Rockets, Rams forge nail-biting series split

Cedar Grove-Belgium’s baseball team let a late lead escape in a loss at Random Lake on May 12, and the Rams looked like they were going to sweep the season series and take the Big East Conference South title last Thursday when they jumped out to a five-run lead over the Rockets last Thursday.

Then the Rockets’ offense woke up, the defense and pitching settled down and Griffin Knight stepped up twice.

First, the junior smacked an RBI single in the seventh inning that tied the game at 7. With the game tied at 8 in the eighth with one out and the bases loaded, he grounded to shortstop and beat the throw to avoid an inning-ending double play, allowing the winning run to score.

Knight was mobbed during the post-game celebration and had a bucket of blue sports drink dumped on him.

“I just knew I had to put it in play. I knew they weren’t going to turn the double play,” he said. “I was going to dig out of the box right away. I just put it on the ground and I got there.”

The win meant the Rockets will likely tie for the Big East Conference South title. The Rams’ and Rockets’ only losses are to each other. Both are 9-1. Oostburg and Kohler are 6-4.

The Rockets trailed, 6-1, through four and a half innings last Thursday, making uncharacteristic errors on the mound, in the field and on the base paths. But they knew the game wasn’t over. Connor Waters wouldn’t let his teammates get down.

“I just really work hard on keeping the team up. I could tell everybody was getting down, so I just worked hard to get the energy to keep going. That’s what sparked everything,” he said.

The Rockets scored four runs in the fifth to cut the lead to 6-5. Waters had a two-RBI double down the left-field line to key the rally.

Down 7-5 in the seventh inning, Carter Schmitz had an RBI groundout and Knight had the game-tying RBI single with two outs and Waters on third.

“I got down 0-2, and he just left it in the zone and I punched it the other way. Can’t leave it in the zone when you’re up 0-2,” Knight said.

The Rams battled back, scoring one run in the eighth inning.

In the Rockets’ half, left-handed batter Jonah Banton clobbered an RBI triple to right field that scored Austin Knapp, who had walked.

“They brought back the lefty to face the lefty hitter. I knew that was a recipe for failure,” Banton said. “I knew the only thing he was going to throw me is a slider. We get to 2-1, he leaves a slider inside, slides it into the barrel, and I just rip it down the line.”

Waters was intentionally walked, and Schmitz drew a walk before Knight ended it.

“I think that’s the strength of the team. I’ve had these seniors four years. I honestly don’t remember them quitting in one game,” Cedar Grove-Belgium coach Tom Race said.

“Oh, it’s awesome,” last year’s conference Player of the Year Ira Hilbelink said. “We made some messy mistakes in the beginning but we pulled through. These guys are so awesome. They always get it done.”

Schmitz started and allowed six runs (two earned), eight hits and two walks while whiffing five in four innings. Knapp allowed two runs (one earned) and four hits, whiffing six and walking two over the final four innings. The Rockets made six errors.

Waters went 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Hilbelink had two hits and two walks. Knight had two hits and three RBIs.

“It was tough early. But our whole life we’ve played together so many times and we’ve never quit,” Schmitz said.

Seth Race said, “We’ve been there before. We’ve been in tight games. We knew what to do. We don’t quit.”

It was a reversal of the May 12 game. Banton hit a homer to give the Rockets a 5-4 lead in the fifth inning, but Hilbelink walked the first batter of the sixth, then allowed a hit before reaching his pitch limit.

Coach Race said he then should have intentionally walked Logan Michaels, the best hitter in the league besides Hilbelink. Michaels hit a three-run homer off Seth Race, and the Rockets went quietly in the seventh inning.

The Rockets made another six errors on Saturday in a 14-4 five-inning loss at Kewaskum (14-6). Waters had two hits. Hilbelink had home run and two RBIs. Knight allowed eight runs (seven earned), eight hits and four walks while whiffing four in four innings.

“They’re good but we just didn’t play our best. Not even close,” coach Race said.

The Rockets, 14-3 overall, were to play at Howards Grove (3-7 Big East) on Tuesday, May 19. They host Howards Grove on Thursday, May 21, play at St. Mary’s Springs on Friday, May 22, and at Kettle Moraine Lutheran on Wednesday, May 27.

Random Lake, 14-3 overall, was to play Oostburg twice this week for its final conference games.

Ozaukee starting to heat up

Ozaukee, which started the season 0-13, has won four of its last seven games.

The Warriors beat Howards Grove, 10-4, on May 12. Colton Dybul and Kyle Liermann each had two hits, including a triple, and three RBIs. Brett Paulus had three hits. Colter Zimdars had two hits, including a double, and an RBI. Mason Schroeder allowed four runs (one earned), three hits and four walks while striking out five in 5-2/3 innings. Dybul struck out one and gave up a hit in a scoreless frame.

Howards Grove evened the series with a 9-8 win in eight innings last Thursday. Colter Zimdars had two hits, including a double. Dane Zimdars had two hits and an RBI. Liermann had a double and two RBIs. Dane Zimdars allowed six runs, nine hits and two walks while striking out six in 6-2/3 innings.

Ozaukee lost, 14-6, at Roncalli last Friday. Colter Zimdars and Owen Uselding each had two hits, including a double, and an RBI. Dybul and Carter Szydel each had two hits.

Ozaukee beat Dominican, 11-1, at home on Monday in six innings. Schroeder had two triples and three RBIs. Szydel had a hit and two RBIs. Dybul, Szydel and Aiden Acevedo each had a hit and an RBI. Dane Zimdars had two hits. Schroeder allowed four hits, one run and three walks while striking out six in five innings. Dane Zimdars threw a scoreless inning.

The Warriors, 3-9 in the Big East South and 4-16 overall, host Lourdes Academy on Thursday, May 21. They play at Port Washington on Friday, May 22, and at Kewaskum on Tuesday, May 26.