Pirates hang on against rival Grafton in the cold

The Port Washington and Grafton high schools’ softball teams kept putting the heat on each other in cold and drizzle on April 29.

The Pirates took a 3-0 lead, then Grafton took a 6-3 lead. Port got the lead back, 8-6, and hung on for an 8-7 win on the road.

With runners on second and third, Pirate Kayden Stasik induced a grounder to first for the final out.

The Black Hawks had scored one run in the inning already, but Stasik, who relieved Libby Bates after five innings, remained calm.

“Throw strikes. Make it simple. Don’t overcomplicate things. One pitch at a time,” she said.

Port’s Savanna Miller had two hits, including a double, and an RBI. Taylyn Steinert had a hit and two RBIs. Teaghan Mueller-Stenz had a double and an RBI. Cadence Krueger had two hits. Libby Bates had a hit and an RBI. Stasik had a double.

“Our bats are never the problem. We’re going to put the ball in play, and if we can find some holes we’re going to make some things happen,” coach Kaylow Huff said. “It’s stopping the bleeding on defense once things start to unwind a little bit, which is what we did tonight.”

A couple of Port’s players said keeping a positive attitude helps after mistakes.

“Keeping the teamwork together. Don’t get down on each other,” Bates said.

“Just keeping the energy up and knowing that we can come out on top,” catcher Mueller-Stenz said.

It was Port’s fifth one-run game of the season, and they added two more since. They’re 3-4 in those.

“I think it’s going to be huge down the line,” Huff said of the tight contests. “We know what it’s like when we’re in these pressure situations, these close games. Each one that goes by is a little less nerves, less pressure.”

Bates allowed six runs (three earned), five hits and two walks while striking out two in five innings. Stasik allowed a run, two hits and a walk while striking out one in two innings.

For Grafton, Mia Chojnacki blasted a home run to right center and had two RBIs. Addi Haessly had two hits, including a double, and two RBIs. Grace Zvara had two hits and an RBI. Lucy Wilke had a double.

Senior Khiah King went the distance, allowing eight runs (five earned), nine hits and four walks while striking out one.

“We were up 6-3. I think a common theme that we’re learning is to understand how errors — you can only come back so many times before it’s going to catch up with us,” coach Jasmine Freeze said.

She was pleased with her team’s hitting.

“Grace, oh my gosh, her bat came alive. Addi Haessly’s bat came alive,” she said. “It’s great to see that we were collectively hitting as a team.”

Port lost three games since, including two one-run contests. West Bend West won, 5-4, in eight innings last Thursday to sweep the Pirates. They won the season-opener, 15-14, in nine innings.

In the second game, West scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning. Port scored one in the bottom, but its rally fell just short.

All of Port’s runs came on long balls. Miller belted two home runs, and Bates and Shelby Cash each had one.

Bates went 7-2/3 innings, allowing two runs (one earned), five hits and three walks while whiffing four. Stasik allowed three runs, a hit and two walks in 1/3 of an inning.

Port lost at West Bend East, 8-3, on Monday. Miller hit another homer and had a single. Bates allowed eight runs (five earned), eight hits and two walks in three innings. Natalie Olson allowed three hits and struck out a batter in three scoreless innings.

Port got walked off at Kettle Moraine Lutheran on Tuesday, 6-5. The Chargers scored two runs in the sixth and one in the seventh.

Chloe Cash had a homer and two RBIs. Miller had two hits and two RBIs. Mueller-Stenz had a single and a double. Bates allowed 15 hits, six runs (four earned) and struck out one in six innings.

Port, 5-9 overall and 1-7 in the Glacier Trails Conference, plays at Hartford on Thursday, May 7, hosts Kewaskum on Monday, May 11, and Plymouth on Tuesday, May 12.

Grafton stopped a five-game losing streak last Thursday with a 5-2 win over Whitefish Bay.

Gabby Masse allowed two runs and six hits while whiffing seven in seven innings. Ava Eernisse had two hits, including a triple, and two RBIs. Avery Schoggins had two hits, including a triple, and an RBI. Chojnacki, Zvara, Wilke and Kate Murray each had two hits.

Grafton lost at Waukesha West, 9-3, on Monday. Masse allowed nine runs (eight earned), seven hits and six walks in 3-2/3 innings. King walked one in 2-1/3 scoreless innings. Zavara had three doubles. Eernisse had a homer and a single with two RBIs. Chojnacki had two hits.

The Hawks lost, 10-1, at Homestead on Tuesday. King allowed 10 runs (six earned), six hits and seven walks while whiffing six in six innings. Eernisse had a double and a triple and two singles.

Grafton, 6-9 overall and 1-7 in the North Shore Conference, hosts Nicolet on May 7, Cedar Grove-Belgium on May 8 and plays at Martin Luther on Wednesday, May 13.