Rockets cruise to regional title

Higher seeds were upset across the state last week in the baseball playoffs, but Cedar Grove-Belgium High School didn’t let it happen to them.

The top-seeded Rockets first beat Manitowoc Lutheran, 7-0, at home in a regional semifinal on June 2.

Carter Schmitz allowed three hits and two walks while striking out seven in going the distance.

“He was on that game. He pitched phenomenal,” coach Tom Race said.

Griffin Knight had three hits, including a triple. Austin Knapp had two hits and two RBIs. Schmitz had a hit and two RBIs. Josh Anzia had two hits and an RBI. Seth Race and Connor Waters each had a hit and an RBI.

On June 3, the Rockets blew out Horicon at home, 13-1, for a Division 3 regional title.

Ira Hilbelink, who has committed to play for the University of Minnesota, allowed one run, three hits and three walks while whiffing eight in five innings.

“He’s only a junior. Just wait until he puts on 20 pounds of muscle,” coach Race said.

Knapp ended the game with a three-run homer over the fence in left center. He also had a double and tallied four RBIs and three runs scored.

“He’s the hottest hitter on the team right now,” Race said. “We changed up the order. We batted him No. 4 behind Ira.”

Knight had two hits and an RBI. Schmitz had a double and two RBIs. Hilbelink had two hits. Waters had a double. Cooper Schmidt had a hit and an RBI.

The Rockets on Tuesday beat Living Word Lutheran in Horicon, 8-0, in a sectional semifinal, then qualified for state with a 6-2 win over Lake Country Lutheran.

Big inning does Port Washington in

No. 4 Port Washington couldn’t quite top No. 5 Kettle Moraine Lutheran for the third time this season on June 2 in Port.

The Chargers scored five runs in the fourth inning in an 8-5 Division 2 regional semifinal victory.

“They were hitting. They hit a few balls hard. They capitalized on a couple of defensive lapses. Not our best defensive game, that’s for sure,” coach Zach Perkins said.

Sam Thompson threw the first 3-1/3 innings, allowing six runs (one earned), eight hits and a walk while striking out five. Ace Max Webb went the final 3-2/3 innings, allowing two unearned runs and three hits while striking out two.

Port scored one run in each the sixth and seventh innings, but the rally fell short.

“We had the tying run on first base in the last inning with one out. We were knocking on the door there. Just not quite enough juice with runners in scoring position,” Perkins said.

Jackson Bergin had two hits and two RBIs. O’Neil Wright, Jack Bunyan and Thomas Ward each had a hit and an RBI.

Port finished 9-3 in the Glacier Trails Conference and 14-13 overall, the first time the program has eclipsed the .500 mark in nearly half a century and perhaps longer, in conference and overall.

“It was definitely a big statement from our program, and especially our senior class,” Perkins said.

Disastrous seventh sends Grafton home

No. 2-seeded Grafton was in good shape with a 4-3 lead over No. 7 Shorewood heading into the seventh inning at home on June 2 in a Division 2 regional semifinal.

Then disaster struck. Shorewood sent 12 batters to the play and scored eight runs to take an 11-4 lead, and Grafton couldn’t answer in their half of the inning.

“They hit the baseball well. We saw exactly how that team upset Muskego earlier in the year,” coach Brian Durst said.

Ace Jack Schmanski pitched the first four innings and Sam Benter threw a scoreless fifth inning. Will Heinz, who threw a one-hitter weeks prior, pitched a clean sixth before the wheels came off. Kevin Quello and Ryan Butts also pitched in the seventh inning to try to stop the rally.

“We had prepared for coming back but we had practiced the night before for just about every scenario possible,” Durst said, except being down by that many with three outs left.

Shorewood’s pitcher kept Grafton’s lineup off balance, but the Black Hawks stranded runners every inning, Durst said.

Grafton finished 7-5 in the North Shore Conference, earning a share of the title, and 12-10 overall.

“It was a great season overall and one that we’re very proud of. We played great baseball all season and it just didn’t go as long into the postseason as we would have liked,” Durst said.