Victory over Howards gives CG-B baseball team 2-game lead in title chase

Prevailing in a pitchers’ duel, the Cedar Grove-Belgium baseball team strengthened its hold on first place in the Central Lakeshore Conference race Monday.

The host Rockets edged Howards Grove, 2-1, with the winning run scoring on an RBI double by Luke Kaat in the sixth inning.

The win improved Cedar Grove-Belgium’s league record to 9-1, two games ahead of runner-up Howards Grove (8-4).

Josh Ruppel picked up the victory, striking out 10. He bested Ashton Holzman, who allowed just four hits and struck out seven.

The game was scoreless until the fifth inning, when the Rockets took a 1-0 lead on an RBI double by Jonathan Herzog.

Howards Grove tied the game on a run-scoring double by Zach Stuevens in the top of the sixth.

In another local CLC game Monday, Ozaukee was blanked by Sheboygan Lutheran/Kohler, 5-0.

In the North Shore Conference, Grafton lost to West Bend West, 6-1, and Port Washington fell to Slinger, 8-1.

Ozaukee managed only one hit in its road loss, a single by Mitch Janke. Pitchers Aaron Sandee and Calvin Stefanczyk combined for the win.

Lutheran broke open a close game with  a four-run fifth inning.

The loss dropped Ozaukee to 5-5 in league play.

Grafton fell behind, 2-0, in the opening inning and trailed the rest of the way. Jon Nick held the Black Hawks in check through five innings, exiting when West owned a 6-1 lead.

The Hawks had just four hits and committed five errors. They dropped to 6-6 in the conference.

Slinger pitcher John Sprayberry held Port to two hits in a complete-game performance. He struck out 11 and walked four.

The Owls, who had 11 hits off three Port pitchers, pulled away with a five-run third inning.

The loss left the Pirates with a 3-8 league record.

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