July 2, 2018 at 1:09 p.m.
Rebels power past Prentice/Phillips 14-1
Rebels power past Prentice/Phillips 14-1
Josh Randolph had three hits, including a grand slam, and three Rhinelander pitchers combined to strike out 13 batters as the Post 7 Rebels moved to 9-0 on the season with a 14-1 win over Prentice/Phillips Friday night at Prentice High School.
It took the Rebels a little while to find their groove, but they broke the game open with a five-run third inning. Rhinelander scored in every frame after that, including a six-run seventh inning.
"We started off a little bit slow but we got things together," Rebels manager Dan Huhnstock said. "There was good production throughout the lineup again tonight. Some of the guys in the lower part of the lineup really put a sting on the ball. Just another complete, team victory."
Randolph, a senior-to-be, delivered the coup de grace in the seventh inning after the Rebels loaded the bases through a combination of walks and hit batsmen. Randolph turned on a 0-1
offering by Ethan Mudgett and deposited it over the temporary fence in left at a Prentice High School complex that doubles as both a high school baseball and football field. The shot increased Rhinelander's lead to 12-1 at the time.
"That was really neat for him," Huhnstock said of Randolph's first career varsity home run. "I'm sure he was pumped about it. I know his parents were. That was really neat for him. That's just a sign of what he can do for us in the future."
Abe Laggis opened the scoring for Rhinelander with a two-run double in the third innings. A combination of wild pitches and errors allowed Laggis, Brad Comer and Bryce Schicker to score to give Rhinelander a 5-0 lead.
The Hodags added single runs in each of the next three innings. Comer grounded into a bases-loaded fielder's choice in the fourth, scoring Teagan Guckenberg, Martin Hoger doubled in the fifth and scored on Jacob Dreifuerst's RBI grounder. Randolph singled and came around on a grounder by Schickert in the sixth.
Hoger, who like Randolph had a three-hit night for the Rebels, hit a two-run single in the seventh to round out the scoring.
For the second straight game the Rebels went pitching staff by committee. Schickert, Randolph and Comer combined to scatter three hits over seven innings and strike out 13 batters.
"That's what we're hoping to do right now," Huhnstock said. "We had a lull where we didn't have a lot of games so (we want to) get them in, get them game innings so they stay sharp. They've been doing a real good job of keeping their focus and taking care of business for us."
The lone run for Prentice/Phillips came in the fourth inning off Randolph as Trace Brayton doubled and then scored on a single by Logan Karsi that took a big hop over Comer at shortstop. Schickert started and went three innings for Rhinelander, Randolph was credited with the win in two innings of relief work and Comer kept the Loggers off the scoreboard in the sixth and seventh innings.
Walker Hartman added two hits for Rhinelander, which outhit Prentice/Phillips 10-3 in the contest. The Rebels played without Jacob DeMeyer Friday night as the senior standout was in Oshkosh to play in the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Classic.
Rhinelander took on Northwoods Monday night in a game that finished after deadline. It was the team's final game before a busy stretch this weekend that will see the time play five times in four days.
The Rebels will be in Merrill for an invite Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The team faces Stevens Point Friday night, Medford and Holmen on Saturday and Everest on Sunday in the six-team tournament. Rhinelander returns home next Monday to face Chequamegon.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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