Butts, Black Hawks halt Port’s winning streak

It was going to take something special to stop the Port Washington High School baseball team’s four-game winning streak.

Grafton’s Ryan Butts and a sharp defense delivered last Friday.

The Black Hawks topped visiting Port, 8-0, to finish the week 2-1.

Butts allowed three hits and a walk and struck out three in just 78 pitches over seven innings.

“It was just an outstanding game and another step in his development. He did a great job of attacking hitters and staying ahead, changing speeds. He was around the plate all game,” coach Brian Durst said.

Butts said that was the key.

“Just throwing strikes. That’s what I want to do every time when I come out and pitch,” he said.

Grafton’s defense made some gems behind their junior hurler. Center fielder Peyton McKinney started the game with a running catch, followed by Will Heinz making a sliding catch in left. The infield continued its week-long streak of errorless ball while turning four double plays.

“That allows a pitcher to settle in, have confidence knowing you can pitch to contact and the defense is going to make plays,” Durst said.

Heinz also threw out a Pirate trying to score from second on a Max Webb single in the third inning. Catcher Sam Cameranesi grabbed the ball and lunged to make the tag.

“A clean, one-hop throw to the plate. Couldn’t have asked for a better play on that one,” Durst said.

“That’s a frustrating one,” Port coach Zach Perkins said. “They were making fantastic plays all across the field. We did hit the ball hard a few times.”

The Pirates were playing their fourth game in four days.

Thomas Ward started for Port and allowed six hits, five walks and four runs (one earned) while striking out five in four innings. O’Neil Wright relieved but had control issues, allowing four runs and six walks in one inning, and Cash Didier pitched a scoreless sixth.

The Hawks put up one run in the first inning and three in the third. It was a 4-0 game headed into the sixth inning, and Durst wasn’t comfortable.

“Port’s got a good team and they’ve been playing well. We knew they could come back at any point in that game,” Durst said.

Jack Schmanski was 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Butts had an RBI double. Zach Plier had two hits and scored three runs. Kevin Quello drew three walks batting ninth.

Despite playing in different conferences, “It’s still a huge rival,” Schmanski said. “A shutout against them and sub-five hits. That means a lot. We still don’t like them.”

Plier walks off Hartford

Hartford held Grafton to three hits in a 4-0 home win on April 20.

The Hawks’ Vince Schiller pitched three scoreless innings, allowing three hits and two walks.

Things looked similar as the Orioles led, 5-0, through three innings in Grafton on April 22.

The Hawks’ bats woke up and tied the game at 5. Hartford bounced back to take a 6-5 lead into the final frame.

Heinz led off the bottom of the seventh with a single, then stole second. Nick Schiller bunted, and the pitcher’s throw to first base sailed into right field, allowing Heinz to score and Schiller to take second.

“A pitch later, Plier put it 365 (feet) to th  base of the wall in left center and walked it off,” Durst said.

“I was just trying to attack the first pitch because I knew they were going to throw offspeed. So I saw it right away and just hit it in the gap. It felt great,” Plier said.

McKinney, Butts and Plier each had two hits, including a double. McKinney had two RBIs and Butts and Plier had one each. Austin Van Zuiden and Everett Bonk each had a hit and an RBI. Schmanski allowed five runs (four earned), six hits and two walks while striking out three in three innings. Sam Benter allowed a run, three walks and two hits and struck out one in four innings.

Grafton, 3-1 in the North Shore Conference and 4-3 overall, was to host Whitefish Bay on Tuesday, April 28, and play at Whitefish Bay on Wednesday, April 29. The Hawks play at Homestead on Friday, May 1, host Homestead on Monday, May 4, and host Nicolet on Wednesday, May 6.

Ward walks off KML

Port started the week with three wins before losing its final two, playing five games in five days.

Ward began the run with a bang on April 21 in a 3-2 win over Kettle Moraine Lutheran, the Chargers’ first loss of the season.

Tied at 2 in the seventh, Jackson Dickson got hit by a pitch and pinch runner Charlie Prince, a top swimmer, stole second.

Ward followed with a walkoff RBI single up the middle.

“Charlie’s got great speed. When he’s on second, there’s a good chance he’s scoring on any hit,” Perkins said.

Ward had just pitched two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and three walks.

“Thomas shut the door and then came up big on both ends,” Perkins said.

Max Webb allowed two runs (one earned), seven hits and three walks while striking out five in five innings.

“Max gave us a great outing as we always expect with Max,” Perkins said.

Wright had two hits, and Webb had a hit and two RBIs.

On April 22, Port scored two runs in the fifth inning and one in the sixth to win at West Bend East, 3-2.

Sam Thompson threw a complete game, whiffing 13.

“It was an amazing outing. He was fantastic on the mound all week long,” Perkins said.

Dylan Crain had a pinch-hit RBI single that sparked Port’s offense. Ward had the go-ahead RBI single.

Last Thursday, Port won at KML, 9-6. Dickson had two doubles and four RBIs. Wright had two hits, including a double, and two RBIs. Webb had two hits, including a double. Ward and Jackson Bergin each had two hits and an RBI. Carson Hill had a double. Port had 14 hits.

“This is what we can do. We have the potential to put together really good at-bats and put pressure on the defense,” Perkins said.

Jack Bunyan threw 101 pitches and allowed two runs (none earned), walking one and striking out eight in six innings.

“We started slow a couple of games but we stayed close and we slowly rallied,” Webb said of the week’s three wins. “We moved the ball, got the runner over and got him in. We played tough defense all week. Pitching was really good. We never let runs stack up.”

Last Saturday, Port lost at Racine Lutheran, 9-5. Port had three hits, and the Crusaders’ outfield took away a handful more with impressive plays.

Port managed seven walks and seven steals.

Port, 3-2 in the Glacier Trails Conference and 4-5 overall, was to play at Brookfield Central on Tuesday, April 28, and was to host West Bend East on Wednesday, April 29. Port plays at Nicolet on Thursday, April 30, hosts Shorewood on Friday, May 1, plays at Random Lake on Monday, May 4, and at Kewaskum on Tuesday, May 5.