July 3, 2018 at 12:40 p.m.
Rhinelander's DeMeyer plays in state All-Star Classic
Rhinelander's DeMeyer plays in state All-Star Classic
DeMeyer was one of 72 seniors across the state to play in the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Classic at E.J. Schneider Field on the campus of Oshkosh North High School. DeMeyer represented a West squad that included the northwestern quadrant of the state, along with the La Crosse region. His team went 1-2 against teams from the Green Bay/Fox Valley area (North), the Milwaukee area (East) and the Madison area (South).
"It was a great experience to be with a bunch of great ball players," DeMeyer said after playing back-to-back games on a sun-drenched Saturday afternoon that saw the heat index sore above 100 degrees. "I had a ton of fun out here. It was great competing with them."
On the field, it was an up-and-down weekend for DeMeyer, who split innings with Eau Claire Regis' Jaxon Kostka in center.
The biggest highlight came in the sixth inning of Saturday's first game against the North All-Stars when DeMeyer made full extension to come up with a diving catch to rob Waupaca's Brendan Canterbury of extra innings. In the official game report on its website, the WBCA classified DeMeyer's grab as "maybe the weekend's finest defensive play."
"I didn't think I was going to get to it but, luckily I did," DeMeyer said nonchalantly. "I'm happy about it."
Friday night DeMeyer hit a lead off single in the first inning against the East All-Stars and eventually came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Great Northern Conference counterpart Ben Vandehey of Mosinee.
Unfortunately for DeMeyer, the West squad lost both of those games, falling 11-5 to the East and 8-4 to the North. The West picked up a 4-3 win against the South to end the tournament.
Overall, DeMeyer was 1-for-5 in the tournament with a couple of walks and a run scored. He was caught stealing in the game against the South.
"Hitting for sure, I wish I could have a couple of swings back but it is was it is. It's all for fun," DeMeyer said.
DeMeyer was selected for the All-Star Classic thanks to a stellar senior campaign in which he hit .507 for the Hodags with a home run and 28 RBIs. Those stats impressed coaches statewide as he was named a first-team All-State outfielder by the WBCA.
DeMeyer was the 11th Hodag player to be selected for the event, which has been held annually since 1984, and the first since Kyle Comer in 2012. Other Hodags selected to play in the event include Kevin Nehring (1984), Dan Thorsen (1988), Bob Koerpel (1993), Brent Mathews (1994), Mark Kowieski (1995), Aaron Bushong (1999), Keith White (2004), Sam Huebner (2010) and Dan Kellen (2011). Rhinelander's Phil Amstadt served as a coach for the All-Star Classic back in 1995.
DeMeyer was not the only player from the area to represent the West. Vandehey and Antigo's Garrett Held rounded out the GNC contingent on the roster. Three players from the Wisconsin Valley Conference - Wausau West's Chandler Fochs, D.C. Everest's John Breske and Wisconsin Rapids Nate Jackan were also on the team.
"It's cool to be alongside kids I've played ball (against) plenty of times. It was a lot of fun playing with them," DeMeyer said. "Outside of baseball, they were great kids, fun to be around, a lot of jokesters on the team. I liked them all. It was a good experience. It's awesome. This is a great event, a lot of great ball players. It was cool to go out like this."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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