June 12, 2017 at 1:25 p.m.
Caught out by the Cubs
Tomahawk rallies past Rebels 9-8
Caught out by the Cubs
Tomahawk Post 93 rallied for two runs in the top of the seventh and stunned the Rebels 9-8 Friday at Stafford Field.
The Cubs (2-2, 1-1 GNLC) led much of the way, thanks to a five-run third. Rhinelander tied it up with a big fourth, and took the lead in the bottom of the sixth, but couldn't hold on to the lead against a Cubs' offense that pounded out 12 hits and consistently found holes in the Rebels' defense.
"They were hitting where our defense wasn't and we added a few miscues in. That's how you lose ball games," Rebels manager Dan Huhnstock said.
With the Rebels clinging to a 8-7 lead in the seventh, pitcher Brandon Hess walked leadoff man Jake Ruid and then gave up a double to Jakob Kahle to give the Cubs runners and second and third with nobody out. Cole Feest singled home the tying run and Hess handed Tomahawk the lead when his pickoff attempt of Feest at first sailed wide, allowing Kahle to score from third.
Rhinelander had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh after Easton Senoraske ended up on second following a one-out error. Jacob DeMeyer's fly ball to deep right advanced Senoraske to third, but Brad Comer popped out to shallow center to end the contest.
Comer took a no-decision on the mound despite getting shelled for seven runs on nine hits over the first three innings.
"We came out flat today," Huhnstock said. "We did not play a good game and we were actually lucky to be in the game. Tomahawk, they came out ready to play and it showed. We came out ready to play and that showed."
Isaac Weber doubled home Eli Wurl in the first and Matt Bartz added a two-out hit later in the inning that scored Weber. Rhinelander responded with a run in the bottom of the first and back-to-back RBI doubles by DeMeyer and Comer in the second to take a 3-2 lead.
Tomahawk went to hitting again in the third, and was aided by some shaky Rhinelander defense. Shawn Dirkx reached on an error and later scored on a Kahle single. Garrett Schulz' blooper plated Ruid and, with the bases loaded, Tomahawk tried to execute a suicide squeeze. Jacob Matti was unable to get the bunt down but Kahle slid under catcher Tyler Blomdahl's tag. Matti singled later in the at bat, scoring Bartz. The relay throw from the outfield came back in plenty of time to gun down Schulz, but the throw was off target, allowing the Cubs to score their fifth run of the frame.
"Things just snowballed like that tonight, a little dink and dunk, then they make a play and we don't make a play and you end up losing a ball game by one run," Huhnstock said.
Blomdahl barely missed a home run in the fourth, lacing a drive to right center that banged off the fence for a two-run double. Cole Spaulding and Kurt Zuiker followed with singles to tie the game at 7.
That's how the score remained until the sixth when Josh Randolph took a 3-2 pitch for ball four with the bases loaded and two out.
"We were lucky enough to put a bunch on the board ourselves, otherwise that could have been a real ugly game. It was a very winnable game for us, in spite of everything but, when you play sloppy baseball you're going to lose sloppy games," Huhnstock said. "I thought we put ourself in a pretty good position, but we were just not able to finish the job."
Hess took the loss in relief, allowing two runs on three hits over the final four innings. Ruid got the win for Tomahawk, allowing a run on three hits over the final three innings. DeMeyer had a three hit night for Rhinelander. Blomdahl added a pair of hits in defeat.
The Rebels traveled to Medford Monday in a game that concluded after deadline and will return to Stafford Field Wednesday to take on Northwoods (Eagle River/Three Lakes).
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
Comments:
You must login to comment.