April 26, 2019 at 3:02 p.m.
Tomahawk sweeps softball doubleheader from Hodags
Tomahawk sweeps softball doubleheader from Hodags
Erratic pitching and defensive miscues cost the Hodags as they dropped the first game of a doubleheader at Tomahawk, 11-0. Rhinelander could not slow down Tomahawk bats in the second game and lost, 12-1.
"These doubleheaders are going to be really hard on us and we've got to keep the team positive," coach D.J. DeMeyer said. "You saw how they kind of got down in the dumps when they got behind. I talked to them after the game about that. We've got to stay positive, keep fighting and keep improving."
Game 1
Tomahawk scored in all four innings and cruised past the Hodags 11-0 in the opener.
Seven walks hurt the cause of starter Sophia McGinnis, who allowed six runs in an inning and two thirds. The Hatchets led 6-0 after two innings, despite collecting only one RBI to that point. Two runs scored on wild pitches and three others came around on throwing errors.
"We just need to fundamentally play the game we know we can play and let the chips fall where they are," DeMeyer said. "Some of the girls are putting too much pressure on themselves do we just need to do what we can control and go from there."
Brylee Ridderbusch pitched the remaining 2 1/3 innings for Rhinelander, allowing five runs on four hits without any walks. Tomahawk scored four runs against her in the third - keyed by a two-run bases-loaded single by Katy Volz - and tacked on one more run in the fourth.
The Hodags had base runners in all five innings, including runners in scoring position in each of the first three frames. Rhinelander's best chance to score in Game 1 came in the first inning when Ella Mullikin hit what looked to be a base hit past shortstop, allowing Hannah Worachek to score from second - but Worachek was called out on interference with the shortstop.
Game 2
The second game started off with a bang for the Hodags as Worachek hit her first varsity home run, but Tomahawk eventually locked in on starter Alex Oestreich, tagging her for nine runs on 12 hits, and pulled away for the win.
Rhinelander took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a deep fly by Worachek to center that might not have left the yard had it not bounced off the glove of centerfielder Taylor Shilts, who was in full sprint in attempt to catch up with a ball hit deep to the fence.
"I'm very proud of Hannah, she got her first home run - a little help from the centerfielder - but good for her. She hit the ball hard today and played a good shortstop," DeMeyer said.
Oestreich allowed only one hit through the first two innings, but the Hatchets zoned in on her the second and third times through the lineup. They collected six runs on six hits in the third - including a double by Hailey Voermans-Dean followed by a triple by Megan Marcks. Shilts, Volz and Voermans-Dean hit three straight extra-base hits off Oestreich to start a three-run fourth.
"They hit the ball. They're aggressive. They're fundamentally sound," DeMeyer said.
Tomahawk added three more runs in the fifth on three hits against McGinnis.
Hot Hannah
In addition to Worachek's homer, she collected two of Rhinelander's three hits in the first game of the doubleheader. She finished 3-for-6 overall at the plate in the twin bill.
"She's working hard and you can see it out there," DeMeyer said. "She's having fun and she's moving fast. She's making contact and just playing the game and having fun."
Ridderbusch collected Rhinelander's only other hit in Game 1. Mullikin, McGinnis and Kylee White had hits in Game 2.
Evenstad returns
The Hodags got a shot in the arm Thursday with the return of Mikayla Evenstad to the lineup. She returns from a knee injury that cost her the second half of her volleyball season last fall, and all of her gymnastics season this past winter.
Evenstad, the lone senior on Rhinelander's roster, batted second and played center field for the Hodags in both games. She went a combined 0-for-4 in the doubleheader with a sacrifice.
"(She's) not at a full 100 percent, but she helps set out defense in the outfield and is a leader out there," DeMeyer said. "I'm really happy to see her back. She's been trying to get back ... She wants to play her senior year. It's her first game. She'll get back in the swing of things and just be a leader out there for us."
Up next
The Hodags played a triangular against Crandon and Ashland Friday that concluded after deadline for this edition. Rhinelander is home again Monday to take on Antigo in a rematch of Tuesday's season opener for the Hodags, won by Antigo 8-3.
Lakeland comes to Rhinelander for a doubleheader Tuesday.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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