May 28, 2021 at 11:25 a.m.
Hodags beat Tomahawk, get back to .500
Hodags beat Tomahawk, get back to .500
Joe Schneider and Walker Hartman each collected two hits and two RBIs, and Isaac Bixby struck out eight in a complete game effort, as the Hodags defeated the Hatchets 10-3 on a dreary afternoon at Stafford Field.
The Hodags weren't particularly crisp. They committed three errors, Bixby allowed seven hits and the team was 5-for-20 with runners in scoring position. Still, Rhinelander took advantage of six Tomahawk errors and five walks from Hatchet pitchers to get back to .500 (7-7) for the first time since May 6.
"It wasn't our A game. It probably wasn't even our B game, but we still got the win," Hodag coach Joe Waksmonski said of a game that was played in cold, blustery conditions that more closely resembled early April than late May. "I think the conditions had something to do with it, but it wasn't a well-played game on both sides. They just made more mistakes than we did."
Regardless, the Hodags were able to break the game open with a four-run second inning, and then tacked on three in the fourth and two more in the sixth to get some breathing room.
Tied 1-1 in the second, the Hodags got the bottom three in the order aboard with nobody out as Ryan Jamison singled, Kolby Ridderbusch reached on an error on a sacrifice bunt attempt and Tim Fox laid down a bunt single.
Bixby was hit with a 1-0 pitch to force in Jamison, Ridderbusch scored as Quinn Lamers reached on an error and a wild pitch scored Fox before Sam Schneider delivered a sacrifice fly to plate Bixby.
Joe Schneider doubled home Bixby in the fourth. Two batters later, Hartman drilled a two-run single to right center to give Rhinelander an 8-2 lead. Hartman led off the sixth with a double and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ridderbusch. Ian Miller singled and eventually scored later in the inning on a balk call.
"In spots we did well. We had some clutch hitting and, obviously, took advantage of their mistakes," Waksmonski said.
The Hodags got off to a slow start on Thursday. Two errors and an bobble that turned a potential double play ball into a run-scoring fielder's choice allowed Tomahawk to plate a run in the top of the first inning. Joe Schneider singled home Bixby to tie the game in the bottom of the inning, but the Hodags were able to do no more after getting runners on first and second with nobody out.
"We didn't get off on the right start there in the first inning with two errors right off the bat that allowed them to score that first run," Waksmonski said. "Even in the bottom of the first, we were able to score that one run, but we felt we could have easily tallied a couple more off their starter tonight."
Payton Bunce singled in Jake Kaminski to cut Rhinelander's lead to 5-2 in the top of the third. Marcus Matti singled in Isaiah Scheffler for the Hatchets in the fourth.
Bixby pounded the strike zone for the Hodags - 79 of his 97 pitches went for strikes - but Tomahawk was able to find some holes in the Hodag defense as they collected seven hits.
"They were scrappy up at the plate," Waksmonski said. "All their hitters, one through nine, were just battling at the plate. They were able to get the barrel on a couple balls here and there and able to find a couple bloopers and two or three ground balls between third and short that are base hits you just can't do anything about. They were definitely scrappy tonight."
Sam Schneider collected his team-leading 19th RBI for the Hodags in the game, Joe Schneider went 2-for-4 to improve his average to .438 and take the team lead in that department. Hartman also finished 2-for-4 and is now 5-for-13 overall in six games since returning from a knee injury that cost him the first eight games of the season.
"Obviously, he's not trying to do too much," Waksmonski said of Hartman. "He knows his limitations right now. We preach this to everyone, but he's taking it to heart where you just take what the pitcher's giving you."
Tyler Jablonski went 2-for-3 for Tomahawk while Bunce was 1-for-4 with two RBIs. Matti took the loss, allowing five runs on four hits over three innings. Scheffler allowed five runs on five hits in three innings of relief for the Hatchets (0-13, 0-12 Great Northern).
The win moved Rhinelander to 7-3 in the GNC, tied with Antigo (7-8, 7-3) for the runner-up spot as the two teams have a home-and-home series beginning this afternoon that highlights the final week of the regular season. Today's game at Stafford Field carries even more weight, as both teams jockey for a first-round bye in a six-team regional that also includes Clintonville (5-8), Shawano (8-5), Northland Pines (5-11) and Tomahawk. The regional seeding meet is set for tomorrow evening.
"The big one will be Tuesday night for us," Waksmonski said. "Our seeding meeting will be Wednesday and that will be huge implications based on that game alone right there. We have to be ready to go for Tuesday night's game."
Rhinelander will wrap up its regular season home schedule with a doubleheader against Wisconsin Rapids on Thursday before closing out the regular season at Antigo on Friday.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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