May 2, 2022 at 9:11 a.m.
Hodag softball falls to Antigo, Crandon twice
Hodag softball falls to Antigo, Crandon twice
Rhinelander played competitively with GNC co-leader Antigo Thursday, but couldn't muster much offense in a 6-0 shutout loss in the Hodag Dome.
Back in the dome on Friday, the Hodags dropped both ends of a doubleheader to Crandon in heartbreaking fashion. The Cardinals scored the winning runs in the seventh inning of both contests, sweeping the twinbill 5-3 and 4-3.
Still, for a team that has now dropped 10 straight contests, Hodag coach D.J. DeMeyer said he's starting to see signs of a turn around, even while No. 1 pitcher Addi DeMeyer is unable to pitch due to an ankle issue.
"Between yesterday and today, compared to last week, they're a lot more active. They're a lot more supportive and they seem to be having more fun," he said. "We've got to score more runs. We're starting to hit the ball hard again, and that's a good sign toward the end of the season."
Crandon doubleheader
The Hodags snapped a scoring drought that lasted 28 innings, but it was not enough to get by Crandon in what turned into a doubleheader in the Hodag Dome when the third team in a scheduled triangular, Ashland, backed out.
Both games ended in disappointing fashion for the Hodags. Crandon scored two runs in the top of the seventh to take the lead following a dropped third strike with two outs. The Cardinals then walked it off against Rhinelander in Game 2 on a two-out bases loaded double by Karsyn May in the last of the seventh.
"We did have some opportunities that we weren't able to capitalize on, being a little aggressive on the bases. Crandon made the plays," coach DeMeyer said.
Rhinelander plated its first run since the second game of a doubleheader April 19 against Mosinee in the second inning of Game 1, and did it without the aid of a hit. Two walks and a passed ball put two in scoring position with two out for Abigale Johnson, who hit a slow roller up the third-base line. Crandon decided to go home, but Chloe Felde beat the play to the plate to give Rhinelander a 1-0 lead.
"I knew we were in 20-plus innings. It is nice to get some runs," coach DeMeyer said of breaking the scoreless streak. "The girls are playing a little more loose now and I'm hoping the runs will come even more now."
Rhinelander's 1-0 lead held until the top of the sixth when a walk and hit batter put two aboard with two out for Alexis Schallock, who blasted a home run to left to give Crandon a 3-1 lead.
The Hodags rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth as Addi DeMeyer walked and beat a throw to third on a grounder by Kelsi Beran.
With runners at the corners and one out, Beran and DeMeyer successfully executed a double steal of second and home to get Rhinelander within a run. Laney Haenel then reached on an error, trying to bunt Beran along. The errant throw allowed Beran to score from second to tie the game.
Kelsey Bissonette doubled and was standing on third with two outs in the seventh when Ellie Jaeger swung and missed on a 2-2 pitch that hit the turf. Catcher Natalie Sundby tried to throw to first to complete the put out, but the ball hit Jaeger who was ruled to be in foul territory going up the line, and Bissonette scored to give Crandon the lead. Jaeger ended up at second on the play and scored moments later when Abby Adamski hit a fly ball to center that was dropped.
Rhinelander mustered only a single by Lily Treder in the bottom of the seventh.
The Hodags took a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh in Game 2, but Maya LeMaster singled and Skyler Holm walked to give Crandon life. Everyone was safe when Tenya Van Zile reached on a fielder's choice. Felde then struck out Schallock before May smacked the first pitch she saw into the outfield, playing the tying and winning runs.
Crandon took a 2-0 lead in Game 2 as two runs scored on a groundout by Lauren Littleton. Rhinelander chipped away. Annika Johnson singled and scored following an error in the fourth. Treder tripled in the fifth and then scored on a Lucy Lindner RBI single to tie the game.
The Hodags took the lead in the top of the seventh as Abigale Johnson singled and her courtesy runner, Kayla Tessman, scored on a two-out base hit by Treder, who finished with five hits on the day between the two games.
Haenel took the loss in Game 1 allowing five runs on five hits with five walks and nine strikeouts. Austyn Iwen started and went three innings in Game 2, allowing two runs on two hits with three strikeouts. Felde came on in relief and did not allow a hit until giving up two in the seventh, including the game winner.
Antigo 6, Rhinelander 0
Haenel and the Hodags did a decent job of keeping Antigo off-balance, but a couple of free bases and a lack of offense led to a 6-0 loss.
The Robins scored one in the third, two in the fourth and three in the fifth. Only three of the runs were earned - and two of those earned runs came after the Hodags misfired on a chance to turn an inning-ending double play.
Makala Beck reached on a dropped fly ball to start the third inning and eventually came around to score on a Sam Swartz two-out single. Tristin Arlen reached on an error in the fourth, stole second and scored when Sydnie Heinzen hit a fly ball to left that was not caught. Heinzen scored two batters later on a sacrifice fly by Beck.
"I know we lost 6-0 and we gave up six runs, but three of them were unearned," coach DeMeyer said. "The first three runs were unearned. You take away those three runs and it's 3-0 and anything's possible."
Mya Burt walked and scored on a Heinzen single with one out in the fifth. Rhinelander had a chance to double Heinzen off of first and end the inning on a pop out to third, but the throw back to first sailed high. Beck then reached on an infield hit before Lily Weix smacked a two-run double to left to make it 6-0.
Haenel allowed six runs, three earned over 4 2/3 innings with two walks and five strikeouts. Felde pitched 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, allowing two hits.
Swartz allowed three hits and struck out 10 to earn the win for Rhinelander.
The Hodags entertain Lakeland this afternoon in Rhinelander before traveling to Northland Pines on Thursday.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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