August 6, 2019 at 1:28 p.m.
Hoger set to end Legion career at Miller Park
Rhinelander senior one of 48 to take part in Legion All-Star Game Aug. 11
Hoger set to end Legion career at Miller Park
Hoger has been selected to represent the Stripes team in the Wisconsin American Legion All-Star game that will take place at Miller Park in Milwaukee Aug. 11. Hoger was one of 48 players across the state selected to take part in the event.
"The last game in the Rebel uniform is going to be in Miller Park," Hoger said. "It's exciting to know that I get to represent my community and Post 7 in Milwaukee in front of the best people in the state."
The Rebels coaching staff, most notably assistant coach Ken Zuiker, wrote a letter of recommendation on Hoger's behalf in June and, later that month - when the Rebels were playing a game at Merrill - Hoger received the good news.
"Right before the game, coach (Dan) Huhnstock pulled me aside and told me, 'Well, you're a Stripe.' I was kind of confused as to what he was talking about," Hoger said. "Then he pulled out his phone and showed me my name on there and I was kind of speechless."
Huhnstock witnessed the American Legion All-Star game firsthand last year when he served as a coach in the event. He said Hoger deserved the honor.
"Every year you have a chance to nominate players for participation and we, as a coaching staff, thought Martin was worthy of representing Rhinelander down there. He's been a very coachable young man all though out his career - never misses an open gym," he said. "He's a baseball-first guy, works very hard at his craft and he's going to represent Rhinelander well when he goes up to UW-Superior, all qualities that the American Legion baseball is looking for when they take into consideration the All-Star selection."
Hoger hit .417 this summer with 14 RBIs and was 3-1 in six pitching appearances with a 2.12 ERA. He recorded 30 strikeouts over 36 1/3 innings pitched. He's committed to playing baseball for UW-Superior next spring.
Hoger is one of two players from the Great Northern Legion Conference schedule to take part in the All-Star Game, joined by Medford's Cade Alexander.
Hoger will be in for a whirlwind weekend when he gets down to Milwaukee, beginning with the Wisconsin American Legion Baseball Association banquet the night before the game.
On Sunday, following a breakfast at the team hotel, the team will board a bus for Miller Park, where they will take part in pregame festivities before the inter-league game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Texas Rangers. The American Legion All-Star Game will take place immediately following the Brewers' contest.
Huhnstock said he gave Hoger an idea of what to expect over the weekend.
"I told him, if it's run like it's run last year, there's a red carpet banquet. You're going to learn a lot from the speakers at the banquet the night before the game. Then, it's just a fabulous experience being on that playing surface at Miller Park."
Added Hoger: "He just said it's really exciting, expect to play a couple innings. You might pitch a little bit and just be ready because it's an exciting experience. Hopefully I'll get to see a couple of professional players. If not, it's still playing at Miller Park no matter what."
Hoger is listed as both an outfielder and a pitcher on the official Stripes team roster.
If he's called on to play in the outfield, he knows he'll have to be on his toes.
"I'm not as good as (Brewers outfielder) Lorenzo Cain, but I'll have to cover some ground," he said.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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