2025 Tropics Shake Off Slow Start, Capture Milwaukee-Rock League 18+ Title
Milwaukee-Rock League Baseball, 18+ Division
Tropics 3, Heavy Hitters 1
Submitted by Henry Posnanski, manager
The Tropics 2025 season started out a bit shaky, as it took our bats a couple of weeks to warm up. We started with a record of 5-3 through the first half of the regular season, including one win coming by forfeit. The second half of the season was a different story, however.
After several key players returned from college and a few detrimental players departed, we found our stride, being carried to the number one seed by our lights-out pitching staff, led by the combination of Danny Perdzock and Alex Fischer. Danny threw 45.1 innings with 71 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.544, and Alex threw 33.1 innings with 51 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.890.
Offensively, our young players stepped up when it mattered most to give our pitching the support they needed, being led by Brady Katterhagen, who set the league on fire with a batting average of .525, 32 hits, 14 doubles, 24 RBI, and 17 runs. Right behind him was AJ Kisting, who had a batting average of .429 with 21 hits, eight doubles, two home runs, 16 RBI, and 19 runs.
In our leadoff spot, getting everything rolling for us was Zach Denneau with a batting average of .347, 21 hits, three doubles, three triples, one home run, 15 RBI, and 25 runs.
Our Playoff run started in the second round after we received the number one seed and a bye. We got the ball rolling with a 6-3 victory in our first round, which was followed by a massive 14-6 win against a tough team that knocked us out of last year’s playoffs and has always given us a good battle.
Our semi-final game saw the team be forced to fight, as due to injuries and other outside factors, the team was down several players while we faced one of the best and most experienced teams in the league. A huge offensive game from Eli Dicarlo (3-4, 2 Doubles, RBI, R) propelled us to the Championship game for the first time in three years.
In that Championship game, Alex Fischer put the team on his back and delivered us our third League title in the last five seasons. Alex pitched all nine innings, throwing 138 pitches, striking out 11 batters, and allowing only one run.
And while that stat line itself is remarkable, it’s made even more impressive by the fact that Alex was asked to hit for himself despite only having four plate appearances on the season. Alex stepped up and delivered the biggest hit of our season, a 2-RBI double in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The story of our season is truly about this Championship being a team effort that took every guy on the roster to contribute. While our big-name players lived up to the hype, our role players all stepped up when called upon and delivered.
Key role players such as Jakob Zielinski, Carlos Gonzalez, Kyle Iverson, and Kevin Schoenbach didn’t have stats that would jump off the page at you, but their impact on the team went much farther than numbers can measure. Often being called upon to do unfamiliar and sometimes uncomfortable things, they never complained and only delivered for the team.
We also have to recognize players David Kleier and Adam Baade, who suffered serious season-ending injuries while putting literally everything on the line for the team. Without these players and their efforts, we would not have had the success that we did this season. This Championship meant a lot to everyone on the team for many reasons. Our new young core got to experience what makes our team special: being able to win Championships with your friends and family.
Our old core gets to hang up their cleats while on top, as Kevin Schoenbach, Ryan Citro, Kyle Iverson, and Evan Richarz ride off into the sunset after winning their third Championship with us.
As we move forward next season in a new chapter of our team, our young players are excited to step up into their new roles as team leaders being driven by an overwhelming desire to win at any cost.
Other players who deserve recognition for their contributions this year are guys like Tyler Danko and Lucas Oswald, who, while playing for multiple teams, still made the effort to be there for us and deliver when called upon as both pitchers and hitters.
Zach Denneau, Marco Falletti, and Eli Dicarlo were also playing on multiple teams while playing with us, seldom missing a game for any reason, and delivering big-time performances in big-time games.
Gabe Zielinski and David Kleier were key players not only for what they can do on the field, but for their ability to enjoy the game and have fun with their friends while keeping focused on the task at hand.
Pitchers Ty Jacobi and Devin Fish spent the whole year being a manager’s dream, as they never complained about getting innings, and were always ready to step up in big games, which is exactly what they did.
This was a season that showed the kind of team we are, not for what we accomplished on the field but for how everyone on the roster battled for each other. Everyone was working together, striving for the same goal, and was willing to do whatever it took to achieve it.
We look forward to next season as we chase back-to-back titles with our friends, and thank our fans and family for their continued support over the years. As a team, we could not accomplish what we have without them.
Let’s Get Tropical!