Staniske, Scheelk Obtain All-Conference First Team Accolades
Second baseman Hunter Staniske and outfielder Jarrett Scheelk, both seniors, received First Team honors to lead UW-Oshkosh's selections on the 2021 All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Baseball Team.
UW-Oshkosh senior pitcher Trevor Niedzwiecki and freshman shortstop Matt Scherrman were both named to the All-WIAC Honorable Mention Team.
Staniske, a 2019 All-WIAC Honorable Mention pick, garnered league recognition for the second time while Niedzwiecki, Scheelk and Scherrman each earned their first league awards. Freshman third baseman Connor Giusti represented the Titans on the WIAC All-Sportsmanship Team.
Staniske paced the Titans with a .429 batting average, 66 hits, 51 runs batted in, 107 total bases, a .695 slugging percentage and a .480 on-base percentage to go along with 40 runs scored, 13 doubles, eight home runs and 16 stolen bases. Staniske currently ranks second in the league in batting average, hits, and RBIs; fourth in total bases; and fifth in stolen bases.
During UW-Oshkosh's 28 conference games, Staniske batted .439 with seven home runs and a WIAC-leading 50 hits and 43 RBIs. He also ranked second with 84 total bases during league games and third in batting average.
Staniske recorded at least one hit during all but two of the Titans' 39 games this season, compiling a 28-game hitting streak – tied for fifth longest in WIAC history – dating back to the 2020 campaign. Staniske had 15 multiple-hit performances this season, including four-hit efforts against UW-Eau Claire on March 31, UW-Stout on April 17, Finlandia University (Mich.) on April 24 and UW-Stevens Point on May 4. He also went 3-for-4 with a home run and six RBIs against Finlandia University on April 23 as he hit a pair of homers and drove in 17 runs during the seven-game series against the Lions.
Scheelk batted .329 with 10 doubles, a league-leading 13 home runs, 45 RBIs, 98 total bases, 14 steals and a .658 slugging percentage. He ranks sixth in the league in both stolen bases and slugging percentage and eighth in RBIs.
In conference play Scheelk hit .361 with 11 home runs, 36 RBIs, 79 total bases, 11 steals and a .731 slugging percentage. He led the league in homers while ranking fourth in total bases, and fifth in homers, steals and slugging.
Scheelk hit a pair of homers, scored four runs and drove in five against Finlandia University on April 23. He also homered and had a season high-tying five RBIs against the Lions on March 20. Scheelk compiled a 5-2 record on the mound with a 3.77 earned run average and 58 strikeouts in 57.1 innings pitched to lead the squad in victories, strikeouts and innings.
Niedzwiecki produced a 2-3 record with a team-best five saves and a 3.64 earned run average with 42 strikeouts in 29.2 innings pitched. He held opponents to a .202 batting average across 15 appearances, including one start.
Against league foes Niedzwiecki went 2-2 with four saves in 11 appearances to rank second in the WIAC in both saves and appearances. Niedzwiecki collected saves against UW-Eau Claire on March 31, Finlandia University on April 23 and 24, and UW-Stevens Point on May 4 and 8.
Scherrman hit .326 on the year with 34 runs scored, a team high 15 doubles, seven home runs, 46 RBIs, 83 total bases, a team best 24 walks and 12 stolen bases. He ranks fifth in the WIAC in both doubles and walks.
In WIAC action Scherrman batted .327 with 13 doubles, 30 runs scored, seven home runs and 38 runs batted in to list second in the league in doubles and fourth in RBIs. On the mound Scherrman ended the year with 33 strikeouts in 42.1 innings pitched across seven starts.
Completing the 20-member All-WIAC First Team were UW-Eau Claire's Tom Ginther; UW-La Crosse's Zach Carney, Zach Pronschinske and Brennan Schmitt; UW-Platteville's Jonathan Kelso; UW-Stevens Point's Bradley Comer, Sidney Ferry, Payton Nelson and Aaron Simmons; UW-Stout's Kasey Bass, James Palmer and Charlie Szykowny; and UW-Whitewater's Donovan Brandl, Westin Muir, Matt O'Sullivan, Nick Santoro, Connor Spear and Sam Vomhof.
UW-Platteville's Kelso was voted WIAC Player of the Year while UW-Whitewater's O'Sullivan was named Pitcher of the Year, UW-La Crosse's Mac Born the WIAC Newcomer of the Year, and UW-Stevens Point's Nat Richter the WIAC Coach of the Year.
UW-Stevens Point (32-11) and UW-Whitewater (37-5) shared the WIAC regular season title with 24-4 records. Rounding out the league standings were UW-La Crosse (30-13) in third with a 19-9 mark, UW-Oshkosh (20-19) and UW-Stout (23-19) in fourth at 16-12, UW-Platteville (15-26) in sixth at 8-20, UW-Eau Claire in seventh at 5-23 and Finlandia University (0-37) in eighth at 0-28.
UW-Oshkosh finished the season with 47 home runs – the program's most since 2004.