May 24, 2017 at 2:04 p.m.
Hodags fall to Antigo, beat Pines to end GNC season
Hodags fall to Antigo, beat Pines to end GNC season
Antigo scored all of its runs in the fifth and sixth innings Monday to defeat the Hodags 7-4 at Stafford Field. Rhinelander used a five-run fourth inning and a dominant pitching performance by Brad Comer to knock off Northland Pines 11-1 Tuesday in Eagle River.
Antigo 7, Rhinelander 4
Things came unraveled for the Hodags in the fifth and sixth innings Monday as Rhinelander mistakes directly led to four Antigo runs. The Hodags lost by three. Antigo clinched the GNC title outright as a result.
In those two innings, two runs scored as a result of errors - Rhinelander committed four in the contest. Two more runs scored as the result of a wild pitch and a passed ball.
"The fifth, I felt we gave away three outs," RHS baseball coach Joe Waksmonski said. "That was obviously their big inning, their four-run inning. Antigo's obviously too good of a team to be giving away outs. They take advantage of that."
The Hodags led 1-0, thanks to Brad Quade's RBI double in the third, when Antigo made its rally. Antigo loaded the bases with nobody out thanks to a double, and infield hit and a dropped fly ball in left by Josh Randolph. Brady Tatro singled home Collin Meinert and Matt Arndt scored when shortstop Easton Senoraske made a wild throw to first.
Matt Winter scored later in the inning on a passed ball and Tatro crossed on a wild pitch as the Red Robins chased starter Jacob DeMeyer after five innings of work and 99 pitches. DeMeyer walked four, struck out four and allowed four hits. Antigo worked DeMeyer deep into counts on a number off occasions, putting him into full counts seven times.
"That's the way it's been with him. He'll have an inning where he'll have a walk or two but he'll find a way to work himself out of the jam," Waksmonski said. "He's that good of a pitcher, but if we can just find a way to avoid those walks, we can have him pitch longer into a ball game. That being said, he threw very well. Antigo's a great lineup."
Antigo tacked on three more in the sixth off Senoraske, who came on in relief of DeMeyer. Meinert doubled home Wade Farmer and scored on a single. A two-out error by Cole Spaulding at second allowed Winter to cross.
Rhinelander tried to come back late, loading the bases in the sixth. Quade scored on a wild pitch and Cole Spaulding scored on a passed ball. Rhinelander had a chance to do more damage in the seventh as Senoraske scored on Tyler Blomdahl's double to right center but DeMeyer was thrown out trying to score from first on the play. Quade and Alec Modrow walked to load the bases with two out, but Comer grounded out to short to end the contest.
"You can't fail the guys in the last inning, they had some great at-bats, but when you play a team like Antigo and going into the postseason, it's a 21-out game and we have to play well for 21 outs," Waksmonski said.
DeMeyer and Quade each recorded two hits in the contest. Rhinelander recorded 10 hits on the day.
"We did hit the ball well in spots," Waksmonski said. "We did miss a couple of key, clutch situations early on in the ball game. We were getting runners on, getting them in scoring position, but we just couldn't quite finish the deal early on in the game."
Rhinelander 11, Northland Pines 1
Comer struck out 11 and the Hodag bats came alive the second and third times through the order as Rhinelander defeated Northland Pines Tuesday.
The Hodags broke the game open in the fourth inning and tacked on five more runs over the final two innings for good measure.
That was plenty of run support for Comer, who scattered two hits and didn't walk anyone in a 90-pitch complete-game effort.
"Today started with pitching," Waksmonski said. "Brad got off to a roaring start. Brad got a couple of strikeouts in the first inning right away. He really just went right after them and went right to work. Eleven strikeouts, no walks, you really can't pitch any better than the way Brad pitched today."
DeMeyer singled home Senoraske in the third to finally get the Hodags on the board and the floodgates opened in the fourth as six of the first seven batters in the inning reached safely. Tait Spencer singled home Blomdahl, Tyler Olson drove in Spaulding and Quade drove in Liam Stevens with a single. Rhinelander also scored on an error and a passed ball in the inning.
"Our guys were in front of the pitching early in the game," Waksmonski said. "Once we zeroed in we still didn't hit the ball all that hard, but we were able to find some holes in the defense."
The Hodags tacked on three more runs in the sixth and two in the seventh. Quade hit a pair of sacrifice flies and finished the day with three RBIs. Senoraske had three hits. Comer and Blomdahl each had two hits.
Northland Pines broke up the shutout in the bottom of the seventh as Hunter Kaehler singled and scored on a ground-out by Trevor Hopkins on an inning that was kept alive by an error.
Playoff preps ahead
Rhinelander will have two chances to sharpen its skills before the WIAA tournament opener next Tuesday against Green Bay Southwest.
Rhinelander play Merrill Thursday and Ashland Friday. Both games will be played at Stafford Field. The Ashland game was a late addition to the schedule as the Oredockers have a first-round by in the Division 2 playoffs, which begin Thursday.
"I think it's important to get our guys their at-bats and looks," Waksmonski said. "We'll play it just like any non-conference game. We're going to try to win, but at the same time, we've got to get out guys ready for postseason. Guys have to get in that proper mindset. Having these games goes along way as opposed to having practice. I think our guys get a lot more out of it in that regard. I think these two games will be two good tune-ups for the postseason."
First pitch is set for 5 p.m. Thursday and 4:30 p.m. Friday.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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