The UW-Whitewater baseball team celebrates following its 21-5 victory against Messiah (Pa.) in the final game of the 2025 NCAA Division III World Series in Eastlake, Ohio. The National Championship is the baseball teamÃÛèÖÊÓƵ third title since 2005.
Andy Thies finishes his swing on a three-run home run in the first inning of the Warhawks’ 21-5 victory against Messiah (Pennsylvania) in the final game of the 2025 NCAA Division III Championship Series in Eastlake, Ohio. The second basemanÃÛèÖÊÓƵ homer gave UW-Whitewater the lead for good, and he was named to the World Series All-Tournament Team following play.
Cade Hansen delivers a pitch during the Warhawks’ 21-5 victory against Messiah (Pa.) in the final game of the 2025 NCAA Division III Championship Series in Eastlake, Ohio. Hansen pitched 5 1/3 innings to pick up the win, finishing his season with a 12-1 record on the mound, winning two games during the World Series week.
The UW-Whitewater baseball team celebrates following its 21-5 victory against Messiah (Pa.) in the final game of the 2025 NCAA Division III World Series in Eastlake, Ohio. The National Championship is the baseball teamÃÛèÖÊÓƵ third title since 2005.
EASTLAKE, Ohio — John Vodenlich had many reasons to win the 2025 NCAA Division III baseball World Series with his UW-Whitewater baseball team, including one from a former player from Janesville.
The Warhawks completed their run Wednesday afternoon by taking apart Messiah (Pa.) University 21-5 in Game 2 of the best-of-3 championship series at Eastlake, Ohio.
The Warhawks outscored the underdog Falcons 39-8 in winning the first two games of the best-of-3 championship series.
Andy Thies finishes his swing on a three-run home run in the first inning of the Warhawks’ 21-5 victory against Messiah (Pennsylvania) in the final game of the 2025 NCAA Division III Championship Series in Eastlake, Ohio. The second basemanÃÛèÖÊÓƵ homer gave UW-Whitewater the lead for good, and he was named to the World Series All-Tournament Team following play.
The national title was the third in UW-Whitewater baseball history. Vodenlich has coached all three teams. The 49-6 record the team compiled en route to the championship improved VodenlichÃÛèÖÊÓƵ record in 22 seasons as head coach to 777-235-1.
Vodenlich had many well-wishers contact him this week, including former player Ross Klawitter. The Janesville native was the starting shortstop on VodenlichÃÛèÖÊÓƵ first-ever Warhawks national championship team in 2005.
KlawitterÃÛèÖÊÓƵ stepdad, Tom Klawitter, has been the Warhawks’ pitching coach since 2015, the season after the Warhawks won their second, and last, NCAA Division III title.
“I’m happy for many reasons,†Vodenlich said after the Warhawks’ dominating win Wednesday. “Coach Klawitter, who never won one of these before.
“His son played for me and has been texting me for four years, ‘can you get my Dad one?’’ So, I’m happy we got one.â€
Cade Hansen delivers a pitch during the Warhawks’ 21-5 victory against Messiah (Pa.) in the final game of the 2025 NCAA Division III Championship Series in Eastlake, Ohio. Hansen pitched 5 1/3 innings to pick up the win, finishing his season with a 12-1 record on the mound, winning two games during the World Series week.
COURTESY OF RYAN COLEMAN/d3photography.com
Hansen wins two games
KlawitterÃÛèÖÊÓƵ pitching staff did their job. Starter Cade Hansen won two World Series games. The 6-foot-3 junior righthander from New Braunfels, Texas limited the Falcons to three hits and two runs in 5 1/3 innings to improve to 12-1 this season.
“You saw what kind of pitcher he is,†Vodenlich said. “What you didn’t see is his progression from Year 1 to now.â€
“I just went out there and did my best,†Hansen said. “I was just trying to the offense back in the dugout and let them go to work.â€
Hansen began as a pitcher/infielder but decided to concentrate on pitching after his freshman season.
“From that moment on, he worked on his craft,†Vodenlich said. “This is his payback.â€
Under pressure for 363 days
The entire team worked on winning a national title after finishing second to Misericordia (Pa.) University last season.
After they lost the deciding game of the best-of-3 series June 6, 2024, the Warhawks spent the next 363 days with Wednesday in mind.
“Anything less than this would have been a disappointment,†Vodelich said.
As good as the pitching staff was, the Warhawks’ offense captured the attention of the Division III world.
Bombs away
The team finished with a .365 batting average with an offensive assault on opponents’ pitching staffs over the seven-day series.
The Warhawks put up three four-run innings, a five-run inning, a six-run inning, an eight-run inning and a nine-run inning.
At times, the Warhawks treated opposing pitchers as if they were tossing batting practice. Loaded with nine batters that had averages ranging from .293 to .424, the Warhawks hit .411 (85-for-207) in their five games.
The Warhawks outscored their opponents 74-19 in the showcase series. Those 74 runs set a World Series record.
“This is who they are,†Vodenlich said. “It is a good reflection of what they’ve done many times, nor on this big of stage, but I have seen this a lot.â€
Cootway takes over
No one was hotter than senior designated hitter Adam Cootway. The 6-foot, 205-pound DePere native went 16-of-26 (.615) in the five series games with four homers, two triples and two doubles. He scored 12 runs and drove in 10.
He was a double away from hitting for the cycle Wednesday.
His impressive offensive display earned Cootway the Most Outstanding Player of the series honor.
“What a great find,†Vodenlich said. “He started at another school in the state and gave me a call.
“I made him no promises,†the head coach said. “This guy can hit, man.â€
Cootway was joined on the All-Tournament team by senior first baseman Eli Frank, second baseman Andy Thies, third baseman Danny Hopper, outfielders Sam Paden and Matt Scolan and pitchers Hansen and Ben Lee.
Scolan, who bats second ahead of Cootway, concluded his tremendous career by going 3-for 5 with four runs scored and three RBI. He hit two home runs to finish with 19, three less than team-leader Cootway.
“I felt great at the plate,†said Scolan, who graduated with school career records in at-bats, hits, RBI, home runs and walks. “My main goal is to get on base for the guys behind me.
“If I hit home runs thatÃÛèÖÊÓƵ awesome, but I just want to get on base, score runs and win games.â€
Changes ahead
After the dominating showing to win the national title, Vodenlich will have to make several adjustments to the lineup that helped the team win 94 games in the past two seasons.
“We’re losing a big corps of guys,†Vodenlich said. “What I hope is those guys have passed on the things they need to the younger guys in practice.
“We have a lot of work to do next year,†Vodenlich said. “Anyone who feels a sense of entitlement next year, we’re going to squash that pretty quick.â€
The returning players will worry about that later. They first will celebrate their accomplishments of this season.
The team will make the 8-hour return trip to Whitewater on Thursday for a championship celebration. The event will take place Thursday night at 7 o’clock at Prucha Field at James Miller Stadium.
That might be one of the few times this season that Cootway & Company won’t be hitting balls around the diamond.
UW-WHITEWATER 21, MESSIAH UNIVERSITY 5
UW-Whitewater 320 653 020 —21 19 0
Messiah 000 003 020 —5 8 3
Leading hitters—Whitewater: Holland 3x6, Scolan 3x5; Cootway 3x5, Thies 2x5; Hopper 2x5, Paden 2x6, Jackson 2x5; Messiah: Wagaman 3x4. 2B—Frank (W), Hopper (W). Jackson (W), McVay (W), Moyer (M). 3B—Cootway (W). HR—Cootway (W).
