Grafton softball gets back on track

It took a few innings to get going, but the Grafton High School softball team stopped a two-game skid with a 10-2 victory over Port Washington last Thursday.

“It was kind of nice. We were finally able to string a few hits together,” coach Ken Hunt said.

Things started off a bit ominous, with the Black Hawks going 1-2-3 in the first inning on fly balls two days after being shut out at Slinger, 7-0. Hunt got the team together and notified the players that they had to start hitting.

Port promptly plated two runs in the top of the second inning. But Grafton tied it in the bottom of the second, scored two more in the third, one in the fourth and pulled away with five runs in the fifth. All five runs were scored with two outs.

Kirstyn Case led off with a single and, after two outs, Natalie McDonald, Abby Caputa, Josephine Gust, Jess Wagner, Sara Paschke and Jordyn Case each singled.

Ellie Grisar had a double in the second inning and scored on a Gust sacrifice fly.

Paschke pitched all seven innings, allowing two runs on five hits, whiffing four and walking none.

“She did well in that game,” Hunt said.

For Port, a Morgan Stone double brought in one of the runs in the second inning.

Ashley Zygowski pitched six innings and allowed 10 runs on 10 hits, whiffing two and walking none.

Against Slinger, the Hawks gave up a leadoff home run, followed by a strikeout and another homer. The wind was blowing out, and Slinger can hit, Hunt said.

Kirsten Krause pitched six innings and allowed seven runs on 14 hits, whiffing four and walking one.

As of Monday, the Hawks, 4-3, had 15 games to play in 14 days to close out the regular season, not counting Tuesday’s rainout.

The Pirates slipped to 1-8 on the season as second-year coach Ben Navigato tries to rebuild the program.

“We’ve got some good potential. We haven’t been putting it together lately,” Navigato said.

Zygowski is the ace of the team as a freshman and can play center.

Junior Keelie Schumacher is back to play shortstop and Stone, another junior is back behind the plate.

Sophomore Tessa Egerer is at third base. Kate Cavanaugh is at second base and right field. Emma Uselding and Jaymie Neitzer are splitting time at first base.

Jojo Czarnecki plays outfield, and freshman Petyon Mueller-Stenz can play second, first, right and center.

Uselding and Cavanaugh will also see time as pitchers.

The Pirates on April 24 lost to Nicolet, 17-9. They held a 7-6 lead heading into the fifth inning when they allowed a grand slam.

Egerer, Czarnecki, Zygowski and Stone each had two hits.

Uselding pitched five innings, allowing 15 runs on 10 hits and striking out six.

Regardless of the score, Navigato said, he has noticed something about this team.

“They don’t give up. We could be down 11 runs. These girls have a great attitude. They’re always cheering and fighting hard to the very end,” he said.

Port was to play at Whitefish Bay on Tuesday, at Nicolet on Thursday, against Cedarburg on Monday, at Hartford on Tuesday and against Homestead on Wednesday.

Cedar Grove-Belgium went to 0-9 after losing its last four games. Random Lake won, 15-0, on April 23. Manitowoc Lutheran won, 16-1 and 24-2 last Thursday, and Oostburg won 19-14, and 16-1 last Friday.

Maria Dries and Allison Niebauer each hit home runs against Oostburg.

“We’ve got to keep playing and learning,” coach Scott Soerens said.

The Rockets’ game vs. Howards Grove on Tuesday was postponed. They play Reedsville on Thursday and a doubleheader at Mishicot on Friday.