March 30, 2018 at 4:45 p.m.
Team preview: RHS softball
Plenty of unknowns for Hodag fastpitch entering 2018
Team preview: RHS softball
Finding that cohesion will likely be a challenge for a team that replaces four of its starting nine from a team that went 13-10 last season and tied for third in the Great Northern Conference.
"If we can keep the team bond close-knit, caring about each other, build that team unity, I think we can be really good," DeMeyer said, adding that avoiding injuries is also a major factor.
Ace pitcher Ali Schickert suffered a knee injury last season that sidelined her for three weeks. However, there was a silver lining of sorts.
Seniors Stephanie Kuester and Molly Wagler, who will likely see the lion's share of the innings this year, got playing time last year in Schickert absence. Kuester went 4-2 in the GNC with a 2.15 ERA and 17 strikeouts over 29 1/3 innings. Wagler worked 8 1/3 innings, going 2-0 with a 1.68 ERA in conference play.
DeMeyer said each has specific pluses and minuses and could also be used elsewhere in the field depending on the matchup. Stephanie Kuester was the Hodags' starting second baseperson last year when she wasn't pitching while Wagler held down the starting job in left field.
"As far as pitching, I'm confident there," DeMeyer said. "They don't throw as hard as Ali, but they don't have to. They just need to hit their spots, change speeds and we'll be fine."
Pitcher is just one hole the Hodags are looking to fill. The team graduated the entire left side of its infield with shortstop Erica Counter and third baseperson Lindsay Juedes, along with first-team all-conference center fielder Ivy Packard.
Other returning players for the Hodags include catcher Makayla Kuester, first baseperson Hope Wissbroecker, right fielder Mikayla Evenstad and utility player Ella Mullikin. DeMeyer said those four, along with Wagler and Stephanie Kuester, will make up the core of his team, but who plays were remains to be seen.
For instance Evenstad could move to center, or she could move to the infield or catch. It's possible the Kuester twins could be battery mates, or they could make up the center of the infield at second or short. Mullikin could catch or play third.
"We've got some holes, but we have some capable players," DeMeyer said. "There's a lot of variables. The biggest thing for me is to make sure the girls are confident in the spot they're in."
As for the remainder of the lineup, it's open competition and players who start the season on varsity might not finish there.
"We need some girls to step up," DeMeyer said. "They don't have to be superstars but they just have to continue to improve and we'll be fine."
With the team unable to get outside this week, a lot of those questions may still be unanswered as the Hodags enter the opening week of games. Weather permitting, the Hodags are schedule to open at Wittenberg-Birnamwood Tuesday, travel to Northland Pines Thursday and play at Merrill Friday.
"We've got a lot of work to do, but it might be trial by fire," DeMeyer said.
Offensively, Makayla Kuester brings a potent bat to the heart of the order. She won the GNC's triple crown last year, leading the conference in batting average (.541), home runs (4) and RBIs (20). The question will be who will protect her in the lineup. Aside from Stephanie Kuester (.306, 7 RBIs), none of the other returning players hit over .300 in conference play.
Mosinee and Tomahawk enter the season as the favorites in conference. Tomahawk beat Mosinee twice head-to-head last season, but finished 1 1/2 games behind the Indians in the final conference standings.
"Tomahawk's got a good team," DeMeyer said. "They've got a good for of seniors and juniors. They've been playing with them for three years on the varsity level. They've got the confidence. They know their positions. They're going to be tough to beat."
DeMeyer figures Medford and Antigo will put forward solid teams again and, with both Lakeland and Northland Pines improving, there won't be as many breather games in the GNC as there used to be.
DeMeyer said Rhinelander could contend for a conference title, or it could struggle, depending on how well the team gels.
"I think it can go two ways," he said. "I think we can be an average team, kind of like we were last year when we had the injuries, or we can be really good."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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