April 25, 2018 at 1:40 p.m.
RHS softball slugs way to opening sweep
RHS softball slugs way to opening sweep
The Hodags pounded out 15 hits, and overcame a couple of rough patches defensively, to defeat Peshtigo 12-8 in the first game of an invite at Woodside Sports Complex in Wisconsin Dells.
The Hodags were more patient in game two, drawing 15 free bases as they defeated Crivitz in five innings, 17-2.
"Everybody put the ball in play," coach D.J. DeMeyer said. "I don't think there were a lot of strikeouts. We hit the ball. We were aggressive on the base paths like we always are and we caught them off guard at times."
Some of the pop was expected. Makayla Kuester went 3-for-5 with a home run and a pair of RBIs in the first game and her twin sister, Stephanie, had four hits in the contest. Some of the pop came from unexpected sources including sophomore Sophia McGinnis, who hit her first career varsity homer.
"We've seen her hit it in the cage. It's nice to see that translate onto the field," DeMeyer said. "We had a lot of girls hitting in the cage and we saw that transfer, which I think is a good thing."
Rhinelander raced out to a 9-0 lead through 3 1/2 innings against Peshtigo before a rocky fourth brought the Bulldogs back into the contest. The Hodags committed four errors with its reconfigured infield that inning as Peshtigo plated four runs.
"We were rolling the first game and then we had one bad inning - some throwing errors and catching errors," DeMeyer said. "I kind of knew that would happen because we haven't been outside. We had a couple letdowns. It's just minor little tweaks we have to do, but I'm very, very pleased with our defense overall. You take away that inning, it was very solid defense."
McGinnis answered with a solo home run in the top of the fifth to put the Hodags ahead 10-4 and Rhinelander tacked on a couple of insurance runs in the seventh after Peshtigo had cut the lead to 10-7.
Molly Wagler and Ella Mullikin each had two hits in the win.
Stephanie Kuester's pitching line was full of sevens in the first game. She allowed seven hits, walked seven and struck out seven as she allowed three earned runs over seven innings of work. DeMeyer noted that Kuester labored a little bit late in her first extended outing of the spring.
"But we worked through it," he said. "Seven walks, we've got to cut down on that. She knows that but, overall, I was pleased with her performance. She pitched well. She had a lot of movement on the ball."
In game two, the Hodags jumped on Crivitz for seven runs in the first and never looked back. Rhinelander tacked on four more runs in the second, four in the third and two more in the fourth.
Makayla Kuester had two more hits in that game, Stephanie Kuester added a two-run double in the fourth and freshman Hannah Worachek through in a pinch-hit RBI triple in the third.
"We jumped out right off the bat," DeMeyer said of the Crivitz game. "They have a young team. They had a freshman pitching so I kind of pulled back the reins and I wanted the girls to hit. She was harder to hit because she's slower than what we're used to seeing."
The Wolverines walked 12 batters and hit three others in the contest.
Wagler pitched all five innings for Rhinelander, allowing only two hits while striking out three.
"Molly pitched well," DeMeyer said. "We we're going to pull her after three but we decided to stretch her out because we have a big stretch of games coming. She was workmanlike, what I expect out of her."
Defensive jigsaw
DeMeyer said his defense would have a new look to it, with four starters from last year lost to graduation, and it varied from game to game. The only constants between the two games were Mikayla Evenstad in centerfield and Brylee Ridderbusch in right. The Kuester twins, who were battery mates in the opening game, played second and short in the second game. Everybody else had different fielding positions in the second game as well.
"Our infield is sound and our outfield looked sound," DeMeyer said. "We're going to have errors the first couple games because we haven't been outside, but I like the hustle that we had. Everybody was moving and backing up (plays). We've just got to clean up a couple of things and I think we have a very solid team."
While there were some errors, the were also bright spots, defensively. Tori Roberts snagged a Grace Wickman line drive to the gap in left center to save a run in the first inning against Peshtigo. The Hodags were also able to turn a double play in the seventh as Stephanie Kuester snagged a line drive while Peshtigo had runners at second and third with nobody out.
Rhinelander also turned a double play during the first inning of the game against Crivitz.
What's next
The Hodags practiced at Pioneer Park Monday, their first outdoor practice of the spring. The varsity field will be ready to host Lakeland for a non-conference game today and Wausau West tomorrow.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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