Seniors lead way as Rockets win 3 of 4 baseball games

Cedar Grove-Belgium’s senior-laden baseball team won three of its last four games and is one game from .500 early in the season.

The Rockets (4-5) beat Kiel, 12-11, on May 29; Kohler/Sheboygan Christian, 17-3, on May 31; lost to Plymouth, 5-1, on June 1; and beat Ozaukee, 13-2, on Monday.

The program has record numbers again, with 26 players filling the varsity and junior-varsity rosters, coach Tom Race said.

“The kids have been great. They’re hard working,” he said.

Top pitchers include Bradley Katte, Jason von Heimburg and Tyler Kraus. Race said he is equally confident in all of them.

Mason Noll handles duties behind the plate.

Kraus plays third base, and Jeffrey Emperly handles the hot corner when Kraus is pitching.

Von Heimburg, who Race called the team’s best all-around athlete, plays shortstop. Alex Duquaine plays short when von Heimburg pitches.

Paul Simmelink is at second base.

“He’s the surprise kid. When he started as a freshman, he had a lot of work to do,” Race said.

“As a senior, it’s like a switch went off. He’s been one of my favorite kids to coach because he’s improved that much.”

Cameron Kirst plays first base, one of eight senior starters.

In the outfield, Bryce Morgan plays center, Chris Mueller patrols left and Ben Michaels plays right field, along with Katte.

Kraus bats leadoff, followed by Simmelink, who is hitting .458 so far this season. Von Heimburg bats third and Noll bats fourth, although that position could be up for grabs, Race said.

Against Kiel, the Rockets had a 9-4 lead through four innings. In the sixth inning, Morgan walked and Mueller executed a sacrifice bunt to move him to second.

Jeffrey Emperly then came up with the big hit, shooting a ball over the center fielder’s head to score Morgan for the team’s 12th run.

Against Plymouth, the Rockets only managed two hits but only allowed four.

“I think we were right there,” Race said.

“The difference was we made two errors at short. Without those two errors, it’s probably a 1-1 game.”

Katte went six innings and allowed four hits and three walks while striking out seven. One of the two runs were earned.

“He just pitched fantastic,” Race said.

Against Kohler/Christian, Zach Zimpleman went 2-for-2 with three RBI.

Against Ozaukee, von Heimburg threw 45 pitches and Kraus pitched another 30-plus.

“Everybody had a hit. Nobody had a killer game,” Race said.

The Rockets were scheduled to host Sheboygan Falls on Wednesday and  Oostburg on Friday, both at 5:30 p.m., play at Pewaukee at 1 p.m. Saturday and at Sheboygan Lutheran for a doubleheader starting at 3:30 p.m. Monday.