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Warhawks Hosting the NCAA Trophy – Photo credit: Ryan Coleman (d3photo)

Box Score

Updated 6/4/25 @ 10 p.m. to correct parking situation for celebration on Thursday.

By Broderick Frye
Asst. Sports Information Director

Eastlake, Ohio — Dominant. In one of the most dominant performances in NCAA Division III Championship history, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater baseball team secured the national title with a 21-3 win over Messiah University. The Warhawks scored 74 runs [vs. their opponents’ 19] over the course of their five games at the World Series, a Division III record, to hoist the championship trophy for the third time in program history (2005, 2014).  The team finished as national runner-up in 2024 to set the stage – and deliver on the high expectations – for 2025.

The Warhawks were able to get their bats to shine early as the designated away team. Andy Thies (Tallahassee, Fla./Lawton Chiles) delivered the first strike with a three-run homer. With the bats moving early, the Warhawks were on a mission.

Cade Hansen (New Braunfels, Texas/Smithson Valley) set the tone defensively as well, dealing two strikeouts right out of the gates. A groundout over to Darryl Jackson (Milwaukee, Wis./Rufus King) created the first 1-2-3 inning of the day for Hansen.

The Warhawks tacked on two more in the second, as Jackson got on with a double. Dominic McVay followed suit with his own double to score the shortstop, with Aaron Holland (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North) bringing in McVay with a single of his own. 

After just two innings of play, the Warhawks had already burst out to a 5-0 lead, replicating the first game of the World Series Final.

Sam Paden (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville) was the lone hit in the third, as Messiah’s defense was able to put a zero on the scoreboard for UW-Whitewater. However, Hansen kept moving through the order, pitching his 9th straight out of the game.

In the fourth inning, the Warhawks pushed the lead to double digits, benefitting from a few walks and wild pitches to move the juiced bases. Darryl Jackson (Milwaukee, Wis./Rufus King) cleared the bags with a two-RBI single to cap off the inning. 

Cade Hansen (New Braunfels, Texas/Smithson Valley) dealt his fourth straight 1-2-3 inning to get the bats back on the field and push the momentum forward.

In the 5th, Matt Scolan (Downers Grove, Ill./South) delivered the second strike over the wall, putting the Warhawks up 12-0. The Scolan homer kickstarted five straight hits for UWW. Adam Cootway (DePere, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran) connected on a triple, with Andy Thies (Tallahassee, Fla./Lawton Chiles), Eli Frank (Bayport, Wis./Bay Port), and Danny Hopper (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) all passing the bat to the next guy in the order. Jackson finished the inning with an RBI fielders choice, putting the lead at 16.

Hansen’s no-hitter came to a close in the bottom of the fifth, as the Falcons marked their first base knock on the righty. Hansen got out of the inning quickly though, forcing a 463 double play to bring the UWW offense back out.

In the 6th, the Warhawks hit back-to-back home runs. Matt Scolan (Downers Grove, Ill./South) hit his second of the game, hitting a huge career milestone. With the homer, Scolan tallied his 300th hit wearing the Warhawk uniform. Adam Cootway (DePere, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran) followed suit with his own home run, putting the Warhawks one run away from the 20 mark.

On the Falcons side of the frame, Messiah pushed their first runs of the day across with a four-hit inning. Max Huseboe (Ripon, Wis./Ripon) came into relieve Hansen during the inning, picking up the last two outs to finish the inning. 

The Warhawks were held off the score column in the 7th, but not the hit column, as Aaron Holland (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North) recorded a single to get on base. Holland’s hit put him at 94 on the season, setting a new season record on the Warhawk program.

Adam Cootway (DePere, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran) led off the 8th, looking for a double to complete the cycle, but got on base with a walk. Danny Hopper (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) scored him, followed by Sam Paden (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville) hitting an RBI single to put the Warhawks at 21 runs.

Messiah scored another two runs after a two-out double, but Jack Hagen (San Clemente, Cal./San Clemente) finished the side with a backwards K.

In the top of the 9th, the Warhawks went three-up-three-down, going through an inning without a hit for the first time since the bottom of the third in the June 3rd game. 

Logan Eisenbarth (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) had the call on the mound for the last three outs. After two fly outs to Matt Scolan (Downers Grove, Ill./South) in left, a foul pop-up to the first base side created the moment all Warhawks were waiting for. Eli Frank (Bayport, Wis./Bay Port) made the catch, in front of the Messiah dugout, dropping to his knees as the dogpile ensued.

Adam Cootway (DePere, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran) was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. The Warhawks’ Designated Hitter finished the week with a .615 (16-26) and a 1.963 OPS. Cootway was responsible for 10 Warhawk runs, hitting four home runs in the process.

Joining Cootway on the All-Tournament Team; First Baseman Eli Frank (Bayport, Wis./Bay Port), Second Baseman Andy Thies (Tallahassee, Fla./Lawton Chiles), Third Baseman Danny Hopper (Palatine, Ill./Palatine), Outfielder Sam Paden (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville), Outfielder Matt Scolan (Downers Grove, Ill./South), Pitcher Cade Hansen (New Braunfels, Texas/Smithson Valley), and Pitcher Ben Lee (Amherst, Wis./Amherst). 

UW-Whitewater finished the season with a 49-6 record, the most wins in one season in school history. The team swept the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season and tournament championships and won the NCAA Adrian (Michigan) Regional and NCAA Whitewater Super Regional to punch their ticket to Eastlake for the second straight season.

The Warhawks reached the best-of-three Championship Series after consecutive victories against Trinity (Texas), Denison (Ohio), and Rowan (New Jersey). They topped Messiah by an 18-3 score in Tuesday’s opening game of the series before completing the sweep Wednesday.

The Warhawks will return to Whitewater tomorrow, June 5, with a championship celebration welcoming them back at 7 p.m. at Prucha Field, James B. Miller Stadium, located at 910 W. Schwager Drive in Whitewater. Limited parking will be available in Lot 22 near the stadium off Schwager Drive. Update: Due to construction and Special Olympics festivities, it is recommended that you access Schwager Dr (to lot 22) from Tratt St. It appears that there will not be any other convenient parking, as lot 24 at Perkins Stadium is part of the Special Olympics and lot 11 on the north side of the Williams Center is currently closed due to reconstruction.

Update 6/3/25 @ 4:40 p.m. – Updated map added. Little change in the rain forecast.

The National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan Weather Forecast Office is predicting “rounds of showers and thunderstorms beginning this afternoon and lingering into Wednesday morning. The heaviest rain will fall tonight mainly from the WI/IL border through southeast WI. There is also a marginal threat for severe storms with gusty winds this afternoon.”

It appears that the Whitewater area could receive as much as 2″ of rain overnight.

Editor’s note: The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage by  OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay.

By the way, per Wikipedia, “The English-language idiom “raining cats and dogs” or “raining dogs and cats” is used to describe particularly heavy rain. It is of unknown etymology and is not necessarily related to the raining animals phenomenon.^[1] The phrase (with “polecats” instead of “cats“) has been used at least since the 17th century.^[2][3]

A rain of animals is a rare meteorological phenomenon in which flightless animals fall from the sky. Such occurrences have been reported in many countries throughout history, an example being Lluvia de peces, a phenomenon that has occurred many times in Honduras.^[1] One hypothesis is that tornadic waterspouts sometimes pick up creatures such as fish or frogs and carry them for up to several miles.^[1][2] However, this aspect of the phenomenon has never been witnessed by scientists.^[3]“

Today (Saturday 5/31) is the last day, to browse the library until construction is complete, which is expected in November. Until June 23 the only way to obtain books, other than through the library’s online services, will be to obtain a book from another of the system libraries such as in Fort Atkinson or Palmyra. Requests for books can, of course, be placed online for pickup at those libraries. Beginning June 23 the library will offer curbside service.

The following announcement was previously published on the Banner.

The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library’s Expansion and Renovation Project will enter Phase Three in June. During Phase Three, the existing library space will be renovated. The last day that the library will be open to the public is Saturday, May 31. The
library will be closed June 1 – 22. Only online services will be available during this time.

Curbside service will begin on Monday, June 23. Patrons may place holds and pick them up at the library. Staff will be working in the building, but the public will not be able to enter the building as it will be an active construction zone.

The library’s Summer Reading Program runs June 9 – August 1. There will be many free, fun events happening during this time. Due to construction, many of the events will be hosted off-site. Reading logs can be picked up with library curbside service or at any library event.

Completion of the library’s building project is projected for November 2025. Thank you to everyone in the community for your patience as we work to build your new library spaces!

The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library is located at 431 W. Center Street in Whitewater. Complete details, updates, online services, and the library events calendar can be found at whitewaterlibrary.org. Call the library at 262-473-0530 with questions.

Per the City of Whitewater Public Works Department, County Highway N/Walworth Avenue west of Highway 12 is now open to traffic!

However, drivers who are accustomed to taking Highway N to Newville, where it’s convenient to get on the Interstate, are advised that County Highway N is closed for construction by the state between Old Highway 26 (where Lucy’s Hideaway is located) and Highway 59. The work is expected to be completed by August 29. For now, the most efficient way to get to Madison is probably on Highway 12 through Fort Atkinson and Cambridge.

Heads-up: Starting June 9, Walworth Avenue between Highway 12 and Janesville Street will be closed to traffic. (Local traffic will be maintained.) During this closure, please use Elizabeth Street to access Whitewater High School and the Whitewater Aquatic and Fitness Center.

Editor’s note: The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage Image by Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke from Pixabay.

The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library’s Expansion and Renovation Project will enter Phase Three in June. During Phase Three, the existing library space will be renovated. The last day that the library will be open to the public is Saturday, May 31. The
library will be closed June 1 – 22. Only online services will be available during this time.

Curbside service will begin on Monday, June 23. Patrons may place holds and pick them up at the library. Staff will be working in the building, but the public will not be able to enter the building as it will be an active construction zone.

The library’s Summer Reading Program runs June 9 – August 1. There will be many free, fun events happening during this time. Due to construction, many of the events will be hosted off-site. Reading logs can be picked up with library curbside service or at any library event.

Completion of the library’s building project is projected for November 2025. Thank you to everyone in the community for your patience as we work to build your new library spaces!

The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library is located at 431 W. Center Street in Whitewater. Complete details, updates, online services, and the library events calendar can be found at whitewaterlibrary.org. Call the library at 262-473-0530 with questions.

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater baseball on Saturday, May 17 became the first team to clinch their spot in the 2025 NCAA Super Regional after defeating host-school Adrian College, 4-1, in the regional final.

Editor’s note: As was announced in a previous Banner article, Warhawk Softball is also heading to a Super Regional.

The Warhawks took an early 4-1 lead & then pitched 7.0 innings of shut-out baseball for the win over the Bulldogs. UWW will play the winner of UW-Oshkosh/UChicago in the Super Regional round. (Editor’s note: The Warhawks will be playing Oshkosh, as they beat UChicago 10-2.)

The Warhawks got off to a quick start, hitting a lead-off single in the first three innings. UWW had the bases loaded with no outs in the bottom of the second, scoring on a sacrifice fly from Dominik McVay (Mineral Point, Wis./Mineral Point) to open the scoring.

Adrian was able to tie the game up in the top of the third with their own sacrifice fly. However, the Warhawks juiced the bases back up in the bottom of the frame. With three outs to work with, Danny Hopper (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) hit a two-RBI single followed by another RBI from Sam Paden (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville) to give the Warhawks a 4-1 advantage after three complete. 

Ben Lee (Amherst, Wis./Amherst) kept things moving defensively for the Warhawks, only allowing three hits in the next four innings. The Warhawk offense were held in check by Adrian as well, not able to string any hits together like the beginning of the game. But with the defense working on their end, UWW kept the 4-1 lead heading into the seventh inning stretch.

Ethan Wickman (Spring Green, Wis./River Valley) came in for Lee in the 8th, striking out two and allowing only one base runner with the walk to maintain the lead. 

Down to their final three outs, the Bulldogs went to their pinch hitters to keep their shot alive. Wickman notched another two outs, but Adrian loaded the bases to bring the go-ahead run to the plate. 

Jack Hagen (San Clemente, Cal./San Clemente) got the call on the mound for the final out, which he only needed four pitches for, forcing a weak ground ball to third base. Hopper stepped on the bag to secure the victory and send the Warhawks to the Super Regional for the second consecutive season. 

The Warhawks will play the winner of the Gustavus Adolphus regional, taking on either UW-Oshkosh or UChicago. Check uwwsports.com/sports/baseball for more information. (Editor’s note: The Warhawks will be playing Oshkosh on Friday, May 23, as they beat UChicago 10-2. Location and time to be announced.)

William Graham Post 173 of the American Legion in Whitewater is sponsoring the Memorial Day activities in the city.

On Thursday, May 22nd at 5:30 PM members of American Legion Post 173 will gather in the center of Hillside Cemetery to decorate the veterans’ graves at the cemetery. Girls Scouts, Boy Scouts, 4-H clubs and all other community members are invited to participate. Post 173 will provide the flags.

Plans for the parade and ceremonies at the Whitewater Armory are well underway.
The parade will form in the Hearthstone Memory Care Residence by Fairhaven parking lot at 10:00 AM on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26th . Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts and other interested groups are encouraged to participate in the parade.

More information will be published later.

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, age 69, has been elected as pope. Born in Chicago, he is the first American-born man to serve in this role, and the first for whom English is his native language. An Augustinian, Prevost has chosen the name Pope Leo XIV. Pope Leo the 13th was the first pope in the 20th century.

Per Wikipedia, Prevost served as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America since 2023. He previously served as Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru from 2015 to 2023 and was prior general of the Order of Saint Augustine from 2001 to 2013. In 2015 Cardinal Prevost became a naturalized citizen of Peru as confirmed by Peru’s National Civil Registry. He was made a cardinal in 2023.

Editor’s note: The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage by Luca from Pixabay.

On Tuesday, May 06, 2025, at approximately 5:22 PM, the following events involving a Walworth County Sheriff’s Patrol Deputy occurred in the City of Delavan, located in Walworth County.

Deputy Chorneyko was operating his marked patrol squad, Eastbound on Hwy 50 to the West of the intersection of County Hwy F, North, in a routine, non-emergent manner. Deputy Chorneyko observed a red truck operating Westbound on Hwy 50, coming at him head-on.

This vehicle appeared to be attempting to pass other westbound vehicles in a marked no- passing zone. Deputy Chorneyko tried to take evasive action to avoid a head-on collision with the red truck but was unsuccessful and subsequently sideswiped by the truck. Deputy Chorneyko’s squad became inoperable and came to rest in the roadway, with extensive damage and airbag deployment. The red truck continued westbound and sideswiped another eastbound vehicle, which was originally two vehicles behind Deputy Chorneyko’s squad. The red truck then collided head-on with a third vehicle immediately behind the second vehicle that had been struck. All vehicles remained on-scene and were inoperable as a result of the crash.

A Good Samaritan immediately stopped and assisted Deputy Chorneyko, who required assistance in getting out of the squad, due to the extensive driver’s side damage. Upon exiting his squad, Deputy Chorneyko was advised by other Good Samaritans who were stopping to assist that the red truck was on fire and the driver was trapped. Deputy Chorneyko immediately went to the aid of the driver and sole occupant of the red truck, who had just hit him. There was no fire, but the driver was trapped in the wrecked vehicle and needed medical attention.

Law enforcement from the City and Town of Delavan Police Departments and the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office were arriving and provided first aid to the injured drivers and sole occupants from the other two vehicles. All injuries from this crash were non-life-threatening.

Highway 50 between Northshore Drive and Hwy F, North, was closed for an extended period of time while the Wisconsin State Patrol conducted a traffic crash investigation. The City of Delavan Police Department remains the lead agency and point of contact for this incident.

A medical emergency by the driver of the red truck is believed to be a significant contributing factor to these events.

The community’s willingness to stop and assist our injured Deputy and other drivers in this crash did not go unnoticed and is greatly appreciated. We extend our sincere thanks to the citizens involved, the City of Delavan Police and Fire Department, the Town of Delavan Police and Fire Department, and the Wisconsin State Patrol.

Come hear music the way it was meant to be shared! The second concert in the Bassett House Spring Concert Series will be held on Sunday, May 11, 2025 at 1:00 P.M. at the Bassett House, located at 708 W. Main Street in Whitewater. We will hear performances by the talented string students of Leanne Kelso of the UW-Whitewater Music Department. Tickets are $30 and may be purchased at the door.

The concert will be followed by a wine and cheese reception.

The Bassett House, one of the oldest buildings in Whitewater, is one of our city’s historical treasures. And hearing live music in this charming environment is simply magical! Moreover, not only does this concert promise to be a delightful experience, but all proceeds will go to help complete a major multi-stage restoration of the Bassett House.

So come treat yourself to a unique and enchanting musical experience — and make a contribution to an important piece of Whitewater’s heritage at the same time.

See you Sunday!