June 29, 2018 at 1:31 p.m.
Babe Ruth Roundup
Rhinelander Prep walks off against league-leading Eagle River Red, Laser Pros outlasts Crandon
Babe Ruth Roundup
The Hodags won their fifth straight game Thursday night in dramatic fashion, scoring twice in the last of the sixth inning to defeat league-leading Eagle River Red 5-4 at Stafford Field.
After allowing a run in the top of the sixth - the last inning to be played due to the league's two-hour time limit - Mason Davis hit an RBI triple to tie the game and then scored the winning run on Caleb Olcikas' sacrifice bunt.
The win moved Rhinelander (7-3-2) 1 1/2 games behind Eagle River Red for the league lead and kept the Hodags a half game behind Eagle River Blue for the runner-up spot entering the final week of the regular season. The top two teams in the league standings will meet July 10 in Rhinelander for the regular season championship.
Both teams took advantage of some shaky pitching early in the contest. The Hodags drew five walks in the bottom of the first inning as they took a 3-0 lead. Olcikas singled home Ryan Jamison and both Olcikas and Kolby Ridderbusch scored on passed balls.
Eagle River Red struck back in the second as pitcher Logan Cook hit the first batter he faced and then walked the next two. An errant pickoff attempt at third, a wild pitch and another error allowed all three runs to cross.
That was it for both teams until the sixth. Eagle River Red left a runner at third in both the third and fourth innings while Rhinelander was unable to cash in with runners at second and third in the third and fifth frames.
Kaden Chillemi got the win for Rhinelander, pitching two innings of relief. He allowed a run on two hits and struck out three. Logan Schmoeger relieved Cook in the second inning, and struck out six batters over 2 2/3 innings.
Rhinelander outhit Eagle River 6-4 in the contest. Davis went 2-for-3 in the contest and had a double in the third inning to go along with his game-tying triple in the sixth. Olcikas was 1-for-2 with a pair of RBIs. Jamison, Sam Schneider and Schmoeger also collected hits.
Laser Pros outlasts Crandon
The bats were quiet for Laser Pros International in Thursday's nightcap at Stafford Field, but the Pros were patient enough at the plate and capitalized on enough miscues to grind out a 5-1 victory over Crandon.
Laser Pros had only four hits in the contest - three of which came off the bat of leadoff hitter Tim Fox - but the team drew nine walks and was in position to take advantage of some erratic pitching.
Fox doubled and scored on a wild pitch in the first inning to give Rhinelander the lead. Nick Schiek made it 2-0 in the third. He reached on a walk and eventually came around on a passed ball.
Cole Lehman hit an RBI groundout for Laser Pros in the fourth and Alex Kubeny scored on a wild pitch. Michael Schramke drew a leadoff walk in the fifth and scored on Joe Schneider's bases-loaded ground ball.
That proved to be plenty of run support for Laser Pros, which had four pitchers combine on a three-hitter. Jacksen Smith struck out five and allowed one hit over three innings. Jacob Schoppe walked in Crandon's lone run in the fourth before giving way to Isaac Bixby, who got Laser Pros out of the bases-loaded jam without any further damage. Bixby struck out four over 2 2/3 innings of relief to earn the win. Fox pitched a perfect seventh to close out the contest.
The win moved Laser Pros to 7-3 on the season, a game behind Eagle River for the runner-up spot. Rhinelander Green (9-1) leads the Senior League standings entering the final week of the regular season.
Up next
Rhinelander Prep steps out of league play this weekend as it hosts a six-team invite at Stafford Field. Play began last night and will continue through Sunday. The Hodags played Mosinee Friday night and will face the Hallie Heat at 8 a.m. today in pool play, the results of which will determine the time of Rhinelander's third game in the tournament.
Rhinelander Green can clinch a spot in the Senior League regular season championship game with a win Monday night at Merrill Red.
All three Rhinelander teams will be in action at Stafford Field Tuesday night in an Independence Day Eve doubleheader. Rhinelander Prep will take on Crandon in the early game while Rhinelander Green and Laser Pros will meet for the second time this season in the nightcap. Laser Pros beat Rhinelander Green 6-4 back on June 22, the lone loss of the season for Rhinelander Green.
Tuesday's doubleheader begins at 5 p.m.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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