July 25, 2016 at 2:41 p.m.
Rebels can't rally against Merrill
Finish third in regionals
Rebels can't rally against Merrill
On Friday there would be no heroic comeback, however, as the Rebels lost 8-6 in an elimination game of the Wisconsin American Legion Class AA District 2 tournament at Athletic Park.
The loss relegated Rhinelander to a third-place finish in the four-team tournament. Antigo defeated Merrill 4-1 later Friday evening to win the regional and advance to the state tournament, which begins Wednesday in River Falls.
It wasn't for a lack of trying on the Rebels' part. Trailing 8-4 in the top of the seventh, Rhinelander got runners to first and second with one out. It appeared reminiscent of a July 10 rally in which the Rebels scored six timess in the seventh to defeate Merrill 8-7.
Jacob DeMeyer then doubled home Brad Quade and Josh Randolph hit a sacrifice fly to score Nick Spencer, but Tait Spencer - representing the tying run - lined out to second base to end the contest.
An accumulation of mistakes and missed opportunities doomed the Rebels Friday. They committed five errors in the first three innings as Merrill took a 5-4 lead and missed golden opportunities to score, leaving the bases loaded in the third and sixth innings.
"We just lost focus a little bit and didn't play real sharp, gave them too many outs per inning a couple of innings and that will hurt you any time you're playing against a good team," Rebels manager Dan Huhnstock said.
Kurt Zuiker led off the third with a single and scored two batters later when Tyler Blomdahl reached on a error to give the Rebels a 4-2 advantage. Quade hit into a fielder's choice, Nick Spencer walked and DeMeyer singled to load the bases with two out but, following a pitching change, Brandon Hess hit a routine grounder to second to end the inning.
Three errors in the bottom of the inning helped give Merrill a lead it never relinquished. Adam Messerschmidt singled, stole second and got to third when a high throw popped out of shortstop Brad Comer's glove on the stolen base attempt. That allowed Ryan Golisch to drive in Messerschmidt on a ground out to short. Jared Schmeltzer reached when Quade dropped a fly ball in right and scored when Easton Senoraske misfired on a bunt attempt back to the mound by Trey Seubert. Nick Bowe scored one batter later on a sacrifice fly by Justin Pyan.
Pyan, who replaced starting pitcher Brett Seubert with two out in the third, shut Rhinelander down until the seventh, but lost a little command in the sixth when a hit batsman and two walks loaded the bases with one out. Trailing 7-4 at the time, Kurt Zuiker narrowly missed tying the game, pulling a ball just foul down the right field line. He struck out moments later and Comer flied out to right as the Rebels came away empty.
"One key hit anywhere there, it could have been a different ball game," Huhnstock noted.
Senoraske took the loss for Rhinelander, allowing seven runs - five earned - over four-plus innings of work. He faced two batters in the fifth, allowing a double to Schmeltzer and an RBI single to Bowe before being relieved by Nick Spencer. Bowe scored later in the inning when he and Trey Seubert executed a double steal of home and second.
Merrill tacked on an insurance run in the sixth as Drew Hoff hit a leadoff single and scored on a wild pitch.
Rhinelander came out swinging early. Senoraske singled to leadoff the game and scored on a Comer double. After Merrill tied it in the bottom of the first, the Rebels plated two in the second. Nick Spencer walked and scored on a sacrifice fly by his younger brother, Tait. DeMeyer reached on a error and scored on a two-out single by Senoraske.
The Rebels collected eight hits in the game - including five in the first 2 2/3 innings off Brett Seubert.
"With Seubert you could get your timing down a little easier and read his curveball a little bit easier out of his hand," Huhnstock said. "I figured we'd get to him after awhile and score a bunch of runs, but they were able to get their other guy in there and a big change in the way he threw the ball kept us off balance."
Senoraske, Zuiker and DeMeyer all collected two hits in the loss.
Rhinelander went 15-7 this summer and finished as the inaugural GNLC champions - a title it could still end up sharing with Mosinee when and if Mosinee makes up a postponed game at Eagle River. The good news for the Rebels is most of this year's key players will return next season. Of those who participated in the tournament, only Nick Spencer is not eligible to return. Both Zuiker and Hess graduated this year but are eligible to play legion ball next season because their 19th birthdays fall after Jan. 1, 2017.
"I think we should be a very competitive team for years to come," Huhnstock said.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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