July 8, 2021 at 8:30 a.m.
Rhinelander 12Us undefeated in Little League district play
Rhinelander 12Us undefeated in Little League district play
The Hodags used two big innings to race past Wausau National 10-4 on Monday at Hodag Park and then got a strong performance both on the mound and at the plate from Sawyer Bishop to defeat Wausau American 5-0 Tuesday in a game that was moved inside to the Hodag Dome due to inclement weather.
Trailing 3-0 through two innings on Monday, the Hodags broke out in a big way in the third, scoring six runs to take a lead they would never relinquish.
The first seven batters of the inning reached safely, including singles by Blake Bauer, Aiden Luder, Bishop and Joseph Webb and a double by Abe Gretzinger, as Rhinelander rallied to take the lead.
After the Nationals got one back in the fourth, the Hodags put things away with another big inning in the fifth.
The first six batters of the inning reached safely this time, including singles by Bishop, Cooper Jahn and Bauer. Vince White added a single to help pad the lead.
Rhinelander used three pitchers in Monday's game. Luder started and went two innings, giving up three runs on three hits while striking out three. White picked up the win in relief, going 2 1/3 innings allowing a run on a hit with five strikeouts. Parker McCone earned the save, relieving White in the fifth and allowing no runs on two hits with four strikeouts.
On Tuesday, Bishop was a force both offensively and defensively. He homered, drove in two runs and scored three times, all while tossing a three-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts.
Bishop walked in the first and later scored with the bases loaded on a fly ball by Jackson Waydick. Bishop added a solo home run in the third to deep right center to make it 2-0. Conner Rappley doubled to lead off the fifth and scored on a double to left by Bishop. Gretzinger drove in Bishop with a base knock and later scored as he and Waydick executed a double-steal of home and second.
That was enough run support for Bishop, who allowed only four runners to reach base in the game, walking one to go along with three hits. The Hodag defense played error-free behind him.
Rhinelander defeated Merrill 12-2 Wednesday in a game that concluded after the print deadline for today's edition. That clinched first place in the pool for the Hodags and a trip to the second round, which begins next Monday in Wausau.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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