March 24, 2022 at 7:45 a.m.
Team preview: RHS softball
Hodags look to gain ground in competitive GNC
Team preview: RHS softball
"Barring any injuries for us, I think we can compete," said coach D.J. DeMeyer, who begins his eighth year at the helm of the program. "I wouldn't put us in the top one or two, but I think if everything gels together and we hit the ball we can compete with anybody."
The Hodags showed signs of bouncing back last year in a 6-15 campaign that included a pair of wins over traditional conference power Mosinee. Five starters return from that squad along with a few other contributors.
It all kicks off for the Hodags this afternoon with games against Marathon and Shawano as part of a four-team invite in the Hodag Dome.
It's a hurried run-up to the season for Rhinelander, who had a number of players gone last week as the first week of practice coincided with the district's spring break. Coach DeMeyer said the team has been playing catch-up this week to get ready for its first games.
"We've got a lot of work to do in a short amount of time," he said. "We probably won't have it all done before those games, so, we're going to have to depend on our athletic ability and some of the experienced players to get us through the first game or two."
The good news is that, for the first time in several seasons, the Hodags will not need to worry about breaking in new varsity pitchers this season, as two of Rhinelander's three primary hurlers from last year return.
Junior Addi DeMeyer, a first-team All-Great Northern Conference selection last season, leads the group. She went 4-10 with a 3.18 ERA and 109 strikeouts over 81 1/3 innings pitched. Her one weakness was command - with 62 walks on the season - something that coach DeMeyer, her father, said improved over the offseason.
"Her control has gotten a lot better. Her confidence has gotten a lot better," he said. "That's a lot of it, mentally having the ability to throw the pitch you want to throw when you want to throw it and having the confidence that you can make that throw."
Sophomore Laney Haenel, who was 0-1 allowing 29 runs over 10 2/3 innings, is also back. The team's depth in the circle took a hit, however, as coach DeMeyer said Tuesday that junior Abigail Bixby has decided to pursue other opportunities this spring. She was 2-3 with a 7.18 ERA and 20 strikeouts over 26 1/3 innings last year while hitting .236. She figured to be Rhinelander's starter at second on days when she was not scheduled to pitch.
Offense will likely be the biggest question mark entering the season for the Hodags, who graduated two solid hitters from a year ago in outfielder Kylee White (.333, 11 RBIs) and infielder Hannah Worachek (.326, HR, 18 RBIs). Addi DeMeyer led the way with a .409 average last year and her battery mate, junior catcher Maddi Roeser, hit .371 with a home run and nine RBIs.
Other returning starters for the Hodags include Annika Johnson (.275, 10 RBIs), Chloe Felde (.270, 4 RBIs) and Abigale Johnson (.196, 8 RBIs).
"According to the cage, I think we're going to be good, but the cage and game time is not the same," coach DeMeyer said. "We've got to hit the ball and that's probably going to determine some of our fielders - who's hitting and who's not. I'm hoping some of these girls have matured, some of the sophomores and the juniors, and have a little more confidence in their hitting, that they're hitting strikes and being aggressive."
Defensively, Rhinelander will likely sport an entirely different outfield than last year. Both White and Alexis Hekrdle graduated, and coach DeMeyer said Annika Johnson will likely move from center field to first base this year.
Sophomores Lily Treder and Kayla Tessman are in the running to see innings in the outfield along with Abigale Johnson, who also serves as the team's No. 2 catcher behind Roeser.
"We have some outfielders I feel confident in. They're young, but if I can get them to be aggressive and go after the ball and back up people, I think we'll probably be fine," coach DeMeyer said.
With Worachek's graduation, the Hodags also have a hole to fill at shortstop. DeMeyer has the ability to play there when she's not pitching, but the team is looking at a number of options on the left side of the infield, including Felde, Haenel, senior Natalee Sundby and freshman Lucy Lindner.
Coach DeMeyer said the depth of the squad overall has improved to the point to where the team plans to field a JV squad for the first time since the 2018 season.
"Our numbers are way up and I'm really ecstatic about that and it's going to help out everything," he said.
DeMeyer said Medford, slated to return seven of its nine All-GNC selections from an undefeated conference championship last season, is the odds-on favorite to repeat. From there, it's anybody's guess as the league may be as competitive from top to bottom as it has ever been.
"They ran through the conference last year. I would say they're the favorites and after that, it's a crapshoot," he said. "It is crazy good in pitching right now. It might be better than the Wisconsin Valley pitching."
The Hodags are slated to open GNC play next Tuesday on the road against Mosinee and will play its home games in the Hodag Dome until the snow melts and the team moves next door to the Haug Family Softball Complex, its new home for 2022, replacing Pioneer Park.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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