Nationals, A’s Sweep Yearly Awards as WSL Announces Major Award Winners

Today, the Wisconsin State Baseball League officially announced the major award winners for the summer 2022 season. Winners were determined by a vote of League general managers, Managers, and personnel.

Logan Rademan (Marian University) hit .409 with 13 extra-base hits and 30 runs scores to take home MVP honors. He appeared in 28 games, collecting 36 hits and driving in 20 while drawing 18 walks. He beat out Kyle Fitzgerald (Lombard) and Harry Steldt (Sheboygan) for the honor. Rademan becomes the first Nationals player to win the MVP, and the first non-Lombard winner since Luke Gajewski in 2016.

Jared Reklaitis was nearly perfect on the mound all summer long to win the Most Valuable Pitcher award. The UW-Milwaukee alum pitched 40.2 innings for the A’s, where he went 5-1 with a 0.89 ERA, giving up just four earned runs all season while striking out 64. DJ Hess (West Allis) finished second in Most Valuable Pitcher voting.

Gus Walker (Marian University) appeared in all 30 Wisconsin State League games for the A’s, hitting .317 in his debut campaign to bring home Rookie Player of the Year honors. Walker scored 21 runs in the lead-off spot and stole nine bases. He beat out Elijah Frank (Greater Green Bay) and Harry Fandre (Addison) for the honor.

Blake Kunz (South Dakota State University) is the third A to win an award as the hard-throwing righty won the Rookie Pitcher of the Year award. Kunz went 2-2 with one save in nine games for the A’s, pitching 33.1 innings and striking out 63 as he finished the year with a 2.16 ERA in WSL action. Piranio Preston (Burlington) and Tanner Alsteen (Greater Green Bay) finished as runners-up.

Steve Elliott was voted the League’s Manager of the Year for the second time in his career after guiding the Nationals to a second-place finish in 2022. The Nationals finished the season with 20 wins, joining Lombard as the only other team to eclipse the 20-win mark. Lombard’s Jeff Vukovich came in second in voting after winning the award last season.

The award winners will be honored at the League’s Hall of Fame and Awards Banquet on Saturday, October 29 at Blue Harbor Resort and Conference Center in Sheboygan, WI.