SECTION IV BASEBALL: WAVERLY TOPS M-E, 11-4, TO WIN CLASS A TITLE SERIES (24 PHOTOS) (May 29, 2026)
WOLVERINES WIN FIRST SECTION IV TITLE SINCE 2013 — SECOND IN PROGRAM HISTORYBy TIM BIRNEYValley Sports ReportWAVERLY — A gutty performance by freshman Axel Murray, a game-saving relief effort by senior Ronin Ault, and big hits from senior Daltton Davis, junior Matthias Welles, Ault and Murray all came together in Waverly's 11-4 victory over Maine-Endwell in a decisive Game 3 in the Section IV, Class A best-of-3 championship series here Friday afternoon.
The Section IV title is Waverly's first since 2013 and just the second in program history.
"We did this about 13 years ago and I thought we'd be back here, but it's not always a given," said longtime Waverly coach Kyle McDuffee.
"Then this team came along," he noted. "We've been building with them for a couple years ... this is not easy, man. It's not easy to win a section title
"Maine-Endwell is an outstanding team," said McDuffee. They are one of the best teams we've played in a couple years.
"And, we went up to (Class) A," added McDuffee. "We showed what a B team can do when it goes up to A."
McDuffee reiterated how difficult it is to win a Section IV title.
"It's a long, hard route to this," he said. "We start in December, sometimes in November, and it's a long, hard road.
"The kids have worked so hard for this, but they play loose, they have fun, and it's just a neat team to be around," noted McDuffee.
"It's like the old (2018) Red Sox, the Dirt Dogs," added McDuffee. "That's what these guys are. They just grind. And the madder they get, the better they play."
The Wolverines scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning, in a rally highlighted by Welles' two-RBI single, to take a 3-0 lead.
Murray led off the third inning with a ringing triple to the center-field fence, and later scored on a two-out, two-run single by Ault to make it 5-0.
Murray, who pitched out of a bases-loaded no-out jam in the first inning, held the Spartans scoreless through three innings, but hit a batter to force home a run in the top of the fourth inning, then walked a batter with two outs to force in another run to close the gap to 5-2.
Ault was called on to relieve with two outs and the bases loaded, and induced a groundout to Davis at second base to end the inning.
McDuffee pointed to Murray's effort in the first inning as one of the keys to the win.
"Getting out of that jam was a huge deal," he said. "Last night, we didn't get out of that jam, and with the struggles we've had scoring runs before today, it was really big."
Ault, who threw 97 pitches in a complete-game three-hit shutout Tuesday, said he "was a little sore," but was confident in getting the job done.
"I knew I was good to go if I needed to," said Ault.
"I had faith in Axel (Murray) to get it done, and he did a good job into the fourth inning, but I knew I could get it done if I needed to," added Ault.
McDuffee said Ault has made this team his own.
"I had (Ronin) and Axel together (Thursday) night, and Ronin said, 'I got your back Axel,' and Axel said, 'it's good to know that, but I'm going to go as far as I possibly can,' and he did.
"Ronin came in and did what he does," said McDuffee.
"Ronin has been an outstanding leader for this team," added McDuffee. "He's put a stamp on the Waverly baseball program that's going to be there forever."
M-E scored another run in the top of the fifth to trim the deficit to 5-3, but Waverly answered with five runs — all with two outs — in the home half to take a commanding 10-3 lead.
With the bases loaded and two outs, Murray lined an RBI single to make it 6-3, and Davis followed with a bases-clearing three-RBI double into the gap to extend the lead to 9-3.
"I was just trying hit the ball," said Davis. "When you're in a spot like that, all you need is a little single ... but the kid left (the pitch) up, and I was lucky enough to get a barrel on it, and we got three runs out of it."
Sophomore Sam Cheresnowsky capped the rally with a hard-hit RBI double.
"We got timely hits tonight, which we didn't get last night," said McDuffee. "The kids hit the ball hard.
"They went out there and they had a better approach at the plate today, and they hunted pitches," added McDuffee. "They hunted what they wanted to hit, and that's what they hit."
The Wolverines tacked on another run in the sixth inning on a long home run to left field by Welles.
Davis, who played on Waverly's state title football team in 2023 and earned a state wrestling medal this winter, completed his personal trifecta with the Section IV baseball title.
"It means a lot, you know?" he said. "I've had everything I've wanted in both football and wrestling.
"A state title here when I first came here and then placing this past year in wrestling. So this is just, the one last thing I need to complete my set."
Ault, who has been a pitching stalwart for the Wolverines for three years, was thrilled to get over the hump in his final season.
"I've wanted this for three years," he said. "Losing to Oneonta my sophomore year with Joe (Tomasso) and Jay (Pipher); that one hurt, so I wanted to get back. I wanted to get back really bad.
"I've gotten texts from my old teammates," noted Ault. "This one's for them — all the guys.
"I'm just proud of everybody, and happy to bring it back to the community," added Ault.
McDuffee, a 1987 Waverly grad, was a bit reflective after the historic win.
"This one feels really good, especially doing it at my alma mater," he said. "And the people like Dr. Knolles, who puts trust in me to run this program ... I have a lot of respect for it.
"I also have to thank my high school coach, Mike McMahon," said McDuffee. "Coach McMahon has been on the phone with me every single day. We've been texting back-and-forth, and he's always been there when I need something.
"This win is for him," noted McDuffee. "He's an awesome person, and he's been a tremendous asset to me."
Cheresnowsky had three hits, including a triple, scored one run, and drove in one run, while Welles homered and singled, scored one run and had three RBI, and Davis doubled and singled, scored two runs, and drove in three runs to pace Waverly's 12-hit attack.
Ault singled twice, scored two runs, and knocked in two runs in the win, while Murray tripled and singled, scored one run, and drove in two runs, junior Ben Shaw added a single, sophomore Jack Pipher scored two runs, and junior Justin Koenig and senior Hogan Shaw each crossed the plate once.
Ault earned the win, allowing two runs — one earned — on three hits in 3 1/3 innings. He fanned four and walked one.
Murray allowed two earned runs on five hits, while striking out three and walking three in 3 2/3 innings in a no-decision.
Waverly, now 21-4, will square off with Section II runner-up Scotia-Glenville (15-8) Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Johnson City High School.
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IN PHOTO 1: Waverly's Ronin Ault. IN TOP PHOTO: Waverly celebrates its first Section IV title since 2013. ... PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.
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