Not even two months ago, @MKE_Baseball was 5-22. Today, the Panthers are just one win away from the Super Regional.
"To finally prove some people wrong and prove that we belong here, it's nice." - @charliemarion19@AidenFishnick@wmtv15news
I had a conversation with a Power 4 college coach who’s been doing this for 25+ years.
We were talking about the mentality of high school players during the recruiting process.
Here’s what he told me:
“What these kids don’t realize is…
I don’t care how many followers you have.
I don’t care how many home runs you hit in travel ball.
I don’t care how many offers you have.
I don’t care about your ranking.
I don’t care how hard you can hit a ball.
I don’t care about your metrics.
The only thing I care about is this:
Are you going to produce in between those white lines when we play this season?”
Then he said something else that hit:
“They’ve been so protected that the first time they fail, they quit… or they transfer.”
And here’s the part that matters.
The biggest development mistake I see?
Players don’t plan for failure.
They plan for success.
They visualize success.
They expect success.
But they don’t prepare for 0-4.
They don’t prepare for getting booed.
They don’t prepare for sitting the bench.
They don’t prepare for struggling for 3 weeks.
So when it happens — and it will — they panic.
Instead of executing a pre-made plan, they try to create one while emotional.
That never works.
Failure is coming.
The question is:
Did you already decide how you’re going to handle it?
Kyan Vaassen (‘28, IA) had 2 really nice swings today. Here’s both of them, including his HR💣! Wide base with plenty of present strength. Used the lower half to create leverage and drove the ball well today. #PGSpringLeague
Lucas Foley (‘27, WI) lines this into CF for a RBI knock. Hard turn w/ compact stroke. Physical frame to impact and drive ball. Slightly uphill bat plane. Creates some whip to the barrel. #WWBANorth@SluggersWI@PG_WiscMinn
Cash Anderson (‘27, WI) smacks this down the LF line for a RBI 2B. Compact frame w/ a hard rotation and a shorter hand path. Gets some ext from the arms. Slightly uphill bat plane. #WWBANorth@SluggersWI@PG_WiscMinn
Colten McCartney (‘27, IL) drops this back UTM for an RBI. Strides thru contact w/ an uphill bat plane. Some whip to barrel. More power to be unlocked as lanky frame fills. #WWBANorth@SluggersWI@PG_Illinois
Cam Guler (‘27, WI) drives this into the PS gap for a 2 RBI 2B. Gets foot down and the bat head out front. Stays connected and hits off firm backside to create impact. Flat bat plane w/ some whip as hands come thru. #WWBANorth@SluggersWI@PG_WiscMinn
Brady Patten (‘25, WI) takes this to PS CF for a 2B. Solid bat speed w/ a flat bat path and a good turn. Gets barrel out front and looks to do damage. Wide base and stays in legs well. #MidwestWS@SluggersWI@PG_WiscMinn
Joey Honerbaum ('25, WI) gets all of this one for a stand up double to left-center. Big frame, great pop, athletic movements all around. @PG_WiscMinn@PG_Uncommitted#MidwestWS
Joey Honerbaum (‘25, WI) turns on this and shows the strength sending it over the LF fence for a solo 💣. Flat bat path that gets arms ext thru contact. Rotational LH generates torque to drive ball. #MidwestWS@SluggersWI@PG_WiscMinn
RHP Joey Honerbaum (Dodgeville High, 2025; @PBRWisconsin) performed well in his efficient start today. Athletic frame with the ability to fill up the zone.
FB 80-84 mph, T85 mph.
CB 68-70 mph with depth.
#BadgerState | @PBR_Uncommitted
Congrats to our guy, Theo Denlinger, and the whole Fond du Lac Dock Spiders organization on their 2020 WI-IL Northwoods League Championship! #SpinTheWeb