CG-Belgium baseball finally beats Whitefish Bay

It perhaps took nearly all of their fans’ nails and caused some hair loss, but the Cedar Grove-Belgium High School baseball team finally beat Whitefish Bay.

The Rockets won, 6-5, on the road Saturday, withstanding a late rally from the Blue Dukes.

“That was a great game. I’ve been going there eight years and this is the first time we beat them,” coach Tom Race said.

Star Ira Hilbelink called it “one of the craziest high school games I’ve ever been part of.”

The game was tied at 1 through five innings. The Rockets scored three runs in the sixth and two in the seventh to take a 6-1 lead.

Hilbelink allowed three runs (one earned), three hits and three walks while striking out 10. His fastball was topping out in the low 90s, Race said, but he nearly reached his 100-pitch limit in the seventh inning.

Carter Schmitz relieved, allowing two hits and two runs, whiffing one.

A batter reached on an error, then Hilbelink gave up a single and was pulled. Schmitz allowed a single, struck out a batter and induced a fielder’s choice. Chase Wolter then belted a three-run homer to cut the lead to one.

A hard hit to third baseman Seth Race, who made a long throw to first, ended the game.

“The crowd was into it. The kids were into it, both sides. It felt like a playoff game,” Race said.

Hilbelink was 2-for-2 with a double and and two walks. Josh Anzia and Connor Waters were each 2-for-4 with an RBI. Schmitz had a hit and an RBI.

The Rockets moved to 11-1. They are 7-0 in the Big East Conference South.

On April 28, the Rockets beat Kohler at home, 24-2. Griffin Knight had three hits, including a double, and four RBIs. Anzia had two hits, including a double, and five RBIs. Austin Knapp had two hits and three RBIs. Hilbelink had two hits and two RBIs. Schmitz had a hit and two RBIs. Griffin Posthuma had two RBIs.

Schmitz allowed two runs (one earned), three hits and two walks while whiffing three in three innings. Knapp struck out three in two hitless innings.

Last Thursday, the Rockets held on for a 10-9 win at Kohler. The Blue Bombers scored five runs in the seventh.

Seth Race had two hits, including a triple. Hilbelink had three hits, including a double, and two RBIs. Knapp had two hits, including a double, and three RBIs.

Knight allowed four runs, four hits and three walks while striking out one in six innings. Race finished the game in a crazy inning with an error, a near diving catch by Hilbelink, an infield single and a dropped third strike that scored a run.

“A dozen balls didn’t go our way and they kept hanging in there,” coach Race said.

On Monday, the Rockets won at Ozaukee, 15-2, in five innings. Race had three hits and an RBI. Jonah Banton had a double and three RBIs. Knapp had two hits and three RBIs. Knight had two hits and two RBIs.

Knight allowed three hits, one run and a walk while striking out three in three innings. Knapp whiffed four and walked one, allowing a run in two hitless innings.

For Ozaukee, still seeking its first win of the season, Brett Paulus had a hit and an RBI. Colton Dybul and Dane Zimdars each had a hit.

Mason Schroeder struggled on the mound, but Colter Zimdars allowed no hits and one run in 1-1/3 innings. Paulus allowed no hits and two runs in one inning.

Hilebelink said the Rockets’ bond is one of the keys to its success.

“I just think it’s because we’re all brothers. Been playing with each other since we were barely walking,” he said.

“We’re all so close. It’s so mental. You need brothers by your side to always pick you up.”

The Rockets were to play at Oostburg on Tuesday, May 5. They host Oostburg on Thursday, May 7, and New Berlin Eisenhower on Saturday, May 9.

The play at Random Lake (6-0 Big East, 10-1 overall) on Tuesday, May 12, and host the Rams on Thursday, May 14.

Ozaukee was to host Sheboygan Lutheran on Tuesday, May 5. They play at Lutheran on Thursday, May 7, at Kiel on Saturday, May 9, and host Howards Grove on Tuesday, May 12.