July 5, 2019 at 12:06 p.m.
Rhinelander Little Leaguers drop final two games of district play
Rhinelander Little Leaguers drop final two games of district play
The Hodags lost 15-0 to eventual pool winner Merrill on Monday and then fell 17-2 to Wausau American Tuesday in what was essentially the second-place game in the pool.
That game held promise early for the Hodags. After allowing two runs to the Americans in the top of the first, Rhinelander for a run back in the bottom of the inning as the first four batters reached base. Truman Lamers led off with a single. Walks by Johnny Turek and Brody Kowieski loaded the bases with nobody out and Dylan VanderBunt delivered an RBI single to cut the lead to 2-1, but Rhinelander was unable to draw closer following two strikeouts and a fielder's choice.
Wausau tacked on three more in the second but the Hodags threatened again in the bottom of the inning as Hunter Bell walked and eventually scored on a single by Kowieski. Rhinelander had runners on second and third but again saw the rally end due to a strikeout.
Fortunes changed in the third after Rhinelander thought it had a scoreless inning, only to see Wausau American come back to the field after successfully appealing a play at first following a dropped third strike. Wausau scored six times on four hits, aided by two errors, following the appeal to take an 11-2 lead. Wausau added six more runs in the fourth inning.
VanderBunt pitched two innings in the loss on Tuesday night with a strikeout. Turek struck out two batters over the final two innings.
Lamers was 3-for-3 at the plate against American. Turek, Kowieski and VanderBunt also collected hits in the game.
Two rough innings were the difference Monday night against Merrill. The Bluejays scored seven times in the top of the first and plated 10 more runs in the third while Merrill managed to throw a perfect game with seven strikeouts.
Merrill won all three games to take first in the pool. Wausau American was 2-1 followed by Rhinelander at 1-2. Antigo was 0-3, with all three of its losses coming by a single run.
Rhinelander's 10U all-star team begins district play Monday in Merrill using the same four-team pool format as the 12U squad. Rhinelander faces Antigo Monday night, Merrill Tuesday night and Wausau American Wednesday night. All games will be played at Lions Park in Merrill.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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