VERONA -- Finally, Dale Burgenske and his players can celebrate.

Matt Niffenegger scattered seven hits and watched his teammates pound out 13 as Verona beat Utica 6-1 Sunday to claim its first Home Talent league amateur baseball championship.

Verona, which has fielded a team for more than 50 years, was playing in its sixth championship series in the past eight years.

"Man, it feels so good to win our first title and finally get the monkey off our back, or so people will tell us," Verona first basemen Nick Krohn said. "We have a lot of new faces on this team and to win a title after losing the first game, is something special."

Verona entered the league's four-team round-robin series with the best record (17-2), but lost its first game to Sun Prairie before beating Middleton and Utica to set up the finale.

"After 11 years of managing Verona, it's finally nice to win our first title, especially at home," Burgenske said. "Our hopes were not very high after losing to Sun Prairie but these kids never quit. They kept battling and finally got that elusive championship."

HTL championships have been awarded since 1929.

Niffenegger walked three and struck out seven.

"He told us all week that he wanted to be out there in the ninth to throw his hat in the air when we won the game," Verona's David Burgenske said after an on-field celebration.

Verona erased a 1-0 deficit on a second-inning RBI single by Billy Engelhart and took the lead on Zach Spencer's RBI double in a three-run fourth.

Utica manager Dale Vike said he knew his team would need to break out its bats.

"We got beat by the better team today," Vike said. "You don't beat a team like Verona scoring only one run, if you are going to beat them you have to be closer to 10."

Utica010000000--170

Verona01030002x--6130

Pitchers

-- Ellingson (L), Hestnes (8); Niffenegger (W).

SO leaders

-- Ellingson 1; Niffenegger 7.

Leading hitters

-- Martin (U) 2x5, Dwyer (U) 2x4; Spencer (V) 2x5, De, Burgenske (V) 2x5, Peetz (V) 2x4, Engelhart (V) 2x4, Koss (V) 3x4.

2B

-- Spencer, Peetz, Krohn (V).