April 30, 2018 at 1:07 p.m.
DeMeyer, defense carry Hodags to 7-4 win
DeMeyer, defense carry Hodags to 7-4 win
The Hodag senior drove in three runs and made a couple of stellar plays in the outfield as Rhinelander held off Stratford 7-4 in a non-conference contest.
Needing some insurance with a 5-4 lead in the sixth, DeMeyer delivered with a bases-loaded double to right center that plated a pair of runs - and it would have been three if not for a stellar relay to cut down Brad Quade at the plate.
DeMeyer added an RBI single in the third inning as part of a 3-for-4 day at the plate.
"When he strokes the ball to right center like he did, that's when he's at his best. That's when a lot of our guys are at their best," coach Joe Waksmonski said.
Stratford scored twice off starter Liam Stevens in the third and fifth innings, and could have potentially done more damage if not for a couple of heads-up plays by DeMeyer in center.
Lance Heidman doubled in a pair of runs for Stratford in the third, but was thrown out at home on a strong throw by DeMeyer in an attempt to score from second on an Eli Drexler base hit.
Back-to-back RBI singles by Dylan Schoenherr and Dawson Moen cut Rhinelander's lead to one in the fifth but Schoneherr's courtesy runner overran second base on Moen's single. DeMeyer raced to the bag and tagged out the runner on a diving play at second to retire the side.
It was part of a big day for the Hodag defense that committed no errors and turned a pair of double plays to wipe out threats in the fourth and the sixth.
"JD's throw from center field was huge. JD coming in and to force out the runner there on the overrun and that double play there, we made three or four really outstanding defensive plays," Waksmonski said. "That's always nice to see early in the season."
DeMeyer was back in center field for the first time this season after playing the first two games at shortstop. Brad Comer manned shortstop after starting the season at catcher. Freshman Walker Hartman got his second start behind the plate, a move that allowed DeMeyer and Comer to move back to more familiar positions.
"He's earned that playing time and I think overall, defensively, if we can keep that alignment, that's one of our stronger defensive alignments," Waksmonski said. "It's going to up to Walker to keep it going and he's off to a good start."
Bryce Schickert got the Hodag offense going with a solo home run to left in the third inning. It was the first varsity home run of the junior's career.
"You'll see that every now and again in the cage where he'll pop one off the bat. You can't really tell in the cage how far it would go but today it carried and it was good to see. I know the guys were super excited for him," Waksmonski said.
Stevens singled in the fourth inning and scored after Teagan Guckenberg's single was misplayed in center field. Stevens helped his own cause with a bases-loaded two-run single in the fifth that drove in what proved to be the winning run.
Stevens allowed four runs on six hits with four walks and two strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings. Senior Owen White, playing his first organized baseball in three years, allowed two hits over the final 2 1/3 innings to earn the save.
"With Owen, the situation's not too big for him," Waksmonski. "He's not nervous. He's confident in his own abilities and he threw well there at the end."
The same is true for White at the plate, where he went 1-for-3 with a double hitting out of the fifth spot in the lineup. Stevens added a pair of hits and the Hodags collected 10 overall against four different Stratford pitchers.
Ty Pankratz took the loss for the Tigers, allowing five runs on seven hits over 4 2/3 innings. Ryan Foley singled twice and scored twice from the bottom of the Stratford order.
The Hodags (3-0) were scheduled to take on Wausau East Monday in a game that concluded after deadline. Rhinelander opens the GNC season and home schedule today against Northland Pines in a doubleheader. The games were initially scheduled for Eagle River, but moved on Monday due to field conditions.
The Hodags will have another doubleheader at Stafford Field Thursday when it hosts Medford.
"It's going to be tough but I hope we can get through those five games in four days," Waksmonski said, noting pitch count rules will make the condensed schedule a challenge.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
Comments:
You must login to comment.