Long break hurts Grafton softball

Grafton High School’s softball team hadn’t played a game in 11 days when it hosted Hartford on Monday, and the results showed.

The Orioles put up three runs in the third and seventh innings on their way to an 8-4 North Shore Conference victory.

“It almost felt like two weeks. We were a little rusty,” coach Ken Hunt said.

A 5-4 game headed into the seventh, was broken open by a few Black Hawks’ errors and some hard hit balls by the Orioles.

“We just need to obviously clean up a few errors and things, and we’ll be better,” Hunt said.

Kirsten Krause went the distance for Grafton, allowing 10 hits and four earned runs while whiffing nine in seven innings.

At the plate, Sara Paschke went 3-for-4. Kirstyn went 2-for-4 with a double and Ellie Grisar 1-for-3 with a double.

“We had a couple people left on base. We just couldn’t get a timely hit,” Hunt said.

A spring break trip to Alabama last week meant practicing in warm weather, but storms rained out a scheduled doubleheader.

The 3-2 Hawks were to play at Slinger on Tuesday, host Port Washington on Thursday, West Bend West on Monday, April 29, and West Bend East on Tuesday, April 30.

CG-Belgium looking for first win

Cedar Grove-Belgium’s game against Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah on April 16 was closer than the score showed.

The Resorters won, 5-2, but the Rockets could have lit up the scoreboard.

“We left six runners on third base,” coach Scott Soerens said. “I think we actually outhit them.”

Nadia Dries had a double and two RBI in the bottom of the seventh. The Rockets had runners on base before making the final out.

Maria Dries was intentionally walked in that final inning. Opposing pitchers have been careful with her after she hit a home run on the first pitch of the season.

“She gets frustrated by being walked all the time. It’s actually a compliment to her,” Soerens said.

Maria Dries pitched the entire game and did well, Soerens said.

The 0-5 Rockets were to play at Random Lake on Tuesday, doubleheaders at Manitowoc Lutheran on Thursday and at Oostburg on Friday, and host Howards Grove on Tuesday, April 30.