April 28, 2022 at 12:25 p.m.
Hatchets sweep Hodag softball
Hatchets sweep Hodag softball
Rhinelander saw its losing streak grow to seven straight games as it was swept by Tomahawk 12-0 and 13-0 in a doubleheader in the Hodag Dome.
The Hatchets had one big offensive inning in both games, compounded by Rhinelander errors and walks, to blow each game open. Meanwhile, Rhinelander continued to struggle on offense. The team collected only two hits combined between the two contests.
"It's been a pretty rough year. I don't know what's going on, offensively. When we're practicing, we're hitting the ball hard, but it's not coming on to the field," coach D.J. DeMeyer said.
Injuries certainly are not helping the squad as two of the team's top players - juniors Addi DeMeyer and Maddi Roeser - were limited due on Tuesday.
DeMeyer, dealing with an ankle she rolled late in an 8-0 loss at Antigo April 22, did not pitch in either contest, but played shortstop. Roeser left after four innings in Game 1 with an undisclosed injury and did not play in Game 2.
"We've got just some girls that are banged up. It's a long list and it makes it really hard to get some continuity in the team," coach DeMeyer said.
Tomahawk senior Maddie Marino tossed a no-hitter with 13 strikeouts in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader. She pitched five more innings in Game 2, scattering two hits while fanning 11 as the Hatchets picked up a win via the mercy rule.
Rhinelander has gone 20 straight innings without scoring a run, dating back to its two-run fourth inning in the second game of a doubleheader loss to Mosinee at home April 19.
"It's not that we're seeing outstanding pitching," coach DeMeyer said. "Not that the pitcher did bad today. The Tomahawk pitcher threw strikes, she spotted and located, but she basically threw fastballs both games. We throw fastballs to them all day, every day in the cage, at about that same speed and they smack it. So I don't know what's not correlating."
Tomahawk led 3-0 after four innings in Game 1, but broke things opening in a six-run fifth that featured four Rhinelander errors and three walks by starter Laney Haenel. Tomahawk added three in the sixth to end the game early.
The Hatchets plated nine runs, all unearned, against reliever Austyn Iwen in the fourth inning of Game 2. The inning started with leadoff hitter Scout Stromberg reaching on a dropped third strike and Maddie Marino reaching on a dropped fly ball to left. From there, Iwen allowed nine of the next 11 batters to reach, either via singles or walks.
Coach DeMeyer said Addi DeMeyer will receive further evaluation on her ankle early next week to determine when or if she will be able to return to the circle this season. Until that point, the Hodags will likely need to platoon with Haenel, sophomore Chloe Felde and Iwen.
"Let's face it, at the beginning of the year, we had three solid pitchers," coach DeMeyer said. "We lost our No. 1. Our No. 2 (Abigail Bixby, who is no longer with the team) had other interests and our No. 3 is now our No. 1. When you lose two of your top three pitchers, it's tough to go through."
Haenel allowed 12 runs, only three earned on 10 hits in Game 1 with eight walks and four strikeouts. Felde allowed two runs on four hits over the first two innings of Game 2. Iwen also gave up four hits in her two innings in the circle.
"Laney struggled a little bit with walks. I don't know how many walks she had, but a lot of pressure on her," coach DeMeyer said. "Her and Addi have been childhood friends for a long time. She knows what's going on and probably feels she has the weight of the world on her shoulders. We'll work on that. Laney's got all the tools. She's just got to get focused and harness those tools, and I think she will. "
"Chloe came in for two innings and did well. I think she gave up two runs maybe and then Austyn came in and she took the brunt of the loss, but she pitched well enough to get out of those innings. But we made errors ... we just can't afford to do that."
Annika Johnson and Lily Treder collected the hits for Rhinelander in the second contest.
Coach DeMeyer said many of the team's issues - both at the plate and in the field - can be fixed by having the right approach.
"We've just got to confirm everything we're doing and get the girls to think before the ball is hit, or get the girls to have a concept when they get in the batter's box of what they're trying to do," he said.
Rhinelander was set to host Antigo Thursday in a game that concluded after deadline. That game was moved to inside to the Hodag Dome because of uncertainty as to if the diamonds at the adjacent Haug Family Softball Complex would be ready for play following the late thaw. That uncertainty also put Friday's home triangular against Crandon and Ashland in question, though that event was still on as of press time. Those games are unable to move inside due to a previously scheduled community event inside the Hodag Dome.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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