Veterans lead Grafton baseball this season

Ryan Butts is going to remember his first varsity at-bat forever.

The junior entered last Thursday’s season opener against visiting Cedar Grove-Belgium as a pinch hitter with one runner on base and no outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Black Hawks trailed, 5-0, and hadn’t threatened to score at that point.

Butts belted a high fly ball to left field that cleared the fence for a two-run homer.

“That was Ryan Butts’ first varsity at-bat. First swing. So he’s off to a good start,” coach Brian Durst said.

Grafton junior Will Heinz later smacked an RBI double to right field, and Senior Zach Plier sent an RBI triple over the center fielder’s head. After a walk, Griffin Knight got Hudson Miller to  fly out to right  field to end the game. The Rockets hung on, 5-4.

Carter Schmitz started and allowed three hits and a walk while whiffing four in four innings to earn the win. Austin Knapp allowed three runs, two hits and two walks while striking out one in two innings. Knight allowed two hits, a run and a walk while whiffing two in one inning.

The Rockets’ Ira Hilbelink, one of the highest-ranking juniors in the state, went 2-for-4 with two triples, two RBIs and two runs scored.

“It’s been a good start to the year for me. I hope this keeps going,” Hilbelink said.

Jonah Banton went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

This kind of game against larger schools is what coach Tom Race wants to test his team that has lofty goals after coming one game from state last season.

“We need this,” he said.

Hilbelink is proud of the squad.

“We kept good poise. Stuff got out of hand. We all just took a deep breath and got through it together,” he said.

For Grafton, senior Jack Schmanski allowed four runs (three earned), four hits and six walks while striking out six in 4-1/3 innings. Junior Sam Benter walked one in 2/3 of an inning, getting the Hawks out of a jam, and senior Sam Cameranesi allowed three hits and a run while striking out two in two innings.

“We know how strong of a lineup they have and how well they play defense and pitch. It was a matter of minimizing the damage that their offense was doing. I thought Schmanski threw really well, keeping a tough lineup off balance,” Durst said.

“It was a big inning by Sam Benter in his first varsity inning on the mound. He came in with traffic on the bases and killed their rally.”

Schmanski, who has an earned-run average of 1.65 last season, is slated to be one of Grafton’s top starters, along with Cameranesi, who moves from his closer role last year when he had an ERA of 0.69 and went 2-1 with three saves.

Butts will be in the rotation and Benter will be in the bullpen. Vince Schiller threw well in the preseason, and Heinz can pitch, Durst said.

“We like our pitching staff that we put together,” he said.

The Hawks lost Luke Michalak to graduation. He was named to the North Shore Conference second team after going 5-2 with an ERA of 1.48.

Cameranesi and junior Hudson Miller will split time at catcher, just like last season. Miller hit .306 last year and Cameranesi hit .250 with 15 RBIs and was named to the NSC second team as a utility player.

Sophomore Vince Schiller is at third base, and Grafton returns senior Nick Schiller to shortstop and senior Kevin Quello to second base. Nick Schiller hit .294 with 14 RBIs last year, and Quello hit .279.

Senior Everett Bonk is at first base and already made a few sharp plays, including an over-the-shoulder catch, diving stop and snag on a short hop.

Plier is in his third year starting in right field after being named to the NSC second team. He hit .398 with 21 RBIs and had an .853 fielding percentage.

Three-year starter Peyton McKinney, a senior, returns to center field once he recovers from strep throat. Heinz filled in last week and will play left field when he’s not pitching. Junior Caleb Bichanich played left last Thursday.

“We’ve got a versatile team and a deep bench,” Durst said.

Heinz will bat leadoff, followed by Nick Schiller and Plier. Then comes Cameranesi, Miller and Schmanski. Quello will bat last but act more as a leadoff hitter.

“Kevin Quello’s a tough out in the nine spot. I really like him there. He can hit in multiple places in the lineup. He’s one of our scrappier hitters,” Durst said.

With nine seniors, experience is Grafton’s strength.

“They know the game. It’s a great group. When you’re a senior-heavy team, you just naturally come back to the ballpark to get going, get excited for the next game,” Durst said.

Grafton got its first win on Monday, 13-3 over Cedarburg in a game ended by the 10-run mercy rule.

Cameranesi allowed three runs (two earned), three hits and a walk with two strikeouts in four innings. Butts walked three and struck out two in one inning.

Schmanski went 3-for-3 with two triples, four RBIs and three runs scored. Nick Schiller had two singles and two RBIs. Miller had two hits and an RBI. Plier scored three runs. Bonk had an RBI single.

Grafton was to play at Cedarburg on Wednesday, April 15. The Hawks play at Kettle Moraine Lutheran on Saturday, April 18, and at Hartford on Monday, April 20. They host Hartford on Wednesday, April 22.