Verona wins first Home Talent League title (With photo gallery)

Bobbi Snethen
Special to The Capital Times  —  9/14/2008 8:53 pm

VERONA -- Verona manager Dale Burgenske wasn't confident his team would step foot on Stampfl Field Sunday afternoon.

The weather forecast called for scattered showers and Burgenske thought his team would have to wait another week to face Utica in the Home Talent Baseball League championship game.

But Verona had waited long enough. In its 50-year history with the HTL, the team had never been fortunate enough to claim the first place title and looming storm clouds weren't going to postpone their chances.

Cranking out 13 hits behind ace hurler Matt Niffenegger's complete game performance, Verona clinched its first HTL title by defeating Utica, 6-1, in front of more than 300 loyal fans.

"We were expecting two or three inches of rain and had the tarp on the infield since Friday," said Burgenske.

"I've been involved in baseball for 50 years and you always hope that you can come out on a day like today and have great defense and offense in the title game. This is what you dream about."

The Verona defense was sound the entire afternoon allowing only one earned run with no errors. Niffenegger struck out seven batters, gave up two walks and allowed just one hit in the final four innings of a complete-game feat for Verona.

"I just knew I had to throw strikes and the rest would take care of itself," said Niffenegger.

"This is a guy who shows up on Sundays and gives you everything he's got," said Burgenske of Niffenegger. "Today he got stronger as the game wore on and when we got him run support, I could just see it in his eyes. He's got that killer instinct."

Verona's run support was generated in the fourth inning when right fielder Zach Spencer launched an RBI-double to left center scoring Danny Koss, who singled up the middle. Utica pitcher Matt Ellingson walked Verona shortstop Justin Scanlon, who eventually crossed home plate on a single from Matt Peetz putting Verona up 4-1 in the bottom of the fourth.

"We had 13 hits but everyone contributed in their own way whether it was pinch running, getting a hit, taking a walk or just playing tough defense," said Spencer.

After losing to Verona 11-5 in last week's HTL round-robin series, Utica head coach Dale Vike knew what to expect from the offensive force.

"These guys are going to hit the ball and we knew that coming into today's game," said Vike. "You've got to score more than one run if you're going to beat this team."

Utica's Matt Dwyer and Doug Vike pounded two singles in the top of the fifth in attempt to lessen the damage done by Verona's fourth-inning surge, but both were left stranded. No other teammates would reach second base in the remainder of the game.

The Verona bats weren't quite finished, however. In the bottom of the eighth inning, first baseman Nick Krohn led off with a double. Pinch runner Eric Borelli scored on one of three singles produced by Koss, and Derek Burgenske dropped an RBI-single behind Utica's second baseman to put Verona up 6-1. Scott Hestnes, who relieved Ellingson, threw just one pitch that resulted in a double play to end the eighth.

"Utica played a great game today," said Dale Burgenske. "They've got an excellent ball club and Dale Vike should be very proud of his guys. I remember when they won the title in 1991 and how excited they were. It feels great to be on the winning end today."

Verona's victory was culminated by Spencer's diving effort as he robbed Dwyer of a line drive for the final out of the game.

When asked if his team was deserving of the long-awaited HTL title, Spencer responded, "It's about time."

Bobbi Snethen
Special to The Capital Times  —  9/14/2008 8:53 pm