March 28, 2021 at 6:30 a.m.
RHS softball gears up for season with 'two freshman classes'
RHS softball gears up for season with 'two freshman classes'
That might not be the worst news in the world, considering the Hodags went 2-17 in 2019.
Fast forward two years and all but five players from that squad have graduated. Going into last spring coach D.J. DeMeyer was optimistic his team would rebound, infused by a group of talented incoming freshmen. Those players never had a chance to prove themselves, however, as the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the team's season before it even started.
So, going into this year, the Hodags will be extremely young and unproven.
"I have basically two freshman classes and it's going to be a big step for them coming from that seventh, eighth grade into high school ball," DeMeyer said.
The Hodags got a head start to this season, given the 15 contact days afforded to spring sports teams by the WIAA prior to the beginning of official practice April 19. The team took off this week due to spring break, but will still have four more contact days next week leading up to the season.
"The girls are very enthusiastic. They're happy to be able to play. They've been very attentive and working hard," DeMeyer said.
Between the new Hodag Dome and the unusually warm March, DeMeyer said his team has put the extra practice time to good use.
"That's what's great about having this dome. We're holding full practices like we would outside, and actually maybe a little more in-depth," he said. "I've got a great coaching staff with Clara (Groskopf), Elmer (Suess) and Danny (McDonald). Elmer's able to throw live batting practice every day, something I'm not able to do. He's getting the girls hitting and he's very happy with where they're at. Danny always works with the pitching staff and Clara and I are working on the defense."
Rhinelander returns only one all-conference player from that 2019, senior Hannah Worachek, who hit .294 in GNC play with a home run and 4 RBIs as a sophomore. The team also returns some experience in the outfield, with seniors Alexis Herkdle and Kylee White back. DeMeyer said the ability to hit fly balls inside the dome has helped their defensive development.
"The thing I like about Alexis and Kylee, because we're able to hit fly balls, we're able to get aggressive at the ball," he said. "We want them to go after the ball and we didn't have that the last time we had a season."
Just as was the case two seasons ago, the Hodags will enter this year with no pitchers on the roster who have previously logged a varsity inning. Unlike two years ago, when the pitching staff had a combined ERA of 10.31 and had more walks (103) than strikeouts (102), DeMeyer said pitching may be one of the team's strengths this year.
DeMeyer's daughter, Addison, and fellow sophomore Abigail Bixby would have likely figured into the pitching rotation last year. Now, they are the team's two top options in the circle to start the season.
"We're going to be very young when it comes to the pitching staff," he said. "Fortunately we have two sophomore pitchers that have pitched in club ball and have played some tournaments ... Addi's played a lot of ball and pitched in some high-level games. She'll be able to step right in. Abigail hasn't to that extent, but we're getting her ready."
That will likely be part of a deeper youth movement within the team.
"There will probably be a couple of starters on the sophomore class and a couple of starters on the freshman class," coach DeMeyer said. "Every position is open. I told them that from Day 1. I hope they're taking me seriously because whoever can hit the ball and whoever can field the ball will be playing."
It will be a very short turnaround for the club once official practice rolls around April 19. The team will scrimmage Merrill five days later and is scheduled to open the season against Lakeland April 27.
"We'll be ready," coach DeMeyer said.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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