August 2, 2021 at 8:09 a.m.
Hodag Little Leaguers finish 2-3 in state tournament
Hodag Little Leaguers finish 2-3 in state tournament
Rhinelander edged Glendale 5-4 to finish 2-3 in pool play. That wound up being fifth best in the six-team pool. Both Rhinelander and Kennedy Madison ended up at 2-3, but Kennedy got through to the semifinals by virtue of its 5-4 victory over Rhinelander on Tuesday.
"Hodags had lead in all 5 games played, but just couldn't hold on in the games lost," team manager Steve Bishop said. "I'm super proud that our boys competed in every game versus the larger city teams."
Glendale had locked up a semifinal berth by the time of Wednesday's game to complete pool play. The Hodags jumped on Glendale for four runs in the third inning and got a needed insurance run in the fifth when Sawyer Bishop led off with a walk and scored. After scoring a run in the fourth, Glendale scored three in the bottom off the fifth to pull within a run, but Rhinelander retired the side in the sixth to hold on for the win.
Vince White, Abe Gretzinger, Aidan Lueder and Parker McCone all reached base and scored in the third for Rhinelander. Lueder was the starting pitcher in the contest.
Tuesday's game against Kennedy ultimately decided Rhinelander's fate in the tournament. After spotting the Madison team a three-run lead in the third, the Hodags rallied to take a 4-3 lead in the fifth with runs scored by Jackson Weinzatl, Jackson Waydick, Gretzinger and Bishop. Kennedy got a run in the bottom of the fifth to tie it and won it on a walkout hit in the sixth. Conner Rappley and Bishop were the pitchers of record for the Hodags in the contest.
Another late-inning surge did in Rhinelander against Kenosha National. The Hodags held a 3-1 lead after McCone, Rappley and Waydick scored in the third inning, but Kenosha got one in the top of the fifth and scored three times with two outs in the sixth to rally and take the win.
The Hodags started the tournament with a 29-2 win over Ashland, but then fell on the second day to Elmbrook National 12-4. Elmbrook defeated Glendale 5-2 in the state title game on Friday to advance to the Great Lakes Region tournament Aug. 8-14 in Whitestown, Ind.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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