Port closer but still no softball win

Port Washington High School’s softball team came its closest yet to breaking into the win column last week.

On May 1, the Pirates lost at Whitefish Bay, 7-6. A seventh-inning rally netted one run, but Port couldn’t tie the game.

“We finally had a close one. It was a good pitching duel,” Port coach Ben Navigato said.

Port pitcher Emma Uselding whiffed five and walked one in going the distance.

Maggie Noll had two doubles, a single, walk and two RBI.

An overthrow to first base in the bottom of the sixth inning allowed Bay to score the go-ahead run.

In the seventh, the Pirates’ Morgan Esselman walked, stole second base, advanced to third on a passed ball and then scored on another.

However, two strikeouts followed and ended the game.

On Monday, Port lost at Cedarburg, 15-2.

“We didn’t hit well and didn’t field well. I actually pulled my starters in the third inning,” Navigato said.

So far, it has been one step up and another back for the Pirates.

“They’re not all on the same page at the same time,” Navigato said.

Port (0-10) was scheduled to play at Hartford on Tuesday, host Hartford on Wednesday and play at Slinger on Thursday.

Grafton lost to Cedarburg, 9-1, last Friday, and at West Bend East, 8-0, on May 1.

This week, the Black Hawks were scheduled to host Nicolet on Tuesday and play at Cedarburg on Thursday.

Cedar Grove-Belgium lost at Big East Conference rival Random Lake, 7-3, on May 1.

The Rockets (1-8) were scheduled to play at Sheboygan Lutheran on Tuesday, host Stockbridge/Hilbert on Thursday and Manitowoc Lutheran on Friday.