Black Hawks overcome the cold and Dominican

Grafton High School’s softball team got a busy week started on the right foot in cold conditions on Monday.

The Black Hawks fell behind by one run right off the bat at home against nonconference foe Dominican, but they came right back and went on to win 11-5.

Sophomore Gabby Masse scattered six hits over seven innings, allowing five runs (three earned) and seven walks while striking out six. It was her second win of the season after beating Nicolet last week.

“She’s had to come in and back up Khiah (King) as our No. 2. I’m super proud of how she’s developed so far this season,” coach Jasmine Freeze said.

“She did really well today and definitely gave it her all. I saw the effort in her and in everybody,” junior catcher Grace Zvara said.

King, a senior who has been one of the team’s leaders since her sophomore year, went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.

“Our team has a lot of good positive energy this year and we’re doing really good so far,” King said.

Sophomore Addi Haessly went 2-for-2 with a triple, and junior Mia Chojnacki had a two-RBI single.

The Hawks scored three runs in the first inning, one each in the second and third, then blew the game open with four runs in the fourth to take a 9-3 lead.

“I just liked our approach and how we were unfazed and how we came back in the bottom of the first and got some runs. I think the confidence that we can hang with anyone is going to do good things as we go into this week,” Freeze said.

The Hawks were to play three North Shore Conference games this week, including one makeup for a rainout.

The Hawks also turned in some sharp defensive work on Monday.

King started a 6-4-3 double play with Chojnacki making the turn to Hassly. It was the team’s first of the season.

“It was really fast. I saw (the runner) coming to second so I went in and Khiah got it and I quick turned to first,” Chojnacki said. “I felt so excited because it worked out.”

“That was amazing,” Freeze said. “I definitely felt like it gave us a boost defensively.”

Zvara barely let a ball get by and picked off a runner.

“You could not ask for anything better. Very clever of her with that pickoff at third,” Freeze said.

She also praised freshman center fielder Lucy Wilke, who made her first start.

“As soon as her name was called, she was ready to go. She has a good mindset,” Freeze said.

The Hawks performed well despite temperatures in the low 40s that felt like the mid-30s.

“It was really cold but our team came together and battled through the cold together,” Zvara said. “The wind died down a little at the end. Everyone stayed warm and kept pushing.”

Last Thursday at Nicolet, Grafton won, 16-1, in five innings.

Zvara had three hits, five RBIs and scored two runs. Wilke had two hits, including a triple, and an RBI. King had two hits, including a double, and an RBI. Chojnacki had a hit and an RBI. Avery Schoggins scored five runs.

Masse allowed two hits, a walk and one run in four innings while whiffing five. Sophomore Addi Town allowed two walks and struck out two in one inning.

Grafton, 5-2, was to play at Slinger on Tuesday, April 21. The Hawks play at Cedarburg on Thursday, April 23, and host Homestead on Friday, April 24. They play at Hartford on Tuesday, April 28, and host Port Washington on Wednesday, April 29.

Port shuts out Random Lake

Port Washington beat Random Lake at home on April 15, 7-0.

Sophomore Kayden Stasik allowed three hits and five walks while striking out four in going the distance.

Teaghan Mueller-Stenz had two hits, including a home run, four RBIs and three runs scored.

Libby Bates had two hits, including a double, and an RBI. Savanna Miller had a single and an RBI. Stasik had an RBI.

“It was a solid team effort Stasik pitched well as you mentioned. Kayden didn’t give up a hit until the fifth,” first-year coach Kaylow Huff said.

The Pirates got some defensive highlights from one of its young players.

“One of our freshman, Chloe Cash, was perfect at third with five assists and a putout,” Huff said.

Port, 2-2, was to play at Kewaskum on Tuesday, April 21. The Pirates play at Plymouth on Thursday, April 23, and host Manitowoc Lutheran, Greendale and Wauwatosa East on Saturday, April 25. They play at Howards Grove on Tuesday, April 28, before playing at Grafton the next day.