CG-Belgium baseball stays in conference chase

Cedar Grove-Belgium High School’s baseball team remains hanging in the Big East Conference race with Random Lake and Howards Grove.

The Rockets missed an opportunity last week in dropping a game at Kiel, 15-11.

With two runners on base and two outs in the seventh inning, Cameron Kirst smacked a ball to the wall for the third out. Had it snuck over the fence, the Rockets would have closed the gap to one run.

Coach Tom Race said after splitting a doubleheader on June 18 at Random Lake, he was low on pitching and had to use junior-varsity hurlers.

“We just ran out of pitching in that one,” he said.

Tyler Kraus went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI. Jason von Heimburg was 3-for-5 with a double, and Jeffrey Emperly was 1-for-3 with a walk.

Last Friday, the Rockets couldn’t put a rebuilding Ozaukee team away early but hung on for a 15-9 victory.

“Ozaukee played us tough,” Race said.

The Rockets scored four runs in the second and seventh innings, three in the third and two each in the fifth and sixth.

Mason Noll went 2-for-3 with a triple, double and a walk. Ben Michaels went 2-for-4 with three RBI and a sacrifice bunt. Emperley went 2-for-4 with a double.

Ozaukee scored three each in the sixth and seventh innings, two in the third and one in the fifth.

Logan Bell had two hits and three RBI, and Brent Hoffmann had a double and three RBI. Jacob Ives and Simon Bares each had a double.

“We held our own. We just couldn’t get past that initial start,” coach Steve Kowalkowski said.

Rocket Brad Katte pitched three innings and allowed two runs and no hits. He walked and whiffed five each. Jason von Heimburg pitched four innings and allowed seven runs on five hits, whiffing eight and walking three.

The Rockets’ defense was uncharacteristic, committing four errors.

Hoffmann was the best of Ozaukee’s pitchers, allowing two hits and whiffing three in 2-1/3 innings.

On Monday, the Rockets beat Kohler/Sheboygan Christian, 15-0.

Paul Simmelink was 2-for-2 with two RBI and two walks. Von Heimburg was 2-for-3 with a double. Emperly was 2-for-2 with walk. Kirst had a hit, sac fly and two RBI.

Katte and Robbie Tharp combined for the five-inning shutout.

The Rockets play a doubleheader at Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah on Wednesday, at Sheboygan Falls on Friday and at Oostburg on Monday, July 2.

The Warriors on June 20 lost to Kohler/Sheboygan Christian, 12-2. Ives and Bell each had a hit and RBI. Danny Johnson allowed two hits and whiffed two in two innings.

On Monday, Ozaukee lost, 10-3, at Kiel.Hoffmann allowed two hits and two walks while whiffing three in 2-2/3 innings. Five players had a hit.

Ozaukee has doubleheader at Sheboygan Falls on Wednesday, plays at Plymouth on Friday and hosts Random Lake on Monday, July 2.