July 17, 2019 at 12:39 p.m.
Big innings cost Hodag Little Leaguers vs. Kaukauna
Big innings cost Hodag Little Leaguers vs. Kaukauna
The Hodags found themselves in an early 6-0 hole and climbed back to within 6-2 only to surrender eight runs over the final two innings. Rhinelander committed five errors in the contest. Those mistakes led directly to six of Kaukauna's runs.
A pair of overthrows to third, plus a Chase Otradavic sacrifice fly gave Kaukauna a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. McKey Luneo singled home a run in the second and the Hodags were nearly out of the jam with no further damage, but an errant throw with the bases loaded and two out allowed two more runs to cross.
Rhinelander got a run back in the bottom of the inning as Judson O'Malley reached on a fielder's choice and eventually came around to score on a wild pitch. The Hodags had only three hits in the game. Two of those hits led to a run in the third as Jackson Waydick got aboard with a base knock and came around on a two-out single by Abram Gretzinger.
The score remained 6-2 until two out in the fifth when Brady Schmalach singled home a run. He and Cooper McMullin both came around on the play after Rhinelander misfired on an attempt to throw out Schmalach at second. Five of the first six batters in the Kaukauna sixth reached safely through a combination of hits and walks. All five came around to score.
Rhinelander got a run back in the bottom of the sixth as O'Malley tripled to right and scored on a wild pitch.
The Hodags used six different pitchers in the game which was originally scheduled for Monday. The contest was postponed due to rain and thunderstorms. Gretzinger started, allowing six runs on three hits with five walks and a strikeout over an inning and a third. Sawyer Bishop tossed 1 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball with three strikeouts. Waydick allowed two runs on a hit over 1 2/3 innings. Lueder, Parker McCone and O'Malley combined to pitch the final 1 1/3 innings.
The loss relegated Rhinelander to an elimination game against Appleton National which took place Wednesday after deadline.
With a win, the Hodags would advance to another elimination game tonight against the loser of Wednesday night's Wausau American-Kaukauna contest.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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