May 10, 2017 at 2:40 p.m.
Modrow's homer gives Hodags another 6-4 win over Lakeland
Modrow's homer gives Hodags another 6-4 win over Lakeland
The two Great Northern Conference rivals squared off for the second time in three days, this time at Lakeland Union High School, but with the same result.
Rhinelander upended Lakeland on Saturday, using a big fifth inning to win 6-4. On Monday, the Hodags used another big fifth inning, once again defeating the Thunderbirds 6-4.
Heading into the top of the fifth, Lakeland had plated four runs to take a 4-3 lead. The T-Birds had recorded two outs with a runner on first and Alec Modrow at the plate.
Modrow took a pitch from T-Bird ace T.J. Ullius and launched it to the deepest part of center field for what turned out to be the game-winning home run.
"He hit it well," RHS head coach Joe Waksmonski said. "Off the bat you didn't know if it was going to go, but it just carried for him and obviously it was a big hit and a big run for us. I know Alec felt really good coming into the dugout after that and fired up his teammates. It not only gave us the lead but it brought some life back in our dugout."
In a short span, the momentum swung both ways.
Rhinelander had jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Easton Senoraske led off the game with a triple and Jacob DeMeyer singled him in.
A pair of errors scored two more runs before both pitchers settled in.
Ullius and Hodag starter Brad Comer each had stretches of three innings without allowing a run until the T-Birds finally came to life at the plate.
Caleb Menzia led off the bottom of the fourth with a double and Gunnar Weitz scored him two batters later. Lakeland would load the bases with two outs and Austin Wanty stepping to the plate.
Wanty delivered, clearing the bases on a double with a full count.
"Both pitchers settled in pretty nicely in the middle innings and then they did get their big inning," Waksmonski said. "A couple of calls on the border that didn't go our way - which is fine - and then their No. 9 hitter Wanty made a nice play. He hit the ball to the deepest part of the field and cleared the bases."
After getting the first two outs in the inning quickly in the fifth, it appeared as if Lakeland had taken the momentum for good.
Then Tait Spencer got on base with a walk, setting up Modrow's two-run blast.
Even coming back out onto the field in the bottom of the inning, Lakeland still had some life.
Senoraske replaced Comer on the mound and unintentionally pegged designated hitter Kyosuke Kimura in the head in his first at-bat of the frame.
Senoraske bounced back, however, striking out three, while not allowing a hit or walk the rest of the way to earn the elongated save.
"That's what we kind of expected from Easton," Waksmonski said. "He's been our go-to reliever this year and we have needed him, he's done a phenomenal job of coming in, throwing strikes and keeping our opponents off the scoreboard."
Comer earned the win, allowing four runs on four hits with four strikeouts in four innings of work.
Senoraske finished the day 2 for 3 with two runs, while DeMeyer went 2 for 2.
The Hodags weren't perfect, stranding 10 runners throughout the game, including leaving the bases loaded twice, but they managed to get the job done.
"It wasn't perfect, flawless win by any stretch of the imagination," Waksmonski said. "But we battled and overcame some of the adversity today and did a nice job of pulling out the 'W.'"
Rhinelander (9-3, 6-1 GNC) remains one game back of first-place Antigo in the standings.
The Hodags are back in action tonight with a GNC game against Mosinee at Stafford Field, with first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m.
Nick Sabato may be reached at [email protected] or via Twitter @SabatoNick.
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