July 12, 2021 at 9:04 a.m.
Babe Ruth Roundup
Rhinelander gets by Lakeland Black
Babe Ruth Roundup
Rhinelander jumped out to a 6-0 lead through two innings and, after Lakeland scored twice in the top of the fourth, the Hodags answered back with three more runs in the bottom of the inning to put the game out of reach.
The Hodags had four straight hits to lead off the first inning, including a bases-clearing double by Owen Kurtz that gave Rhinelander a 3-0 lead.
Rhinelander's first three batters of the second all reached safely and scored. Alex Rappley walked and scored on a wild pitch. Owen Ives singled and came around on an RBI grounder by Noah Bell while Kaeden Pillar walked and scored when Connor Augustine reached on an error.
Four straight walks and an error - all with two outs - allowed Lakeland Black to score its lone runs in the fourth, but the Hodags answered in the bottom half of the inning, as Sam Schneider, Kurtz, Tyler Morrison and Cody Everson strung together four straight hits to begin the inning. Rappley added an RBI groundout.
In all, the Hodags pounded out 12 hits in the game - including two each from Schneider and Kurtz. Rappley started and went three innings for the Hodags, allowing no runs on two hits with five strikeouts. Johnny Turek went two-thirds on an inning, allowing two runs with four walks and Everson earned the win in relief, working the final 3 1/3 innings, allowing only one hit with four strikeouts.
The win moved Rhinelander to 4-3-1 in league play as it got set for a rematch with Lakeland Black Monday night in Minocqua that concluded after deadline. The Hodags head to Crandon on Wednesday.
Laser Pros routed by Lakeland Gray
Laser Pros International's bullpen struggled Thursday against league-leading Lakeland Gray. Tied 1-1 after two innings, Laser Pros relievers combined to issue 12 walks over the next three frames and Lakeland Gray won, 17-1.
Laser Pros' highlights came in the first two innings. Max Ratty recorded the team's lone hit in the first, which drove in Kyrle Vanney who reached on a leadoff walk. Laser Pros loaded the bases with two outs in the second, but Lakeland was able to field Jackson Freese's sharp ground ball to third to end the threat.
Ratty, meanwhile, did not walk any batters over the first two innings. After a couple of infield hits in the second, Brent Olson tied the game on a two-out base hit to left.
It was all Lakeland after that as the Hodags used four relievers, none lasting more than an inning. Mason Baker walked five and allowed six run in an inning-plus of work as Lakeland scored three off of him in the third before he allowed the first three batters of the fourth to reach. Kaden Vanney walked three and allowed five runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning. Truman Lamers came on to get the last out of the third, but then allowed five of the first six batters in the fifth to reach. All five would eventually score. Oscar Hanson finished up on the mound, striking out two and walking one.
Laser Pros (2-5-1) followed with a 12-2 loss to Eagle River on Friday. The team travels to Tomahawk to start a home-and-home series with the Hatchets tonight and tomorrow.
Rhinelander Gray drops a pair
After a dramatic come-from-behind win over Crandon to start the month, Rhinelander Gray did not have the same magic against the Cardinals on the road last week, dropping 12-2 and 10-2 decisions in back-to-back nights. The losses ensured Rhinelander will finish no better than fourth in the seven-team Prep League.
Rhinelander (4-6) hosted Tomahawk last night and will host Eagle River tonight before closing its season tomorrow night at Lakeland.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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