March 28, 2022 at 8:19 a.m.
Hodag softball wins twice to open season
Hodag softball wins twice to open season
Rhinelander won both of its games in a home invite at the Hodag Dome, racing past Marathon 11-4 in the first game before taking the nightcap from Shawano 11-5.
The wins came despite a last-minute curveball before the start of Friday event. Ace pitcher Addi DeMeyer, bothered by a sore ankle, was a late scratch from the pitching circle for Game 1. Sophomore Laney Haenel stepped in and pitched six strong innings in the win before DeMeyer was able to loosen her ankle enough to where she was able to close out Game 1 and go the distance in Game 2 against Shawano.
"Addi kind of leads the team and everybody follows her emotions. I was really proud of the whole team to be able to tough that out and really focus on the game," coach D.J. DeMeyer said. "Luckily, Addi was able to loosen up her ankle and pitch the second game."
In both games, Rhinelander took advantage of some miscues and had some timely hitting to open up big early leads and then held on down the stretch
"We're a young team but, after two big wins, it changes. Winning breeds confidence," coach DeMeyer said.
Rhinelander 11, Marathon 4
Seven straight Hodags reached base and scored during the fourth inning as Rhinelander blew open what was a one-run game against the Raiders.
The Hodags loaded the bases with one out as Kayla Tessman and Lily Treder both walked and freshman Kelsi Beran reached on a fielder's choice as Marathon misfired on a force play at third. Abigale Johnson then walked to force in a run before back-to-back two run singles by freshman Lucy Lindner and Addi DeMeyer - in the lineup only as a designated player in the first game - gave Rhinelander an 8-2 lead. Maddi Roeser followed with an RBI single and Chloe Felde drove in Roeser's courtesy runner, Sam Sundby, to make it 10-2.
"That's what we have to do. We have to hit the ball and I thought we hit the ball good today," coach DeMeyer said. "But, when the other team presents mistakes, we have to take advantage of them."
That was more than enough run support for Haenel, who picked up her first career varsity win. She pitched six-plus innings, allowing four runs on three hits with three walks and seven strikeouts. A couple of weeks ago, Haenel figured to be the team's No. 3 pitcher, but with Abigail Bixby no longer with the team and Addi DeMeyer's late scratch, Haenel became the team's opening day starter.
"I told Laney literally 10 minutes before the game, I said, 'It's yours, go get it.' Really impressed," coach DeMeyer said. "She went six strong innings. She threw her first curveball in a game and it was a dandy. I was very, very proud of her."
The Hodags had the game-clinching run at third with nobody out in the sixth inning, but were unable to end the game early. Marathon intentionally walked Felde to load the bases and three straight fielder's choices by Natalee Sundby, Tessman and Treder ended the threat.
Marathon got two runs back in the seventh as Haenel allowed a single and hit a batter before being relieved by Addi DeMeyer. DeMeyer gave up an RBI single to Ella Altfillish and another run scored when McKenna Haehlke reached on an error. Marathon eventually loaded the bases fore DeMeyer struck out three in a row to end the game.
Rhinelander got on the board first in the game as Lindner - who went 3 for 4 in her varsity debut - singled, stole two bases and scored when Roeser reached on a two-out throwing error. Taylor Lepak tied it for Marathon in the second, singling home Altfillish. Lepak later scored when Jada Prihoda reached on a dropped two-out fly ball.
Rhinelander retook the lead in the third Roeser drove in Abigale Johnson on a ground ball and Lindner scored from second when the throw home to get Johnson went wide.
Rhinelander outhit Marathon 7-4 in the game. Kayla Radtke took the loss for the Raiders, allowing nine runs on four hits over 3 1/3 innings with five strikeouts.
Rhinelander 11, Shawano 5
The Hodags jumped out to an early 7-0 lead, and fended off a pair of offensive spurts from the Hawks to take the second game. Rhinelander jumped on Shawano starter Abigail Bystol right away from a pair of runs in the first and then parlayed some shoddy Shawano defense into five runs in the second.
Abigale Johnson led off the bottom of the first with a double, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Lindner ground out. Addi DeMeyer followed with a double and scored two batters later when Felde grounded out to first.
Haenel and Treder both reached on errors to start the second inning, sparking Rhinelander's big rally. Haenel beat a throw home on an Johnson grounder and DeMeyer added a two-run double two batters later. Roeser keep the rally alive with an RBI single and Felde reached on Shawano's third error of the inning, allowing Roeser's courtesy runner, Sam Sundby, to score and giving Rhinelander a seven-run cushion.
That was plenty of run support for Addi DeMeyer whole allowed five runs on seven hits and struck out nine in the win. She was humming along until the fourth in inning when the heart of the Shawano order strung together four straight hits off of her. Brianna Wright and Elizabeth Kary started the inning with back-to-back singles and Hatty Fritz hit a ground-rule double to score Wright. Kary was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a wild pitch, which loomed large as Bystol took DeMeyer deep to center for a two-run home run just a couple of pitches later to make it 7-3.
"She said, 'Dad, it was right down the middle.' I said, that's what happens. We'll learn from it and kudos to Shawano's batter," coach DeMeyer said. "The second game when she threw she was throwing hard. She probably hit 60 (MPH) a couple times."
The Hodags got out of the inning with no further damage and tacked on a run in the bottom of the frame when Johnson walked and scored on a DeMeyer single. Rhinelander added on three more runs without the aid of an RBI in the sixth once Fritz became erratic in her relief appearance in the circle.
Lindner, DeMeyer and Sam Sundby all walked in the inning. Lindner and DeMeyer both scored on wild pitches while Sundby came around on a passed ball.
The Hodags drew 10 walks in Friday's two games.
"(Assistant coach) Elmer (Suess) has been pitching to these girls everyday in batting practice and (preaching) swing at strikes, don't swing at bad pitches," coach DeMeyer said.
Allison Johnson led off the second with a double for Shawano and scored on a Margo Gull groundout. Abbygail Watchel scored as the Hodags missed two chances to put the game away with a dropped third strike and a throwing error, both with two out, but DeMeyer got Fritz to pop out to end the game.
Addi DeMeyer went 3 for 3 at the plate with three RBIs as both teams collected seven hits for the game. Bystol, who returned to the circle in the sixth inning, took the loss, allowing seven runs on five hits over 2 2/3 innings for Shawano.
Up next
Weather permitting, Rhinelander is scheduled to travel to Mosinee to open Great Northern Conference play this afternoon against a team it defeated twice last season. That game was still on as of deadline for today's edition, though in question due to the cold forecast.
After that the Hodags will play two tough games Thursday in the Hodag Dome. Originally scheduled as doubleheader against reigning Wisconsin Valley Conference champion D.C. Everest, coach DeMeyer said perennial Division 2 power New London has been added to the docket and that his team will play one game each against the Evergreens and the Bulldogs.
"If we can go 1-1 I'd be very happy, but if we can play competitive ball against both of them, I'd be happy too," he said.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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