Historic season came with memorable win

It was an early season match-up against a highly ranked team, a game that on paper looked like a tough nonconference contest to test both squads.

Little did Port Washington High School baseball team know that holding off Cedar Grove-Belgium, 4-2, on April 11 on the road would get the Pirates off the schneid in more ways than one.

It was the Pirates’ much-needed first win of the season after dropping the first three games, two by one run each.

When looking at Port’s final 14-13 record for the season, it meant the Pirates needed that win in order to eclipse .500 for the first time in who knows how long. It has been multiple decades at least.

And they did it against what turned out to be the Division 3 state champions.

The Rockets featured a loaded lineup led by the highest-ranked junior in the state in Ira Hilbelink, according to Prep Baseball Report.

Hilbelink sailed a solo homer over the left-field fence to lead off the sixth inning, and he came up in the game’s biggest moment in the seventh.

The Rockets had runners on first and second with two outs and the batter they wanted at the plate.

Port’s Thomas Ward, who threw a five-inning no-hitter against Homestead later in the season, had relieved ace Max Webb after two scoreless and hitless innings.

Ward and coach Zach Perkins discussed their strategy.

“Coach comes up to me, ‘You know who’s at bat. He’s going to try to win it here,’” Ward said. “I’m trying to give him something outside the plate.”

Ward hit his spot. Hilbelink reached for the ball and popped it up. First baseman Dawson Dinkel made a sharp play to come up with the catch in foul territory and end the game.

Ward allowed two runs, two hits and five walks while whiffing six in five innings of relief.

Ward and Webb held down one of the most potent lineups in the state. Two runs was their second-lowest output all season.

The pair got help from their defense. Port didn’t make an error while taking advantage of the Rockets’ mistakes. One errant pickoff throw to first base allowed a runner to score and another let a Pirate advance to third.

Hilbelink said the last at-bat was God humbling him. God evidently elevated Hilbelink at state, where he hit three triples, two doubles, had five RBIs and two intentional walks.

Against Port, Hilbelink, also the Rockets’ best pitcher, allowed four hits and two earned runs while striking out eight and walking two in five innings. Port got to junior Griffin Knight for two hits and three walks in 1-2/3 innings.

Port’s O’Neil Wright had two hits, including a triple, and Webb had two hits, including a double, and an RBI.

It was the Rockets’ first loss of the season and one of only five for the year.

“We could tell they were talented. They have Ira but a lot of guys who, just watching them warm up, we could tell are high-level baseball players,” Perkins said.

“Each week we’re watching what’s going on in the area. Oh man, these guys aren’t losing.”

Winning that close game against a top-notch team showed early development for the Pirates after losing seven games by one or two runs the previous season.

“What it takes in those key moments, making plays when it counts. That’s what our guys did a good job of this year,” Perkins said.

Port went on to finish 9-3 and in second place to West Bend West, which only lost two games all season, in the new Glacier Trails Conference. Port hadn’t finished above .500 in conference play, mostly in the North Shore, in 44 years.

Finishing above .500 overall might go back decades more.

The key game to do that this season came against one of the best teams in the state in the Rockets.

“Looking back, that’s one these guys should definitely be proud of,” Perkins said.

Port’s 10 seniors left with the satisfaction that they helped turn the program around.

“It’s definitely a big statement from our program, and especially our senior class,” Perkins said.

“That’s quite the stamp they left for Port Washington baseball.”