Baseball: Verona ends Warriors' season

After opening the postseason with a win over rival DeForest, the Waunakee baseball team’s season ended with a 5-4 loss to Verona.

Wes DuCharme led the Warriors with a strong pitching performance against the Norskies, blanking them 4-0 on three hits, seven strikeouts and two walks. Colin Murphy drove in two runs, going 1-for-3.

Murphy, DuCharme, Danny Cotter and Tate Schmidt all had hits for Waunakee, as the Warriors played airtight defense, committing no errors in the game. The key inning was the fourth, when Murphy hit a two-run single and DuCharme hit a sacrifice fly, scoring a run.

Advancing to the next round of regionals, the Warriors outhit Verona on May 30 but lost 5-4.

Schmidt finished with three hits on the day, as the lead switched hands throughout the game.

After the Wildcats took a 1-0 in the first inning, Murphy singled to put Waunakee up 2-1 in the top of the third. Verona tied it in the bottom of the frame, but a Brady Barman single in the top of the fourth put Waunakee ahead 4-2. A Verona sacrifice fly in the fifth gave the Wildcats the lead for good.

Jack DeTienne struck out 13 and walked three for Verona to get the win on the mound. Nate Bound was saddled with the loss, going one and a third innings. Luke Hurlebaus started for Waunakee, allowing three hits and two runs over three innings. He struck out two and walked one.

Murphy and Barman each drove in a pair of runs for Waunakee, who finished the 2024 campaign 13-14 overall.