2024 Annual Organizational Meeting

Present: Gary Isensee, Scott Sorenson, Chris LaBreche, Nicole Brannigan, Paul
Juza, Dan Kraschnewski, Tim Lee, Andy Niese, Jeremiah Paulson, Steve
Truttman (Directors); Steve Eder (Glidden), Forrest Schneider (Bay City),
Duane Ives, Byron King (Augusta), Ryan Bembnister (EC Cavs), Del
Zwifelhofer (Tilden), Blake Johnson (EC Bears), Callub Paulson (Haugen)

Time & Location: Sunday, April 7th, 11:30 AM, Sammy’s Pizza – Eau Claire

1. Announcements
   No changes to board of directors. Jim Falls requested inclusion in “A” Division for 2024 and was
   approved.
2. Discussion
   Moved by Andy Niese and seconded by Nicole Brannigan to confirm a 2 division playoff system for 2024, 2025, and 2026. Motion passed 10-0.
   Moved by Dan Kraschnewski and seconded by Chris LaBreche to set regional and final hosting fee to
   $1, 000 per site. Motion passed 10-0.
   Moved by Nicole Brannigan and seconded by Gary Isensee to purchase individual player plaques for Most Valuable awards, Sportsmanship award, and players on the championship teams for A and B divisions. 1st and 2nd Place team trophies to be purchased for A and B divisions. Motion passed 10-0.
3. Host Sites for 2024 WBA Tournament
   The following sites have been chosen to host the Wisconsin Baseball Association playoffs between
   August 9th through August 16th (Regionals) and August 16th through August 18th (Finals)…

Division A	Division B
Haugen Ball Park (Haugen Knights)	Jan Krueger Mem. Field (Augusta Athletics)
Athletic Park – Merrill (Merrill Rangers)	Glidden Ball Park (Glidden Orioles)
FNBRF Field – River Falls (RF Fighting Fish)	Tannery Creek Park (Rib Lake / Interwald)
Rapids Area Sports Complex – (Rapids Redhawks)	TBD – Bob Young Field (Ellsworth)
FINALS – FNBRF Field (River Falls)	FINALS – Whittlesey

WBA Seeding Meeting – Tuesday, August 6th – 7 PM – Sammy’s Pizza (site to be confirmed by April
19th—otherwise will be held at an alternate site in the Eau Claire / CF area.)

Rotation for State Finals is currently as follows (for “A” Division / Tier I):
2024 – St. Croix Valley
2025 – Independent
2026 – Dairyland
2027 – Mississippi Valley
2028 – Chippewa River
The proposed State Finals rotation (not finalized) for the “B” Division / Tier II:
2024 – Dairyland
2025 – Mississippi Valley
2026 – Chippewa River
2027 – St. Croix Valley
2028 – Independent

Meeting Adjourned at 1:30 PM.

Call to order: The 70^th Annual Board of Directors meeting of the Wisconsin Baseball

Association was held at the Avalon Hotel & Conference Center in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, on Sunday, May 6th, 2018. The meeting convened at 1:15 PM, President Gary Isensee presiding, and Chris LaBreche, secretary.

Members in attendance: Dave Hanson, Gary Isensee, Joe Juza, Chris LaBreche, Herb Scheithauer, Scott Sorenson, and Mike Gilbertson.

Members not in attendance: Dan Kraschnewski, Tim Lee, Jeremiah Paulson, Ed Pufall, Steve Truttman, Dick Leonhard, and Jim Nikolay.

Guests in attendance: Dennis Musil, Mike Siverling, Erik Hill, Brandon Geist, and Nicole Brannigan.

Approval of minutes: Moved by Gary Isensee and seconded to approve the minutes of the 69^th Annual (April 8, 2017) meeting. Motion carried.

Officers’ reports:

No formal written report was filed for President Isensee or Vice President Sorenson.

Treasurer David Hanson submitted the 2018 WBA financial statement. Moved by Chris LaBreche and seconded to approve the 2018 financial statement. Motion carried.

Each officer thanked deceased directors Burt Ekern and Mike Roiger for their many years of service to the WBA. Both will be honored in memoriam with MVP awards at the upcoming WBA Championship.

New Business:

Election of Directors

Moved by Joe Juza and seconded to elect Chris LaBreche, Tim Lee, Herb Scheithauer, and Steve Truttman to another 3 year directorial term. Mike Gilbertson was elected to replace Burt Ekern, who passed away last year. Motion carried.

Article 13, Rule 4 Amendment / Rule Change

Moved by Joe Juza and seconded to change Article 13, Rule 4 to add the following: In the case of more than 32 teams being playoff eligible, two or more teams shall compete in a “play-in” game held at a neutral site agreed upon by the participating teams. Motion carried 6-0.

2018 WBA Playoff Tournament Dates

Moved by Dave Hanson and seconded that the dates for the 2018 WBA semi-finals shall be Friday, August 10^th through Sunday, August 12^th; dates for the WBA finals shall be Friday, August 17^th through Sunday, August 19^th. The finals will be hosted by the Chippewa River League. Motion carried 6-0.

2018 WBA Seeding Meeting Date

Moved by Dave Hanson and seconded that the WBA Seeding Meeting shall be held on Tuesday, Jul 31^st at 7 PM, at the Hallie Eagle’s Club. Motion carried.

2018 WBA Semi-Final Tournament Bid Auction

The following teams were awarded tournament sites for 2018:

Beef River Bullfrogs– bid $2000

Haugen Knights – bid $2000

Rib Lake Osprey – bid $2000

Stanley Slammers – bid $2000

Adjournment: Moved by Chris LaBreche and seconded to adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 3:35 PM.