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<\/p>\nIt was a day to remember for both the Cedar Grove-Belgium and Reedsville baseball teams on June 9.<\/p>\n
The Rockets clinched their first trip to the WIAA state tournament since the summer of 1984 before the merger of Cedar Grove and Belgium.<\/p>\n
For the Panthers, it marked the first-ever time punching their ticket to state with a pair of victories.<\/p>\n
Cedar Grove-Belgium began the day by defeating Living Word Lutheran 8-0 in the Division 3 sectional semifinal behind a dazzling pitching performance by Ira Hilbelink.<\/p>\n
The junior limited the opposition to three hits over seven innings while striking out 14.<\/p>\n
Offensively, Austin Knapp drove in three runs while scoring two himself as he was 2-for-3 at the plate.<\/p>\n
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Cedar Grove-Belgium\u2019s Josh Anzia (32) arrives at home against Manitowoc Lutheran, Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in Cedar Grove, Wis.<\/p>\n
The Rockets jumped out to a 2-0 advantage after the first inning then led 6-0 after two complete.<\/p>\n
A few hours later against Lake Country Lutheran, Cedar Grove-Belgium prevailed 6-2 to win the sectional championship.<\/p>\n
The Lightning scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to post a late threat but weren’t able to complete the late comeback.<\/p>\n
More Cedar Grove-Belgium: This Cedar Grove-Belgium baseball player committed to a Big Ten school<\/a><\/p>\n Carter Schmitz earned the complete-game win for the Rockets, scattering nine hits and two walks over seven innings.<\/p>\n Connor Waters was the hero at the plate for Cedar Grove-Belgium, going 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, a run scored and four RBIs.<\/p>\n Reedsville rallied from a three-run deficit in the bottom of the fifth inning in the Division 4 sectional semifinal en route to a 10-6 win over Green Lake\/Princeton.<\/p>\n More postseason coverage: This Mishicot athlete broke a state track & field record and won gold<\/a><\/p>\n The Panthers scored eight runs over the fifth and sixth innings, highlighted by a two-RBI single on an 0-2 count by Caleb Schwahn in the fifth.<\/p>\n Nate Christensen went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs as well for Reedsville.<\/p>\n It was a 6-5 win in the sectional final against previously undefeated and No. 1 ranked Barneveld which did the job for the Panthers.<\/p>\n Lucas Lodel drove home Zach Prochnow in the bottom of the sixth inning to give Reedsville the lead late after Barneveld tied the game in the top of the frame.<\/p>\n Lodel finished 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and a run scored.<\/p>\n Contact Tom Dombeck at 920-686-2965 or tdombeck@htrnews.com<\/a>. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Tom_Dombeck<\/a>.<\/p>\n This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: WIAA baseball: Reedsville, Cedar Grove-Belgium clinch state appearances<\/a><\/p>\n