July 13, 2011 at 4:24 p.m.
Schmidt's arm helps Rebels to a split
Rhinelander takes on Point tonight
Schmidt's arm helps Rebels to a split
By Andrew Hildebrand-
Schmidt took to the bump having already thrown one inning of relief in the first game, but showed absolutely no signs of fatigue in an impressive performance consisting of 99 pitches, besting Marshfield 3-2 and improving the Rebels' season record to 12-6, 5-4 in the WVLL. He improved to 4-1 on the season after giving up a measly five hits and fanning five in a complete game effort.
It was the kind of pitching the Rebels sorely needed going into the second game.
"He really stepped up for us," said Rebels' manager Dan Huhnstock. "We were going to have to have a kind of pitching by committee game, but his arm felt strong, despite having just pitched on Sunday. He came up huge and gave us a complete game."
It's just the latest example of how strong the hurlers have been for the Rebels this season.
"Pitching has been our strength all year," Huhnstock said. "Throughout school ball and summer ball, we've leaned on our pitching to keep us in games and they've come through, time after time."
Pitching though, is only half the game. It takes runs to get a win, and the Rebels scored just enough to win.
Marshfield entered the fourth with a 1-0 lead, but Dan Kellen started things off by taking first after getting hit by a pitch. He later advanced to second on a wild pitch, and to third when Troy White flied out in foul territory.
The Rebels rewarded Kellen's nifty baserunning with three consecutive hits by Micah Baumgartner, Brandyn Dahlquist and Alex Henkel, allowing Rhinelander to take a 2-1 lead.
However, Marshfield responded in the bottom of the inning, tying the game at two apiece.
The Rebels squeaked ahead in the top of the fifth though. Schmidt was struck by a pitch and advanced to second on a wild pitch. He then made it to third after Joe Zuiker knocked an infield hit, and proceeded to score on Dan Kellen's can of corn to left that the defense misplayed. Schmidt represented Rhinelander's third run, enough for the 3-2 lead.
With the win in sight, Schmidt cruised, allowing no runs for the remainder, striking out three of the final six outs.
Schmidt's heroics saved the Rebels from a sweep, after a disappointing showing in game one.
Marshfield took an early first inning 2-0 lead. The Rebels responded when White reached base, but was picked off stealing second moments later. Zuiker followed with a monster shot over the fence in left, rendering White's failed steal all the more costly.
The score steadied at 2-1 until the sixth when White loaded the bases with a hit batter and two walks. He looked to be out of the inning when the next Marshfield batter hit a potential double play ball, but Lucas Michlig's throw soared over the shortstop's head, allowing another runner to score. It was just one of the game's four costly Rebel errors.
Rhinelander made a run at a comeback in the seventh, though. Schmidt knocked a ground ball to second, scoring Baumgartner, bringing up Kellen with two base runners and two outs. However, it wasn't meant to be. Kellen chased a high fastball out of the zone for the game ending strike out.
The Rebels stranded a total of 17 base runners in the doubleheader, something Huhnstock says isn't necessarily an indication of how the team is hitting, but when.
"It's not that our bats are slumping," he said. "It's just that we're struggling when we've got runners on base. We're just lacking that clutch hitting right now."
Moving forward, Rhinelander will continue to lean on their strong pitching staff, and look to get the offense going. That's something Huhnstock isn't all that worried about.
"They're a confident bunch," he said. "They know it's time to gear it up and knock it to the next level as we near regionals."
The Rebels travel to Stevens Point tonight for a doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 5:30 p.m.
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