June 10, 2011 at 5:26 p.m.
Chance at redemption
RHS baseball players get second-chance in legion ball
Chance at redemption
By Jonathan Bailey-
The Rhinelander Rebels, a AA American Legion team comprised of current Hodags and recent RHS graduates, kick-off their 2011 season Monday at home against RSW (Rothschild-Schofield-Weston).
And while they may be the defending state champions, the Rebels enter this season with a chip on their shoulder, thanks to a 13-0 playoff loss to Wausau East on June 3 that abruptly ended what appeared to be a very promising high school season, one which saw them win 20 of their first 21 games.
"I am sure it left a very sour taste in their mouth and they all know that they are a much better team that," Rebels manager Dan Huhnstock said. "They will want to get back in there and show the world that."
The players returned to the diamond for the first day of legion practice Thursday, spending a lot of time in the batting cages and bullpen, trying to work out the kinks that cost them in their final two spring contests. In those two games, the team was outscored 20-1.
Making the move from spring to summer ball is rather seamless according to Huhnstock, especially considering the ability that the team has this year. All but three of the pieces from last year's state champion Rebels team return this season.
"It's generally a pretty smooth transition," Huhnstock said. "Right now we're blessed to have a lot of talented kids, who really put their heart and soul in baseball. I don't see a lot of problem transitioning into legion season. These kids want to be on the ball diamond as often as possible because of their love for the game."
The Rebels' roster will be made up of a rather even balance of recent graduates and incoming seniors, with a few juniors sprinkled in.
Dan Kellen, Troy White, Alex Henkel, Micah Baumgartner and Nathan Schmidt make up a talented group of RHS graduates, while Kyle Comer, Joe Zuiker, Lucas Michlig, Ryan Morris, Bryan Kronberger and Brandyn Dahlquist comprise a group that just completed their junior season.
Although Rhinelander had a successful high school regular season and is stacked with talent, that doesn't necessarily translate into success in the Wisconsin Valley Legion League (WVLL) as it goes up against areas that are much larger, which can select from the best of the best. Last season the Rebels posted a 19-13 record, 5-9 in the WVLL.
"There's some really, really strong competition (in the WVLL)," Huhnstock said. "It would be nice to win it, that's our goal, but you have to realize in high school ball we're playing Wausau East and Wausau West. In legion baseball it's the Wausau East and West teams combined. A number of the other legion teams get kids from the other high schools in the area.
"In some cases we're sort of strapped by the fact that we only have the kids from Rhinelander playing on our team," he added. "It does give them great competition and it does help us when we get into the tournament where we're facing other Division 2 teams that are not made up like all-star teams."
The Rebels will be playing a lot of home games early, before concluding the regular season largely on the road. Ten of their first 14 games take place at Stafford Field, while 11 of their last 13 are away from home, something that Huhnstock doesn't see as either a good or a bad thing.
"We got a pretty aggressive schedule, a lot of good competition and a lot of games to play," Huhnstock said. "(The home/away split) won't be an advantage or disadvantage either way. We are playing a little bit more tournament ball this year, which I think really helps us grow as a team."
Even though Huhnstock said that there is not really any game circled on their calendar this season, he did mention that whenever they play Merrill or Antigo those are big games. He is also looking forward to facing new competition this year in Holmen, Spooner and Manitowoc.
"It's always fun to face the unknown a little bit too, where you don't know the opponents as well as the Merrill's and Antigo's, where we see them during high school ball and during legion ball," Huhnstock said. "It seems like we know everybody on a first-name basis on those teams."
Rhinelander's game against RSW, which it swept last season 17-6, 9-0, takes place Monday at Stafford Field. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m.
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