Grafton baseball looks to bounce back

After a year in which much of the lineup either had little or no varsity experience, the Grafton High School baseball team is primed for a better performance.

The Black Hawks were a young team last season, and having the 2020 season canceled due to the pandemic took a bite out of their development.

“The varsity lineup we’re asking to contribute might be coming from junior varsity, and sophomores were playing their first high school games,” coach Brian Durst said. “Taking that jump was an eye-opener for everybody.”

They took it, along with their lumps. The Hawks went 5-18 overall last season and were 3-15 in the North Shore Conference, tying for last with Port Washington.

Now, the Hawks enter the season still relatively young but with more experience.

The top returning player is Hunter Schmitt, who made the NSC second team as an outfielder after hitting .556 and leading the team in RBI and hits — 15 each.

“He was our most productive hitter last season,” Durst said.

This year, Schmitt will pitch, play first base and perhaps some outfield.

“He will be an important part of our pitching staff,” Durst said.

That will partly fill the hole left by graduate Nathan Woolf, who earned NSC honorable mention as an infielder.

Others on the mound include senior Caiden Treske, who allowed two unearned runs in 10-1/3 innings last season.

Junior Ryan Quellow, a top prospect last season before he developed arm problems, is “a lot stronger this year,” Durst said, adding he will also be the team’s shortstop, filling the hole left by graduate Colin Indermuehle, who earned NSC honorable mention as an infielder.

Junior Jack Sommers is back after posting a 1.58 earned-run average and a 1-2 record in 26-2/3 innings, second most on the team to senior Josh Brace (29-2/3).

“He can hopefully take the next step in his development,” Durst said.

Senior Johnathan Blaubach is ready to make an impact on varsity, Durst said, after pitching on junior varsity last season. He also can play infield.

Senior Maddox Durst, the coach’s son, will also see time on the mound and at second base.

“He’s a smart pitcher who will keep hitters off balance and throw strikes,” coach Durst said.

Junior catcher Vince Cameranesi is back and can play behind the plate or throw balls over it.

“He’s already a solid catcher. The more he learns about the pitching half of the battery, the better he’s going to be,” Durst said.

Junior Eli Goldstein worked hard in the offseason and can play catcher and outfield, and junior Garrett Bonk got some work at catcher last season, and can play first base.

Three big bats are back.

Junior outfielder Mason Lempke is the next best returning hitter behind Schmitt, Durst said. He hit .522 with six RBI, 10 runs and two triples.

“He really has a competitive at-bat every time he steps into the box,” Durst said.

Junior third baseman Carson Faust is back after hitting .500 with three doubles and three RBI.

“He’s one of the guys who works through the entire offseason and takes pride in his game. He’ll be a big bat in our lineup,” Durst said.

Junior Bennett Hildebrand put in offseason work and “he’s ready to take the step from sophomore year,” Durst said.

Treske also swings a good bat and will be designated hitter when he isn’t pitching.

Besides the returning letterwinners — Maddox Durst, Schmitt and Treske — and a special junior class, coach Durst said underclassmen are pushing to see playing time.

Durst has one advantage this season. He coached many of these players last summer on Grafton’s American Legion team, the first time in decades the post sponsored a squad. Other Hawks played travel ball or balanced both.

“It’s so good to see that all of these guys want to play baseball,” Durst said.

They also get along and try hard.

“There have been high-energy practices. A really good personality has developed so far,” Durst said.

The team’s major goal this season, he said, “is just continue to learn, take something away from every game and make adjustments in practices.”

That might be easier with a normal schedule that usually has games on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Last season, the Hawks were playing Mondays through Thursdays, which didn’t allow practice time to make tweaks.

“Veterans teams always had an advantage,” Durst said.

Regardless of the more experience and friendlier schedule, the Hawks will be facing a battle each game.

“Every night in the North Shore Conference will be tough competition,” Durst said.

The Hawks start on Friday hosting Cedar Grove-Belgium at 4:45 p.m. They host New Berlin Eisenhower at 4:45 p.m. on Monday, April 4, and start the NSC season at Hartford on Wednesday, April 6.