July 21, 2011 at 10:40 a.m.
Resilient Rebels hold off Merrill
Rhinelander finishes regular season with a 14-7 record
Resilient Rebels hold off Merrill
By Andrew Hildebrand-
The game saw each of Rhinelander's four starting pitchers get work on the mound for some final tuning, a tactic manager Dan Huhnstock hopes will shake off any rust before the playoffs.
"Our plan was to get each of them some work since it was our last live game before regionals," he said. "We accomplished what we wanted. We didn't over-work anyone and I think they all feel pretty prepared now."
The result was at times anything but pretty. The pitchers struggled with the strike zone all night, but with their backs against the wall, the Rebel hurlers managed to pitch just well enough to win.
Dan Kellen started the game, and pitched through the second, allowing no runs while striking out three. He did though, walk two, which proved to be a trend for the entire staff.
Nate Schmidt took over for Kellen in the third and pitched two innings, picking up the win and improving his season record to 5-1. He gave up two runs in the third, both earned, while walking four.
Next came Kyle Comer, who pitched a scoreless fifth, and was the only Rebel pitcher to not allow a walk.
Troy White took to the mound to finish the game, and pitched the sixth and seventh innings. He gave up four runs, although none were earned, and walked six batters.
Despite the high walk total, the pitching bent but didn't break, and the bats finally showed signs of life, breaking a recent trend that saw low run totals and many stranded base runners. Huhnstock believes it's a good sign heading into tournament play.
"Our hitting was a little more clutch with runners on," he said. "It wasn't all the way back, but we put 10 up on the scoreboard. That's what it's going to take to win in the playoffs."
Rhinelander started things off early, scoring one in the first and three in the third before big fifth inning blew the game wide open. By the time Schmidt approached the plate, two Rebels had already come around to score and the bases were loaded.
Schmidt didn't disappoint, knocking an RBI single. Alex Henkel and Kellen followed suit with RBI singles of their own, capping off a five-run fifth.
The Rebels cruised from there, closing the door on a sixth inning Merrill rally in the process.
Rhinelander outhit Merrill 10-5. The top four batters in the Rebels lineup - Schmidt, Henkel, Kellen and Comer - each went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a walk.
Joe Zuiker was 1-for-2 with three RBIs and a walk. Ryan Morris was held hitless, but reached base four times on walks, coming around to score three times.
The win capped off a successful regular season for the Rebels. They finished 14-7, not counting two forfeited games against Wisconsin Rapids that were rained out and not made up.
The double elimination regional tournament at Stafford Field this weekend is the next obstacle in Rhinelander's quest to repeat as state champions.
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