April 26, 2021 at 9:09 a.m.
Hodag fastpitch scrimmages Merrill
Hodag fastpitch scrimmages Merrill
The Hodags scrimmaged Merrill in the Hodag Dome, with the teams getting in five innings of simulated game and scenario work during the two-hour session.
The teams played three regulation innings, with the exception of being able to bat everyone in their order, before using the fourth and fifth innings to work on different scenarios in terms of runners on base and starting counts.
Though no official score was kept, Merrill outscored Rhinelander 11-3 in the three regulation innings, according to stats compiled by the River News.
"They have a way more experienced team than we do," Hodag coach D.J. DeMeyer said. "It kind of went the way I thought it was going to go, but we made some good swings, got some contact on some balls.
"We've got a young team, so a lot of them had butterflies. They were all nervous and I said, 'Just relax and have fun.' I think we got those butterflies out."
All three of Rhinelander's pitchers, none of whom have made a varsity appearance, saw action on Saturday. Sophomore Addi DeMeyer, daughter of coach DeMeyer, was up first and was abruptly welcomed to high school ball.
After Merrill hit the first offering by DeMeyer, a fly ball to left that was dropped, the Bluejays collected back-to-back singles before a three-run home run to center.
DeMeyer settled in, retiring four straight at one point, but then Merrill strung together five runs with two outs in the second as eight straight batters reached on a combination of singles, walks and hit batters.
Overall, DeMeyer allowed nine runs (eight earned) on seven hits with four walks and two strikeouts. Sophomore Abigail Bixby worked the third, allowing two runs on three hits - including back-to-back doubles. She also pitched in the fourth, in which each batter stepped to the plate with a 2-1 count. Freshman Laney Haenel worked the fifth inning, which started with runners on first and third. She allowed two hits and walked three.
"I didn't think Addi pitched as well as she could, but I didn't think she pitched that bad," coach DeMeyer said. "Overall, I thought she pitched fair. I think there's more there. I thought Bixby pitched fair. She had some dandy changeups. They hit the changeups, which is fine, but they just hit weak grounders to third. That's what you try to do on a changeup, get an off the front foot, weak grounder. Laney didn't throw as good as she did yesterday in practice, but she's a freshman. She's got butterflies. She's nervous. We'll keep working on that."
Rhinelander scored three runs in the third inning, sparked by a leadoff double from senior Alexis Hekrdle. Herkdle stole third and scored as the throwdown got away into left field. Chloe Felde walked, stole second, took third on a wild pitch and scored on a passed ball. Haenel walked and eventually came around as Emily Gregesich reached on an error.
Maddi Roeser collected the team's lone RBI in the fifth inning, which started with runners on first and third. She ground into a fielder's choice and Haley Ives beat a throw to the plate. Roeser and Annika Johnson then executed a double steal of second and home for another run. Roeser also stole third and scored on a throwing error.
"We were able to steal some bases, able to work out some things and get the tentativeness out of some of our players. I'm hoping it got out of them," coach DeMeyer said.
As a team, Rhinelander collected four hits on the day. Bixby finished 2-for-2. Addi DeMeyer and Herkdle recorded the team's other hits.
"I thought we made some good ball contact," coach DeMeyer said. "The first two innings, they had their best pitcher out there, and she's a good pitcher. She's a very quality pitcher. She probably throws it 58, maybe touches 59. We were able to make some contact on her."
The Hodags host Lakeland this afternoon to kick off the regular season.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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