April 18, 2022 at 8:06 a.m.
Snowed out again, Hodag baseball scrimmages in dome
Snowed out again, Hodag baseball scrimmages in dome
Snow, wind and cold temperatures did not stop the Hodags and Evergreens from getting together, however.
Though the non-conference game was nixed, the two teams moved inside to the Hodag Dome for a scrimmage.
It was Rhinelander's first game action against another team this spring and D.C. Everest's first since its squeezing in a game April 1 against Adams-Friendship.
Things were a bit different on Friday. The Hodag Dome featured the shortest of short porches in right field - at most 220 feet down the line - and any ball off the roof or the netting in fair territory was in play - whether it was caught or landed on the turf. But, for Rhinelander, it was the closest thing to an actual baseball game after losing its first eight scheduled games to snow.
"We were able to run everything, our pregame routines, go through our hitting, go through our stretch routines and made everything as game-like as possible," Rhinelander coach Joe Waksmonski said. "It was really nice to be able to do that. With the live situations, it's always nice to see another team's arms. Overall, it was a great experience."
The teams got their money's worth out of the dome, too, playing nine innings of simulated baseball on Friday. Rhinelander and Everest combined to run through 16 different pitchers and 35 different batters. Repetitions were the name of the game in the roughly 3-hour, 15-minute scrimmage.
As it was a scrimmage, no score was officially kept - though D.C. Everest plated five runs in the eighth and one more in the ninth to win the run count, 10-7.
Offensively, Rhinelander managed seven hits on the day and committed only two errors defensively, despite a parade of different players in different positions through out the day. Seven different pitchers saw time on the hill as well.
Senior Ryan Jamison, who enters the season as the Hodags' ace due to fellow senior Joe Schneider's offseason knee surgery, was stung for three straight two-out RBI singles in the top of the first as Everest jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Jamison worked the first two innings, allowing three runs on three hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
Jacksen Smith tossed two scoreless innings after that, with four strikeouts, as Everest worked through all 20 varsity and JV batters they brought on Friday. Kolby Ridderbusch allowed a run on two hits in the fifth. Max Ratty, Logan Schmoeger and James Heck all pitched an inning and Ridderbusch returned in the ninth following an abbreviated appearance on the mound by Cody Everson.
"It felt like an early-season game," Waksmonski said. "Pitchers, one at-bat they could be locked in throwing strikes and, the next two or three batters they had a tough time finding the zone. It's basically, right now, finding that consistency, every batter, every at-bat. That will come along with game experience."
Rhinelander did most of its damage, offensively, in the second inning, plating five runs. Ratty was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Heck and Schmoeger followed with back-to-back singles, with Schmoeger's hit to left driving in Ratty. Following an Owen Kurtz strikeout, freshman Seth Nofftz hit a sacrifice fly to deep left center, driving in a run. After Tyler Morrison walked, Jackson Freese reached on a two-out error allowing Schmoeger to score. After Adrian Patrone drew a walk, AJ Turek hit a two-run single to left.
Rhinelander tacked on another run in the fourth as Nofftz drew a bases-loaded walk. Sam Schneider singled in a run for the Hodags in the sixth. Schneider, Rhinelander's top RBI man last spring, had two hits on the day for Rhinelander. Jamison, Turek, Heck, Schmoeger and Kurtz also recorded hits.
"Hitting-wise we had some guys that put together some really good at-bats, especially guys that were maybe down in the order. I thought there we some really good at-bats down there," Waksmonski said. "Defensively I felt we made most of the routine plays. There were some tough plays we didn't quite make but, as far as routine plays, we made all the routine plays."
The late thaw has already postponed Rhinelander's Great Northern Conference and home opener, which was supposed to be Monday against Tomahawk at Stafford Field. The teams are slated to play a doubleheader in Tomahawk on Thursday instead, but with a cold spell expected through at least Wednesday, there remains doubt regarding if those games will go off as scheduled.
That would be yet another delay for a young team with only four starters returning from last year's sectional final squad. However, Waksmonski said Rhinelander has been able to make strides the last few weeks inside the Hodag Dome.
"I think, sometimes, we take it for granted that we have this and that we're able to practice in this facility. I think, without a doubt, it's helping us get ahead of some of the other local teams," he said. "You can feel there's more growth happening as far as the arm strength, bat speed, things like that. You're able to throw the ball as far as you can. You're able to hit the ball and kind of see the ball flight to it. I think a lot of our guys are just able to learn their skills a little bit better in here and, obviously, able to strengthen their arms a lot more in here. It will be interesting once we start playing games if we are further ahead and, if so, how far."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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