April 12, 2017 at 2:15 p.m.
Softball: Hodags shutdown Medford in opener
Schickert's 10 Ks, Kuester's 2 RBIs key 4-0 win
Softball: Hodags shutdown Medford in opener
Kuester delivered RBI doubles in the fourth and sixth innings, while Schickert struck out 10 in a complete game, two-hit effort, as the Hodags finally got their regular season underway with a 4-0 victory over the Raiders.
"Great win," Hodag coach D.J. DeMeyer said afterward. "Medford's a class team. They're very well coached. It's a nice win ... I don't think we had any errors. We only gave up two hits. We made a couple nice plays. I was very happy."
The Hodags broke a scoreless tie in the fourth as Stephanie Kuester reached on a two-base error following an overthrow on a ball hit to the hole at shortstop. Makayla Kuester drove her twin sister home with a drive to the right-center gap.
It was virtually the same scenario in the sixth as Stephanie Kuester reached on a two-out walk and motored around from first to score on another gapper to right center by her sibling.
"Makayla did really good," DeMeyer said. "Makayla absolutely crushed the ball two times. She got fooled on a change up the first at-bat. She was a little pumped up. She just hit too high of a fly ball but, overall, I'm ecstatic."
The Hodags tacked on two more insurance runs in the sixth. Schickert singled up the middle to score Makayla Kuester. Schickert's courtesy runner, Cami Buchmann, scored later in the inning on a wild pitch.
"That was huge," DeMeyer said of the added insurance. "That takes a little pressure off of Ali. She can really relax and just throw her pitches and let the defense do what they've got to do."
Schickert shut down the Raiders. Through 6 2/3 innings, the only hit she allowed was a bunt single to speedy Medford leadoff hitter Tori Lammar. Alex Nicks laced a single to right with two out in the seventh, but Schickert proceeded to fan Jenna Klemm for her 10th and final strikeout of the night. Schickert also allowed two walks and hit two batters.
"Ali was Ali," DeMeyer said. "She puts me at ease a little bit when she's in that circle. She also made a nice line drive catch right back at her. She hit the ball really well. Ali was dominant both offensively and defensively."
Lindsay Juedes had the only other hit for the Hodags on a cold and breezy afternoon in Medford. Hailee Clausnitzer took the loss for the Raiders, giving up three earned runs on five hits over seven innings with two walks and two strikeouts.
Eager to play
Tuesday's game was supposed to be Rhinelander's fourth game of the 2017 season. Mother Nature had different ideas, however, and games at Merrill March 28 and Marshfield April 4 were postponed due to soggy field conditions. The Hodags' scheduled game against defending Division 1 state champ Stevens Point on Monday was rained out.
With both Medford and Rhinelander receiving snow Monday night, the status of Tuesday's game was in doubt until late morning, but when the field was given the OK, DeMeyer said he wasted little time debating whether his team should play in less than ideal conditions.
"I said, 'We're playing.' It's great to get out. The girls wanted to get out. They told me last night, 'Let's play no matter what,' and that's what we did," he said.
DeMeyer added, for the first game, he was impressed with what he saw against a Raider team (3-2, 1-1 Great Northern) that already had four games under its belt.
"There were a little bit of jitters but I was really proud of the way these girls were up the whole game," he said. "Everyone who was on the bench was standing and cheering. Everyone was talking. For the first game, I thought we played really well. We came out a little too aggressive batting the first inning. We didn't even take a pitch, maybe one pitch. But, overall, they settled in."
Too eager to run
The Hodags' M.O. under DeMeyer has been aggressive play on the base paths, but that style may have hindered the Hodags more than it helped Tuesday. Both Ivy Packard and Molly Wagler stole bases in the game, but were thrown out later in the same inning trying to steal third. Rhinelander also hit into two fly-ball double plays. Buchmann was doubled off first in the second inning on a popped up bunt attempt by Juedes and Makayla Kuester was thrown out to end the fourth trying to score from third on a shallow fly out to right by Juedes.
"I made a couple mistakes on the bases," DeMeyer conceded. "I was a little too aggressive a couple times but, overall, that's the way I am and I'll take that for the first game."
Up next
The Hodags (1-0, 1-0 Great Northern) will make up their postponed game against Marshfield Thursday night at the Marshfield Fairgrounds. The Tigers (2-1, 0-1 Wis. Valley) already have a win over reigning GNC champ Mosinee to their credit this season.
"They're a good team," DeMeyer said. "They've got a good pitcher. It's going to be a good game."
First pitch Thursday is slated for 6:15 p.m. Marshfield will play a Wisconsin Valley Conference contest against Merrill immediately prior to the game against the Hodags.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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