HOLLANDALE - In a David against Goliath matchup, Hollandale isn't intimidated by Verona as the Rockies prepare for the Home Talent League Western Section championship game on Sunday.
There is no love loss between the two teams. A couple years ago, a bench clearing brawl broke out. The feud will undoubtedly heat up with a trip to the Home Talent League Final Four championship series at stake.
The Rockies (12-5) are gunning for their first Home Talent League title in team history.
"I would say the pressure is more on them than us," Hollandale player-manager Cory Kelly said. "They (Verona) don't think we have a chance in hell. To represent the West and get into the Final Four would mean a lot. I have been chasing it for 20 years."
Verona (16-2) is the No. 1 seed and has been an offensive juggernaut all season. Verona is averaging 11.2 runs a game and have scored double digit runs in 12 of their 18 games this year.
The big boppers in Verona's lineup are Matt Peetz and Derek Burgenske, who both earned a share of the Western Section batting title with each hitting .500. Peetz and Burgenske have plenty of thunder in the lineup to support them including Justin Scanlon (.414), Zach Spencer (.403) and Derek Prochaska (.383).
"You can't pitch around anybody," Kelly said.
Kelly said he would either start Kurt Ritschard or veteran Scott Garthwaite.
"They (Verona) will hit the ball regardless of who pitches," Kelly said. "We will have to catch a break and play flawless defense."
In the Rockies 10-3 loss to Verona earlier this year, Garthwaite pitched five shutdown innings.
"He's a good off-speed pitcher," Kelly said. "There is no magic formula. You just have to pitch them smart. Just throw strikes, but not right over the plate."
Offensively, the Rockies' top hitters include Brandon Ihm, a former UW- Platteville baseball player who now serves as an assistant coach for the Pioneers, Scott Norton and Kyle Thompson.
The Rockies have averaged 4.4 runs a game and are 4-1 in one-run games including two extra inning wins.
"I wouldn't say we have an edge," Kelly said. "We have improved in those games (one-run games) and were able to pull them out. It helps."
There is no love loss between the two teams. A couple years ago, a bench clearing brawl broke out. The feud will undoubtedly heat up with a trip to the Home Talent League Final Four championship series at stake.
The Rockies (12-5) are gunning for their first Home Talent League title in team history.
"I would say the pressure is more on them than us," Hollandale player-manager Cory Kelly said. "They (Verona) don't think we have a chance in hell. To represent the West and get into the Final Four would mean a lot. I have been chasing it for 20 years."
Verona (16-2) is the No. 1 seed and has been an offensive juggernaut all season. Verona is averaging 11.2 runs a game and have scored double digit runs in 12 of their 18 games this year.
The big boppers in Verona's lineup are Matt Peetz and Derek Burgenske, who both earned a share of the Western Section batting title with each hitting .500. Peetz and Burgenske have plenty of thunder in the lineup to support them including Justin Scanlon (.414), Zach Spencer (.403) and Derek Prochaska (.383).
"You can't pitch around anybody," Kelly said.
Kelly said he would either start Kurt Ritschard or veteran Scott Garthwaite.
"They (Verona) will hit the ball regardless of who pitches," Kelly said. "We will have to catch a break and play flawless defense."
In the Rockies 10-3 loss to Verona earlier this year, Garthwaite pitched five shutdown innings.
"He's a good off-speed pitcher," Kelly said. "There is no magic formula. You just have to pitch them smart. Just throw strikes, but not right over the plate."
Offensively, the Rockies' top hitters include Brandon Ihm, a former UW- Platteville baseball player who now serves as an assistant coach for the Pioneers, Scott Norton and Kyle Thompson.
The Rockies have averaged 4.4 runs a game and are 4-1 in one-run games including two extra inning wins.
"I wouldn't say we have an edge," Kelly said. "We have improved in those games (one-run games) and were able to pull them out. It helps."
