Former Janesville Craig athlete and current Milwaukee School of Engineering player Charlie Claas will be a Wisconsin Cheese King this summer. Here, Claas makes a throw to first in the Cheese Kings’ 13-1 victory over Maunesha Monday at the Youth Sports Complex.
Wisconsin Cheese King Brandon North, pictured here earlier this month, had a walk-off hit to defeat the Northshore Bobbers, 7-6, in a Dairyland Collegiate League game at the Youth Sports Complex Friday. Earlier in the month, the Bobbers beat the Cheese Kings, 5-4, in a walk-off at Milwaukee School of Engineering’s field in Glendale.
Former Janesville Craig athlete and current Milwaukee School of Engineering player Charlie Claas will be a Wisconsin Cheese King this summer. Here, Claas makes a throw to first in the Cheese Kings’ 13-1 victory over Maunesha Monday at the Youth Sports Complex.
DAVID SHEEN/SPECIAL FOR THE GAZETTE
After moving to Janesville for the 2024 season, the Wisconsin Cheese Kings, a Dairyland Collegiate League baseball team playing at the Janesville Youth Sports Complex, look forward to a full 2025 summer season of recent high-school graduates and those college players with a year or two of college experience.
The Dairyland Collegiate League consists of seven recent-grad and college players, playing in seven southern and southeastern Wisconsin sites.
The Cheese Kings (3-5) have split their game this week, defeating Maunesha 13-1 Monday and dropping a 5-4 contest to the Northshore Bobbers Tuesday.
“We started off pretty hot,” Cheese Kings’ coach Luke Schultz said. “My one and two (pitchers) in their first two outings threw unbelievable. Lately we struggled. Our backend of the rotation, they’ve struggled a little bit. We’ve got some young guys back there. So we’ve lost some games by some bigger margins that we should have.”
Wisconsin Cheese King Brandon North, pictured here earlier this month, had a walk-off hit to defeat the Northshore Bobbers, 7-6, in a Dairyland Collegiate League game at the Youth Sports Complex Friday. Earlier in the month, the Bobbers beat the Cheese Kings, 5-4, in a walk-off at Milwaukee School of Engineering’s field in Glendale.
DAVID SHEEN/SPECIAL FOR THE GAZETTE
But overall, Schultz sees potential in his team.
“Offensively and defensively we’re extremely solid,” he said. “We actually have a ton of talent that I think is going to carry us through a lot of game.”
A key strength for the team is its starting pitching.
“They throw a ton of strikes,” Shultz said. “They’re going to get us through a ton of game.”
Henry Bishop, an Edgewood High School graduate and current DePauw (Ind.) University player will be the Cheese Kings’ top starter.
Schultz said Bishop will probably be the team’s best arm this year.
“Every time he throws, we’re going to be in a game to win,” Schultz said.
Patrick Schork of Saint Mary’s (Minn.) University went seven innings and gave up no runs in his first start. He’ll be another key starter along with Dakota State (S.D.) University pitcher, Max Woll.
Woll led the league in inning’s last year and is currently batting a finger injury on his throwing hand, according to Schultz.
Dylan Snyder, a Janesville Craig graduate and Saint Mary’s (Minn.) University player will be one of the first guys out of the bullpen.
Catchers
Brandon North of Bluffton (Ohio) University and Finn Ellis of Southeastern (Iowa) Community College will be the two prominent catchers. Schultz said North and Ellis will share duties.
“Both of those guys seem to show really good glimpses of being able to control our pitchers and run the staff really well,” Schultz said.
Infielders
The infield has underwent some changes early in the season but is starting to become more solidified.
Charlie Kober of Winona State (Minn.) University and David Distefano of Central (Iowa) College will split time at first base. Both are from Janesville.
“Both of those guys have showed they’re pretty solid defensively. They both are swing it pretty well,” Schultz.
Three guys will split time at second base and shortstop: Konner Giddley of University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Connor Greuel of Southeastern (Iowa) Community College and Andy Buckley of UW-Whitewater.
Janesville Craig graduate Charlie Claas and Milwaukee School of Engineering player will play at third base.
“He’s just a defensive stud,” Schultz said.
Outfielders
“We’ll have a 4-5 headed monster out there,” Schultz said.
He also said, “You can pencil in Drew Snipes everyday at center.”
Snipes plays at Bluffton (Ohio) University
Left field will be a mix of Pratim Amin of College of Lake County (Ill.) and Garrett Guenther of Central (Iowa) College.
Charlie Jackson of University of Illinois-Springfield and Seth Myers of Winona State (Minn.) University will spend time in right field.
The Cheese Kings play a doubleheader at Johnson Creek Sunday, then turn around and host Johnson Creek Tuesday, June 24 at 4 p.m. at the Youth Sports Complex.
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