June 30, 2022 at 8:48 a.m.
Rebels rally past Medford 5-1
Rhinelander now lone GNLC unbeaten
Rebels rally past Medford 5-1
Ryan Jamison hit a go-ahead triple as part of a four-run fifth and Isaac Bixby tossed a complete-game three-hitter as the Rhinelander Post 7 Rebels knocked off Medford Post 147 5-1 in Medford.
The game featured the Nos. 3 and 4 teams in the latest Wisconsin Legion Baseball Class AA rankings, with the third-ranked Rebels avenging a District 2 championship game loss to Medford last summer that cost Rhinelander its first state tournament appearance since 2012.
"It was two very good teams going at it head-to-head," Rebels manager Dan Huhnstock said. "This is just the beginning I'm sure and we'll be very familiar foes by the end of the season, as usual."
Medford made three errors in the game, one of which opened the door for Rhinelander in the decisive fifth inning.
Tied 1-1, AJ Turek reached to lead off the inning when a throw by Tucker Kraemer at second sailed high following a ground ball. Bixby followed with a single to left and both advanced a base on a passed ball before Jamison smacked a ball to the right-center gap for a two-run triple.
"That was huge, a good at-bat there and found the right field gap and he motored into third nicely," Huhnstock said.
Jamison came around on a ground out by Joe Schneider. The Rebels tacked on one more with two outs Max Ratty, back in the lineup after missing several games due to a sore knee, doubled and came around on a base hit by Jacksen Smith.
Ratty also reached on an error in the fourth that helped keep the inning alive for Owen Kurtz, who singled home Joe Schneider to tie the game at one.
"That's the thing, especially when you're playing against very good competition," Huhnstock said. "You have to take advantage of the other team's mistakes. If they open the door a crack, you've got to break it wide open."
Medford jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first as Seth Mudgett led off the inning with a hit, moved to second on a Tanner Hraby sacrifice and scored on a high chopper by Logan Baumgartner over Ratty at third for an RBI single.
Bixby allowed only one hit the rest of the way, struck out six and had no walks in an efficient 97-pitch effort as he improved to 4-0 on the summer.
"Isaac pitched a great game, was right on top of his game and didn't let that early run bother him at all," Huhnstock said.
Medford threatened in the fifth as a Miles Searles reached on a tough-hop base hit to short and Kraemer reached on an error, putting two aboard with one out for the top of the order. Mudgett then lined out to Adrian Patrone at first, who alertly dove back to the bag in time for an inning-ending double play. Medford did not have another baserunner in the contest.
"Adrian made a nice play and a good, heads-up, hustle play to just get back to dive to the bag and get the tag on the bag to turn a double play," Huhnstock said. "Very good play by one of our younger players that hopefully is showing some signs of maturity there."
The Rebels were able to get contact off Baumgartner, who has been Medford's top pitcher this summer. Baumgartner allowed five runs, only two earned, on nine hits over 6 2/3 innings with five strikeouts in his first lost off the season.
"We put the ball in play," Huhnstock said. "Nine hits but we also just putting the ball in play on him, which caused some of the defensive miscues. There was not a whole lot of swing and miss on us. There was a lot of contact, a lot of balls we hit to the right side and finally a couple of balls got through."
Rhinelander (10-1, 4-0 GNLC) beat Medford (8-3, 4-2 GNLC) again, 12-2 at home Wednesday in a game that concluded after the print deadline for today's edition. It is likely the two teams will be paired together again when the Class AA Regional parings and host site a released later this month.
The Rebels will play a GNLC doubleheader at Tomahawk on Friday.
Notes: Holmen (14-1) moved up to the No. 1 spot in this week's Class AA rankings, released Monday. Onalaska (9-3), Rhinelander, Medford and Lomira/Theresa (6-0) rounded out the top five. Rhinelander and Holmen will face each other Saturday, July 9 as part of the Merrill Invite. The teams will play the 1:30 p.m. game in a tournament schedule that was released Tuesday.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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