Senior makes inspirational return to mound

Grafton High School senior pitcher Hunter Bramstedt didn’t earn a win for the Black Hawks on Monday, but just taking the mound and getting some outs was a victory.

Bramstedt made his first start of the season for the Black Hawks, allowing four hits and a run while striking out one and walking two in three innings.

He did it while missing part of a finger.

Bramstedt lost the tip of his right pinky in a shop class accident in February and required surgery.

“I actually didn’t think I was going to play. I thought I was kinda done, but I’m back,” he said.

He pitched once in relief a couple of weeks ago, and got the start on senior day on Monday. The road back, he said, was challenging.

“It was kinda hard, but I think it was needed. It helped me get back to a good place after that,” he said. “It felt good to be back pitching again on the mound. I’ve been wanting to do it for a while. It’s all good now. Back to throwing as hard as I was before.”

Bramstedt plans to study engineering and hopes to play baseball for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee next year.

Coach Brian Durst is thrilled that one of his nine seniors could get back to playing, especially on senior night.

“I’m just really proud of Hunter being able to battle back from injury. That really provided a lift tonight,” he said.

Bramstedt wasn’t the only senior hitting a milestone. Jacob Sarbacker got his first varsity hit, a line drive to center, and RBI.

“Getting that one notch checked off the box has been really fun,” he said.

Grafton’s bats were quiet until the sixth inning in a 6-3 loss to West Bend East, but that didn’t diminish the impact the program has on the seniors.

“It means a lot. I’ve been playing baseball for 10 plus years, for Grafton for all 10 of them. This program has done a lot for me,” Jack Schmanski said.

Kevin Quello and Everett Bonk also have memories from years ago.

“These guys mean everything to me. We’ve played together for a long time. We’ve got to know each other. We’ve just built relationships from there. It’s been like brotherhood here,” Quello said.

“Not even the past four years, in youth and everything. Just means a lot to me,” Bonk said.

For Sam Cameranesi, “Baseball is literally everything to me. I wake up every morning, I think I’m so grateful I get to play baseball. Ever since I’ve been on varsity, I’ve just tried my best to just have fun, play every game with 100% heart.”

Zach Plier said, “It’s meant everything. I’ve grown up here. I’ve been here for four years now. It’s meant a lot.”

The team hopes to keep partaking in America’s pastime as long as possible.

“It’s been a great journey. I’ve loved every minute of it. I’m hoping we can capitalize, make a really deep playoff run,” senior Peyton McKinney said.

Senior Nick Schiller said, “Being able to play all four years here has been great. We’ve just got to keep our heads down for the playoffs and get back on track.”

Durst beamed about his seniors.

“It’s just a great group of kids who have been the core of this program since we won the conference in 2023. They’ve worked their way back toward the top of the conference. It’s just a group that we can rely on to give us a game night in, night out.”

The Hawks split their last four games. They lost, 2-1, to Slinger on May 13. McKinney had two hits and an RBI. Ryan Butts allowed two runs, two hits and a walk while striking out three in seven innings.

Grafton beat Sheboygan North, 8-4, last Thursday. Plier had two doubles and two RBIs. Schmanski had two hits and three RBIs. Cameranesi allowed four runs (one earned), five hits and a walk while striking out one in five innings. Quello pitched two scoreless innings, whiffing two.

The Hawks won, 4-1, at Shorewood on Saturday. Schmanski and Butts each had a hit and an RBI. Will Heinz had two hits and allowed one run, one hit and one walk while whiffing five in seven innings.

Grafton is 7-5 in the North Shore Conference. Slinger and Homestead are both 7-4. Slinger was to play Cedarburg (1-10 NSC) on Wednesday and Homestead was to play Whitefish Bay (6-5).

Grafton, 13-7 overall, plays at Waukesha West on Saturday, May 23.