Verona Cavaliers Baseball Team History
2012 Season Preview:
Cavaliers Hungry for 2012 HTL Sunday Title
After a disappointing finish to the 2011 Sunday League season, the Verona Cavaliers are hungry to begin another run for their fourth Home Talent League Championship. After winning three straight crowns (’08, ’09, ’10), the Cavs failed to become the first team in Home Talent League history to win four straight titles. Verona did claim their 2nd Night League Title in four years to finish 2011 with a 28-4 overall record, the best single season record in team history (.875). Verona is 202-43 since 2005, with a Sunday League record of 143-18.
Verona returns the majority of their roster from last year; however, there is plenty of uncertainty remaining. Cole Kroncke, who dominated the 2011 Night League Playoffs on the mound, is finishing up his 2nd year at Madison College and is waiting to hear if he will be picked up by a Northwoods League ball club. If Kroncke is available for the Cavs this summer, he will join a dominant pitching staff led by veterans Ben Wallace and Matt Niffenegger. Other contributors on the mound will be Danny Koss, Matt Gust, Josh Hainzinger, Zach Spencer, and Landon Flora.
Another question mark will be the availability of shortstop Justin Scanlon, who is currently finishing his final season at Michigan State University. Scanlon will finish his baseball career in May, but will remain in East Lansing to finish out his remaining credits in summer school. Scanlon is due to graduate in early August, so the Cavs could get a nice boost to the lineup come playoff time.
What we do know about the Cavs, is they will return their strong hitting lineup. The outfield will be roamed by the top two finishers in the Western Section Batting Race, Derek Burgenske and Zach Spencer. David Burgenske, AJ Stoffels, Landon Flora, and Billy Engelhart will also play big roles.
The infield will be led by Matt Peetz (4 Batting Titles), Danny Koss, Nick Krohn, Klayton Brandt and Matt Gust. Derek Murphy, returning from a torn hamstring in the 2011 playoffs, will also play a key role in the infield this season. The Cavs will also look to add some youth to the infield as they will be adding Kyle Jenkins (2011 Verona Grad), and Luke Yapp (2012 Verona Grad). Rounding out the infield, behind the dish will be Andy Nettum, A.J. Stoffels, and Derek Murphy.
Manager Dale Burgenske returns for his 15th season. The team will open up at home on Sunday, May 6th at 1pm vs. the Wiota Indians.
VERONA CAVALIERS HOME TALENT BASEBALL
The Verona Cavaliers are a member of the Home Talent Baseball League said to be Wisconsin's largest adult amateur baseball league and one of the oldest in the United States. The league started in 1929, and is comprised of 44 teams from southern Wisconsin. Verona Home Talent Baseball plays in the Western Section of the HTL. The Western Section is made up of ten teams which include Verona, Monroe, Dodgeville, Hollandale, Blanchardville, Argyle, New Glarus, Platteville, Wiota and Ridgeway. The HTL champion has been represented by the Western Section five of the last seven years. The HTL also consists of teams in the Northern, Eastern, and Southeastern sections. Sectional regular season play begins in early May and concludes in early August with the start of the HTL playoffs. Games are played on Sunday afternoons starting at 1pm. The four Sectional winners compete in a round robin Grand Championship Series. The Championship series begins in late August and finishes up in mid-September with the crowning of an HTL champion.
HISTORY
- Final Overall Record : 20-14
- Sunday League Record (incl Playoffs) : 15-10
- Final Four Appearance
- Awards :
o Derek Burgenske – Western Section Batting Champion
- Final Overall Record : 17-17
- Sunday League Record (incl Playoffs) : 14-11
- Final Four Appearance
- Final Overall Record : 22-10
- Sunday League Record (incl Playoffs) : 14-4
- Awards :
o Jack O’ Diamonds Final Ranking : 16
- Final Overall Record : 27-4
- Sunday League Record (incl Playoffs) : 20-2
- Final Four Appearance
- Awards :o Matt Peetz – Western Section Batting Champion
o Matt Peetz -- Night League Batting Champion
o Jack O’ Diamonds Final Ranking : 3
- Final Overall Record : 27-8
- Sunday League Record (incl Playoffs) : 19-2
- Awards :
o Matt Peetz – Western Section Batting Champion
o Jack O’ Diamonds Final Ranking : 6
- Final Overall Record : 34-5
- Sunday League Record (incl Playoffs) : 21-4
- Final Four Appearance
- Night League Champions
- Awards :
o James Doyle – Western Section Batting Champion
o Matt Niffenegger – Western Section MVP
- Final Overall Record : 32-6
- Sunday League Record (incl Playoffs) : 23-4
- Final Four Appearance
- HTL Champions
- NBC Tournament Champions
- Awards :
o Matt Peetz – Co-Western Section Batting Champion
o Derek Burgenske – Co-Western Section Batting Co-Champion
o Derek Burgenske – Western Section MVP
o Zach Spencer – Playoff MVP
o Dale Burgenske – Playoff Manager
o Billy Engelhart – Dennis Morgan Award (Courage & Dedication)
o Derek Prochaska – Brett Magritz Award (Catching)
o David Burgenske – Commissioner’s Award
o Jack O’ Diamonds Final Ranking : 4
- Final Overall Record : 29-7
- Sunday League Record (incl Playoffs) : 22-2
- Final Four Appearance
- HTL Champions
- Awards :
o Matt Peetz – Western Section Batting Champion
o Derek Burgenske – Night League Batting Champion
o Matt Niffenegger – Playoff MVP
o Dale Burgenske – Playoff Manager
o Matt Niffenegger – Kendall Murray Award (Pitching)
o Jack O’ Diamonds Final Ranking : 1
- Final Overall Record : 25-9
- Sunday League Record (incl Playoffs) : 23-1
- Final Four Appearance
- HTL Champions
- Awards :
o Ben Wallace – Co-Playoff MVP
o Matt Niffenegger – Co-Playoff MVP
o Dale Burgenske – Playoff Manager
o Jack O’ Diamonds Final Ranking : 1
2011
- Final Overall Record : 28-4
- Sunday League Record (incl Playoffs) : 15-3
- Night League Champions
- Awards :
o Derek Burgenske – Western Section Batting Champion
o Zach Spencer – Night League Batting Champion
o Jack O’ Diamonds Final Ranking : 6
