August 6, 2019 at 1:36 p.m.
Rebels used youth movement to reload this summer
Rebels used youth movement to reload this summer
The Rebels put together a 16-9 campaign, won a share of the Great Northern Legion Conference title and made a solid run in tournament play before falling to legion juggernaut Antigo in a game that went 10 innings before the Typhoon scratched across the winning run.
"We grew together as a team," Rebels manager Dan Huhnstock said shortly after the loss to Antigo. "It was a different team with a lot of young guys compared to the last couple years and I think we're going to be much better for all the experience that the young guys got."
To wit, it was an interesting dichotomy for the Rebels this summer. The team had the core of seniors who carried the team during Rhinelander High School spring ball. The senior quartet of Bryce Schickert, Josh Randolph, Martin Hoger and Liam Stevens were a combined 9-5 on the hill this summer. Hoger, Schickert and Randolph were three of the four Rebels who pitched at least 23 innings this summer. At the plate, Randolph, Hoger and Stevens were third, fourth and fifth, respectively, on the team in RBIs with 14, 13 and 13.
But the Rebels also had 14 players who are eligible to return next year. Of those 14, half were still age-eligible to play Babe Ruth baseball, meaning there will be a lot of underclassmen jockeying for varsity positions next spring.
One of the players slated to be back next year - power-hitting righty Jacob Dreifuerst - led the team with 16 RBIs, and catcher Walker Hartman wasn't far behind with 15. Hartman also showed he could be used on the other side of the battery, logging 29 innings on the mound this spring. Overall, six players eligible to return next hit .295 or better this summer.
"I think that will only make us better for the next couple of years, with the experience they got and the young guys coming behind them with our Babe Ruth program," Huhnstock said. "I think we've got a pretty bright future for Rhinelander baseball."
Here are five takeaways from the 2019 Rebel season.
Conference champs again
The Rebels are now 4 for 4 winning the Great Northern Legion Conference, but this year's title defense was the most challenging yet.
Rhinelander and Medford shared the conference title after splitting their regular season contests. Rhinelander defeated Medford 5-3 when the teams got together June 21 in Rhinelander but when the teams met again July 5 as part of the Merrill Invite, Medford prevailed 1-0 behind the strength of a no-hitter from John McMurry and a walkoff double by Ray Zirngible in the last of the seventh. McMurry outdueled Rhinelander lefty Bryce Schickert, who carried a one-hitter into the seventh inning.
"That was a terrific game on both side, very well-pitched, as well-pitched of a game as you'll see anywhere," Huhnstock said afterward.
The Rebels had the top offense in the GNLC, averaging 8.0 runs per game, but Medford had the top defense in the conference at 1.6 runs allowed per game. Rhinelander was second at 4.0.
Surprise contributions
The June 21 win over Medford underscored three contributors the Rebels were not banking on when the season started in early June. Schickert, who was unsure if he'd be able to play for the team due to post-high school commitments, made his debut, allowing three runs and striking out six over 6 1/3 innings in the 5-3 win.
Teagan Guckenberg, a junior who did not play spring ball, was the hero at the plate that night. His pinch-hit two-run double gave Rhinelander a 3-2 lead in the fourth and he drew a bases loaded walk the next inning.
Brad Comer, the only age-eligible player Rhinelander had from the class of 2018, pitched the final two-thirds of an inning to get the save.
Comer, who played at UW-Stevens Point in the spring, started the summer with the Wisconsin Woodchucks of the Northwoods League and appeared in only two games for the Rebels this summer. Schickert wound up making four starts - all on Friday nights when his schedule allowed - and was one out away from throwing a no-hitter June 28 at Merrill. Guckenberg developed into a contributor for the Rebels during the last half of the summer, hitting .357 with eight RBIs.
Edged by Antigo
Antigo again proved to be the thorn in Rhinelander's side in the legion regionals. The Rebels have lost to the Typhoon each of the last three years in regional play. The three games have been decided by a total of four runs.
A 4-3, 10-inning loss to Antigo last Monday capped a spirited run by the Rebels through the loser's bracket in the regional tournament. Schickert, who had allowed only four runs over his first three starts of the summer, gave up seven runs over four innings against to Pulaski to start the tournament. The Rebels were down 9-1 when play was halted after five innings due to thunderstorms. Two days later, Rhinelander fought back late to lose 9-6 to Pulaski and then the Rebels battled past Shawano and Pulaski to get back to Antigo in the winner's bracket.
Rhinelander had a 3-0 lead over Antigo after three innings in an attempt to force a winner-take-all title game, but Antigo chipped away, forced extra innings and eventually won the game on a walkoff single in the 10th.
"With the weather and the goofy schedule and stuff, I'm just glad we were able to get to where we were," Huhnstock said. "Nobody put their heads down. It all started when we picked up our suspended game and put a bunch of runs on the board to get some momentum going."
Pitching depth
While four pitchers ate up the bulk of the innings for the Rebels this summer, 12 players in total made at least on appearance on the mound for the team. Nine of those pitchers earned at least one win.
Hoger led the team in appearances (7), innings pitched (42 1/3), wins (3) and strikeouts (34). His 2.31 ERA was second best on the team, among those who pitched enough innings to qualify for season-long statistical consideration.
Hartman (2-2, 3.86 ERA) was second with 29 innings on the mound, followed by Randolph (2-2, sv, 3.25 ERA), Schickert (2-2, 3.25 ERA) and Isaac Bixby (2-1, 1.62 ERA).
What's next
While a couple of this year's seniors are eligible to return next summer, Rhinelander will be looking at a completely different pitching staff during spring ball. Whether Hartman, Bixby or someone else emerges at the No. 1 option remains to be seen.
Based on the summer, Rhinelander will have plenty offense back next year. Hartman (.362, 15 RBIs) and Dreifuerst (.295, HR, 16 RBIs) were among the team leaders at the dish who will return. Danny Zuiker (.302, 6 RBIs), Abe Laggis (.350, 9 RBIs) and Guckenberg could provide plenty of speed at the top of the order and Joe Schneider flashed while splitting time between Babe Ruth in Legion. The sophomore-to-be hit .416 (15-36) with seven RBIs. That included one RBI that actually counted against the Rebels. When Mosinee was short a player June 26, Rhinelander lent Mosinee Schneider to complete a lineup to play a couple of exhibition games at Stafford Field. Schneider went 3-for-6 in the doubleheader with a pair of doubles against his own team.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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