Local family rich in Cooperstown baseball tradition

Pictured on the left is Reed Kuenzli, son of Tristien Wirtz-Kuenzli and Justin Kuenzli (Angie Wickersheim), who was selected to play on the 2017 Wisconsin All-Star baseball team that will compete in historic Cooperstown later this summer. On the right is Jared Tomany, Reeds uncle, pictured in 2004 as the first Antigo area youth baseball player to be invited to the Cooperstown Dreams Park all-star tournament.

May 11, 2017

By Craig Marx, Editor

Baseball is often a family tradition of sorts, and for the Kuenzlis it is no exception. Reed Kuenzli has made the 2017 Wisconsin All-Star team that will join teams from around the country to play in the prestigious Cooperstown Dreams Park tournament later this summer – just as his uncle, Jared Tomany, did 13 years ago.

Excellence runs deep in the Langlade County baseball community as Caden Kautza joins Kuenzli on the 2017 all-star trip to the birthplace of our national pastime. The boys will have the experience of a lifetime playing against teams from around the country in addition to visiting the National Baseball Hall of Fame and historic Doubleday Field – the same diamond that saw the country’s first ball game played in 1839.

Caden Kautza, part of the duo of Antigo youth players that make up the 10th and 11th players of all-time from the area to go and play at Cooperstown.

As mentioned, Langlade County’s own baseball history and the Cooperstown connection are rich in and of itself. Since Tomany’s appearance in the Dreams Park tournament in 2004, a total of 11 ball players from the Antigo area, including this year’s young duo, have been chosen to play with the best of the best in youth baseball at Cooperstown.

The young men that have previously had this immense opportunity include: Randy Krebs (2008), Cameron Noskowiak (2010), Jake Husnick (2011), Brady Tatro, Luke Schroeder, Austin Kirsch (all three in 2012), CJ Levis (2013), and Elliot Orgeman (2015).

The Cooperstown Dreams Park tournament will be held August 12th through the 18th at the historic complex in Cooperstown, NY. For those interested in help sponsor or donate to help these local boys achieve this great experience, please contact Karen at karenfaykuenzli@gmail.com, Justin at jkuenzli81@gmail.com, Tristien at tristienkuenzli12@gmail.com, or Tori Kautza at tkautza@yahoo.com.