June 15, 2022 at 11:33 a.m.
Babe Ruth Roundup
Rhinelander Green vaults to Senior League lead
Babe Ruth Roundup
Rhinelander Green knocked off Lakeland Gray 10-6 at home Monday night before handing Lakeland Black its first loss of the season in a 5-0 shutout in Minocqua on Tuesday.
The Hodags jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead Tuesday night in Minocqua with singles by Kaden Vanney and Connor Augustine before a sacrifice fly by Alex Rappley. After Owen Ives was hit by a pitch, he and Augustine executed a double steal of second and home and a throwing error on a stole base attempt allowed another run to score.
Rhinelander tacked on a run in the fifth, loading the bases via an error, a hit batter and a walk before another error allowed Johnny Turek to score. Turek laid down a sacrifice bunt in the seventh that plated Rappley.
Rappley pitched five dominant innings of relief to earn the win. Taking the mound in the third inning, he didn't allow a hit, struck out 13 and walked only one. Mason Baker started for Rhinelander, striking out four over two innings. He worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the second following a hit and a pair of walks.
On Monday night, Rhinelander Green erased a 4-0 deficit by scoring six runs in the bottom of the first inning and held off Lakeland Gray 10-6.
The first four Lakeland batters of the game reached, including a three-run home run by Leonard Chosa before Rhinelander Green rallied. The Hodags had five hits in the opening inning, including a go-ahead double by Richard Threlkeld to take a 6-4 lead. Lakeland tied the game in the third before Rhinelander responded again in the bottom of the frame. Augustine singled and scored on a passed ball and Rappley singled and came around on a triple by Ives to make it 8-6. Rhinelander then took advantage of some Lakeland defensive miscues as Sam Schoppe singled and scored in the fourth and Kyrle Vanney walked and scored in the fifth, both without the aid of an RBI.
Augustine and Kaden Vanney pitched in the contest, striking out 12 batters between them.
Rhinelander Green (4-1) moved a half game ahead of Crandon and Rhinelander Black (3-1) and a game up on Lakeland Black (2-1) in the standings with the wins. The team returns to action Monday at Three Lakes.
Late rally not enough for Rhinelander Black
Rhinelander Black put up a valiant comeback in the final two innings Tuesday night, but it was not enough to dig out of a big hole as it suffered its first loss of the season, 9-7 to Crandon at Stafford Field.
Down 9-0 after Crandon scored four in the top of the six, the Hodags answered with three in the bottom half of the inning and plated four with two outs in the seventh, getting the winning run to the plate before Myles Eagleson grounded out to end the game.
Back-to-back doubles by Dylan VanderBunt and Barak Rappley sparked a Rhinelander offense that had only one hit through five innings. VanderBunt later scored on a throwing error and Rappley came around on a wild pitch. Seth Nofftz walked and scored on a two-out bloop single by Eagleson.
VanderBunt appeared to hit a game-ending groundout to second in the seventh, but the Hodags were given new life when the throw to first sailed high. Rappley walked before Caden Sieker hit an RBI single. Nofftz followed with another base knock, that got past the left fielder, allowing two runs to score. Evan Shoeder followed with a single to right to make it 9-7.
Leadoff errors proved costly for Rhinelander in the third and sixth innings. Crandon scored three in the third and four in the sixth, all unearned, and also had single runs in the second and fourth.
VanderBunt took the loss, allowing nine runs, but only two earned, over 5 2/3 innings. He gave up nine hits, walked three and struck out four.
Rappley finished the game on the mound, retiring all four batters he faced with three strikeouts.
Rhinelander Black was scheduled to play at Lakeland Black Thursday in a game that concluded after deadline. The Hodags are back in action Tuesday at home against Tomahawk.
Rhinelander Prep picks up win
Rhinelander's Prep League team edged Tomahawk 11-9 on the road Tuesday night. Details from that game were unavailable as of press time for today's edition.
Rhinelander (4-1) sat a half game behind Crandon for the Prep League lead with the two teams scheduled to play Wednesday night in Crandon in a contest that concluded after deadline.
The Hodags are home to face St. Germain on Tuesday.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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