June 9, 2017 at 1:49 p.m.
Rebels bombard Minocqua late in GNLC opener
Comer, Spaulding and Zuiker combine for nine RBIs in Rhinelander's 14-4 victory
Rebels bombard Minocqua late in GNLC opener
The Rebels pounded out 12 hits in the contest, including four extra-base knocks, en route to a 14-4 romp.
"Overall I thought we played pretty well," Rhinelander manager Dan Huhnstock said. "Of course there's always a few things we can get better at."
Bradley Comer hit a two-run blast in the top of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead, but it was later in the game when the Rebels really flexed their muscles.
Minocqua bounced back to tie the game in the third inning on a 2-run single by Austin Wanty with two outs.
But slowly, the Rebels exhausted pitcher Ryan McEnroe and eventually chased him in the top of the fifth inning.
"We talked about our pitchers getting ahead and that was McEnroe's problem, too. He just wasn't getting ahead of guys," Minocqua manager Mike Wilhelm said. "When you pitch from ahead it's just a different ballgame. You can dictate what's being thrown, what you can throw to guys in hitting counts."
Minocqua brought in reliever Bryce Crabtree to replace McEnroe and Rhinelander's bats came alive.
The Rebels scored two in the fourth, four in the fifth and sixth and two more in the seventh to open up the lead.
Comer, Cole Spaulding and Kurt Zuiker had three RBIs apiece, while Josh Randolph had two RBIs on two doubles.
"We were just starting to get dialed in with their other pitcher and we were seeing the ball good tonight," Huhnstock said. "So no pure science to it or anything, it was just a good night. We were seeing the ball well, we were aggressive and we got some pretty good counts to hit in and we were able to take advantage."
While Minocqua was having trouble finding consistency on the mound, Rhinelander made sure there was no consistency for its opponent at the plate.
Jacob DeMeyer - who also went 3 for 4 at the dish - got the start on the bump and went five strong innings.
DeMeyer allowed just three hits and walked four, while allowing just one earned run. He also fanned seven batters.
When it was time for DeMeyer to take a rest, the Rebels brought in Easton Senoraske, who threw two innings, surrendering one hit and no earned runs, while striking out four.
Both pitchers had up and down moments, but on the whole, they were the difference in the game.
"[DeMeyer] threw real well," Huhnstock said. "He was around the plate, he was a little inconsistent at times, but that's about the way he threw all [high school] year. He kept us in the game, threw hard, got about five quality innings out of him and then Easton took care of business the rest of the way."
Rhinelander improves to 2-0 on the young season and was scheduled to face Tomahawk on Friday before making the trip to face Medford on Monday.
Nick Sabato may be reached at [email protected] or via Twitter @SabatoNick.
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