Verona senior Jack DeTienne is setting a high bar on the mound. In two starts, he has been a part of a pair of no-hitters.
Photos: Verona vs. Janesville Craig
Verona sophomore Brady Patten hits a sacrifice fly to score a run in the bottom of the fifth inning against Janesville Craig.
DeTienne tossed a no-hitter to help Verona beat Janesville Craig 4-1 in a Big Eight Conference showdown on Saturday, April 13, at Verona Area High School. In the season opener against Milton, he combined with two other Verona pitchers on a no-hitter.
Verona senior Jack DeTienne pitched a complete game no-hitter to lead the Wildcats to a 4-1 win over Janesville Craig on Saturday, April 13, at Verona Area High School.
“It feels great to do it against a team like Janesville Craig that has such a good history,” DeTienne said. “It’s good to get back at them because they swept us last year.”
Verona (5-1, 4-0 Big Eight) lost its first game of the season 5-2 to Kettle Moraine on the road on Monday, April 15. Kettle Moraine was ranked No. 21 in the Wisconsin Baseball Report’s preseason top 25.
Kettle Moraine 5, Verona 2
Walks came back to haunt Wildcat pitchers in a nonconference clash against the Lasers.
Verona used three pitchers and they combined walked 11. Senior Dylan Hesch started on the mound, and gave up four earned runs on four hits in 2 ⅓ innings., He struck out four and walked six. Southpaw Sean Hornberger tossed three innings in relief and gave up one earned run on one hit. He struck out three and walked five.
DeTienne went 2-for-3 with one run scored. Senior Nate Novinska went 2-for-4 with one RBI. Two pitchers for the Lasers limited the Wildcats to five hits.
Verona 4, Janesville Craig 1
DeTienne was dominant, striking out 11 in a no-hitter against the Cougars.
DeTienne relied on two pitches - a fastball and curveball.
“I just know with my fastball I can dominate hitters,” he said. “Mixing in the curveball made it harder to hit.”
Verona coach Brad D’Orazio commended DeTienne for his command and control.
“He was in control and had a great approach,” D’Orazio said. “It was a fun game to be a part of.”
The Cougars scored one run on DeTienne in the top of the first on Charlie Claas’ sacrifice fly.
“I thought I beat myself with that walk in the first inning,” DeTienne said.
The Wildcats rallied in the bottom of the first. Senior Garrison Codde doubled to left. DeTienne hit a towering fly ball to center to score Codde.
Verona senior Garrison Codde celebrates after hitting a double in the bottom of the first inning against Janesville Craig on Saturday, April 13, at Verona Area High School.
It appeared that DeTienne would have a double. However, Janesville Craig appealed the call and on a throw to first base, DeTienne was called out for missing the bag as he rounded the bases and the game stayed tied 1-1.
Verona broke the game open with a three-run fifth. Verona senior Braden Rozga singled to center. Verona’s Max Jones then came through with an RBI double to center to score courtesy runner Aison Jorgenson to give Verona a 2-1 lead. Codde then bunted for a single. Novinska ripped an RBI double to left. Sophomore Brady Patten hit a sacrifice fly to knock in a run to give the Wildcats a 4-1 lead.
Verona 5, Madison West 4
Patten delivered a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the eighth to give the Wildcats a walk-off victory over Madison West on April 12, in Verona.
Patten’s game-winning hit scored DeTienne. Verona senior Tre Grignon went 2-for-4 with a run and one RBI. Jones finished 2-for-4 at the plate.
Verona sophomore Brady Patten hits a sacrifice fly to score a run in the bottom of the fifth inning against Janesville Craig.
“It’s pretty impressive to see him do it as a first-year varsity player,” D’Orazio said of Patten’s game-winning hit. “Whether it’s a fastball or curveball, he has a plan every time he is up.”
DeTienne hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth to drive in the game-tying run to tie the game at 4. DeTienne scored two runs.
The Wildcats used a trio of pitchers. Sophomore Nolan Witkowski started on the mound and gave up three earned runs on three hits in four innings. He struck out four and walked three. Rozga tossed four shutout innings in relief to get the win.
Verona 9, Madison East 5
The Wildcats broke the game open with a six-run third to topple Madison East on Tuesday, April 11, at Ziggy Field.
Codde went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two stolen bases. Alex Rech went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Michael Scharenbroch finished 2-for-3 at the plate with a run and an RBI.
Both DeTienne and Patten knocked in two runs.
Verona used three pitchers. Hesch started and went two innings, giving up one earned run and striking out six. Hornberger tossed three innings in relief to get the win. He surrendered two earned runs on four hits, while striking out two and walking three.
Nathan Kirwan pitched two shutout innings for the save and struck out two.
