July 3, 2018 at 12:37 p.m.
Rebels outslug Northwoods in 14-4 win
Rebels outslug Northwoods in 14-4 win
Rhinelander scored in every inning but the fifth, collected 13 hits and bashed its way to a 14-4 win over the Eagles in a Great Northern Legion Conference contest at Stafford Field.
The win moved Rhinelander to 10-0 overall for the summer and 6-0 in the GNLC.
The Eagles made it interesting for a little bit, scoring three runs off Rebel ace Jacob DeMeyer to take a brief 3-2 lead in the second, but the Rebels scored nine times in the next three innings to put the game out of reach.
"They strung together some hits, some good at-bats," Rebels manager Dan Huhnstock said. "Luckily, we were able to get through it, get our bats going and, eventually, take care of business."
Rhinelander regained control in the bottom of the second as the first three batters of the inning reached base, highlighted by Teagan Guckenberg's RBI double. Abe Laggis added a sacrifice fly, DeMeyer followed with a double and Brad Comer reached on an error, allowing DeMeyer to score and the Rebels to take a 6-3 lead.
Josh Randolph, coming off a three-hit night in a win last Friday at Prentice/Phillips, had three more hits Monday night, including a single to shallow center that scored Danny Zuiker in the third.
DeMeyer tripled home a run in the fourth, Brad Quade added a two-run single and Randolph delivered another RBI hit to put the Rebels up 11-3.
After the Eagles got a run back in the top of the fifth, Rhinelander ended the game in the sixth. Bryce Schickert had an RBI single and Jacob Dreifuerst doubled in a run to deep left center. An error with two outs allowed DeMeyer to reach and the game-clinching run to cross the plate.
Quade drove in four runs on a 2-for-4 night at the plate. DeMeyer was 2-for-5 and of Rhinelander's 13 hits, seven went for extra bases.
"We seemed to find the gaps," Huhnstock said. "The guys were hustling on the bases and, eventually, we were able to score enough runs to get (the game) over."
Early on it seemed Rhinelander would need all the run support it could get as the Eagles came out swinging against DeMeyer. After a two-run double by Quade gave Rhinelander a 2-0 lead in the first, Northwoods struck back with a rally from the bottom of its order. Brad Shepard and Nick Edwards hit back-to-back singles and Shepard eventually scored on a wild pitch. After Trevor Hopkins walked and Ben Tilley grounded into a fielder's choice, Brad Sowinski hit a two-run double to put the Eagles ahead.
Monday was another "bullpen by committee" game for the Rebels with DeMeyer allowing two runs on four hits in the first two innings. Comer got the win, working around a double and a couple of walks in the third and fourth, thanks to a pair of double play balls. Schickert allowed an unearned run following a single and an error in the fifth, but retired the last six batters he faced - including four via the strikeout.
"They played a good game against us, as they did earlier this year," Huhnstock said, referencing a narrow 3-2 win for Rhinelander over Northwoods in Eagle River on June 15. "For whatever reason, they seem to play real solid ball games against us. That's good, because we need games where we are pushed."
Merrill tourney to provide tough test
The Rebels' undefeated season will be put to the test this weekend as the team travels to Merrill for an invitational.
The docket includes two games against Wisconsin Valley Legion League teams, a matchup with reigning Class AA state champ Holmen and a pivotal GNLC matchup against Medford.
Huhnstock said he views the tournament as both a test of his team and an important postseason tune-up two weeks before the legion regionals begin.
"It's really important for us to play this tournament in Merrill," he said. "It gives us some real quality competition to play against. We'll find out whether we're good or we're really good. This will separate us. If we play really good down there against some top-notch, statewide competition, that will give us some real good momentum going into the regional tournament."
The Rebels open against Stevens Point tomorrow at 5 p.m. Rhinelander will play Medford at 10 a.m. and Holmen at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and finish Sunday in a 2 p.m. game against Everest.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
Comments:
You must login to comment.