The Wisconsin high school baseball season kicks off on March 31, opening day for regular season action under WIAA regulations. Over the next two weeks, leading up to opening day, we'll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2026 spring season, touching on programs spanning all state classifications, counting down through the official Prep Baseball Wisconsin Preseason Power 25 Rankings. Perennially, we've submitted a preseason questionnaire to high school head coaches across the entire state. Their responses have been flooding in and we're using the detailed insight they've provided in our team-by-team preseason analysis.

Our 2026 preseason coverage continues today.

High School: Cedar Grove-Belgium Rockets
Preseason Rank: No. 22
Head Coach: Tom Race
WIAA Division: 3
Conference: Big East South

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ROSTER PREVIEW

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DATA CENTER

TEAM RANKS:

This data is sourced from the 2026 Wisconsin winter showcase circuit and select 2025 events, compiled by Prep Baseball. We took the top-three metrics recorded by players from each high school in the following categories. Here is how Cedar Grove-Belgium's top-three performers averaged across each category:

Category	Top-3 Avg.	State Rank
Avg. Exit Velocity	94.4 mph	No. 4	of 102
Max Exit Velocity	102.7 mph	No. 2	of 102
Bat Speed	74.7 mph	No. 3	of 102

INDIVIDUAL DATA STAND-OUTS:

• Ira Hilbelink (5-foot-11, 198 pounds)
  
  • max EV: 107.0 mph (T-No. 3 overall in Wisconsin, T-No. 2 in state's 2027 class)
  • avg EV: 102.2 mph (No. 2 overall in Wisconsin, No. 1 in state's 2027 class)
  • bat speed: 80.6 mph (No. 2 overall in Wisconsin, No. 1 in state's 2027 class)
  • max fastball: 93.0 mph (No. 1 in state's 2027 class)
  • CB spin: 2,441 rpm (91st state percentile)
  • rot. accel.: 27.0g (T-No. 7 overall in Wisconsin)
  • 60-yd. dash: 6.69s (97th state percentile)
  • 10-yd. split: 1.61s (97th state percentile)
• Austin Knapp (5-foot-11, 188 pounds)
  
  • bat speed: 74.1 mph (97th state percentile)
  • max EV: 96.0 mph (89th state percentile)
• Jonah Banton (5-foot-9, 184 pounds)
  
  • max EV: 104.0 mph (T-No. 15 overall in Wisconsin, T-No. 7 in state's 2026 class)
  • avg EV: 95.7 mph (T-No. 19 overall in Wisconsin, T-No. 10 in state's 2026 class)
  • bat speed: 73.2 mph (92nd state percentile, No. 10 in state's 2026 class)
  • rot. accel.: 25.0g (T-No. 14 overall in Wisconsin, No. 1 in state's 2026 class)

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X-FACTOR

OF/RHP Ira Hilbelink (2027; uncommitted) is one of the top two-way talents in a deep Wisconsin 27’ class. When it comes to playing the game, there isn’t much Hilbelink can’t do coming off a sophomore year where he took home Third Team All-State Honors. With the bat, he slashed .434/.522/.645, with 1.167 OPS, five doubles, four triples, one home run, and 17 RBIs, while only striking out seven times. Then on the mound, he tossed 54.1 innings, to a 1.42 ERA, with 85 strikeouts, 22 walks, and only allowing 11 earned runs. The true spark plug to this lineup and rotation, set to patrol in center field and be the staff's ace. Hilbelink is going to make a loud noise all spring, whether it comes from the bat or on the mound, making not only himself, but this Cedar Grove Belgium squad a must-watch this spring. 

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FAMILIAR FACE TO WATCH

More than worthy of “X-Factor” status, OF Griffin Knight (2027; uncommitted) is primed to be another two-way threat for Cedar Grove-Belgium this spring. As a sophomore, he batted .333/.404/.395, with 24 RBIs, five doubles, 10 strikeouts, and 10 walks. A top-of-the-order bat looking to maintain that position and create a feared duo with Hilbelink. Then, when it comes to the mound, the right-hander tossed 41 innings with a 2.22 ERA, 6-1 record, 53 strikeouts, and 13 walks. The number two arm last year, Knight, will once again take over this role, as Cedar Grove-Belgium brings back an experienced rotation. A stable presence looking to solidify both ends of the roster. 

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TEAM OUTLOOK

The Cedar Grove-Belgium Rockets enter 2026 with arguably the most impressive offensive showcase metrics in Wisconsin, ranking fourth in the state for average exit velocity and second for maximum exit velocity. That production is driven by an elite core that posted impressive numbers during their 2025 playoff push. OF/RHP Ira Hilbelink (2027) emerged as one of the state's premier two-way talents, touching on his stats earlier above, the two-way threat is looking poised to improve on all his marks heading into the spring. His 107.0 mph maximum exit velocity and 93.0 mph fastball both rank No. 1 in Wisconsin's 2027 class.

The Rockets will rely heavily on their returning senior leadership, headlined by C/1B Jonah Banton (2026; Highland CC), who swungs a strong left-handed bat and provides steady defense behind the plate. MIF/RHP Carter Schmitz (2026) offers two-way value after posting a 1.56 ERA with 37 strikeouts across 36 innings while hitting .284. 3B/RHP Seth Race (2026) brings both offensive production (.350 batting average, 16 RBI) and mound depth with a 1.50 ERA in five appearances.

The underclassmen provide significant depth, particularly OF/RHP Griffin Knight (2027), who we touched on earlier as a solidifying presence on both sides of the ball. RHP/3B Austin Knapp (2027) hit .309 and offers developing pitching potential, while C/OF Connor Waters (2027) provides versatility after hitting .348 with 23 runs scored. C/1B Josh Anzia (2027) adds catching depth and swings a physical right-handed bat.

Head coach Tom Race has built a program that balances proven veteran leadership with an emerging group of underclassmen who have already demonstrated high-level tools. The entire pitching staff returns, featuring multiple options with Hilbelink leading a rotation that includes Knight, Schmitz, and Race who combined to go 19-4 as a staff last spring.

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BOTTOM LINE

Cedar Grove-Belgium possesses the offensive talent and two-way depth to compete at a high level in D3, with Hilbelink anchoring both sides of the ball for what could be a memorable 2026 campaign.

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Find more information on the 2026 Cedar Grove-Belgium program below:

+ 2026 Team Schedule
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Wisconsin Preseason Power 25 homepage

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