ashton Steinike (Ashwaubenon – infield), Marcus Hornacek (Notre Dame – infield), Jake Petasek (Preble – infield), Easton Vertz (Pulaski – pitcher), Tanner Katers (Ashwaubenon – pitcher), Tyler Blum (De Pere – utility/DH), Drew Slaasted (Bay Port – utility/DH).