WHITEWATER — Brady Malkow, Brodhead, who is studying General Business at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, has earned a roster spot on the Warhawk baseball team for the 2024 season.

The Warhawks are picked to finish third in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) this spring and are ranked 21st in the D3baseball.com Preseason National Poll.

Last year, the Warhawks finished third overall with a 15-9 record in conference play and a 30-13 record overall. After falling in the first game of the playoffs, the Warhawks battled back to the championship game where they fell to UW-La Crosse, which is predicted to win the 2024 WIAC title.

The Warhawks return four All-WIAC athletes from last season, including 2023 WIAC Position Player of the Year, Adam Cootway. Cootway earned All-American first-team honors from D3 Baseball and All-American second team honors from the ABCA. The Region IX Player of the Year, Cootway led the conference in multiple offensive categories including batting average (.477), runs (59), hits (71), triples (5), RBI (67), slugging percentage (.933), hit-by-pitch (14) and on base percentage (.560).

Cade Berendt, Sam Paden, and Matt Scolan all return after their All-Conference selections a season ago. Berendt started in 12 games last season, finishing with a 5-2 W-L record and a 3.41 ERA in 63.1 innings. Paden recorded a .476 batting average with a .714 slugging percentage in only 105 at bats in 2023. Scolan also brings some heavy hitting, after hitting 10 home runs last season.

Other notable returning players include first baseman Eli Frank, infielder Bennet Frazer, and outfielder Alex Najera. Returning on the mound for the Warhawks is Max Huseboe.