May 5, 2022 at 7:32 a.m.
RHS softball beats Lakeland, gets back into win column
RHS softball beats Lakeland, gets back into win column
Some pressure on the base paths, and an eagle-eye pickup by the coaches, allowed the Hodags to finally snap a 10-game losing streak.
The Hodags used a crucial overturned play in the fifth inning to their advantage and plated three insurance runs without the aid of an RBI in the sixth inning as they defeated Lakeland 5-1 in Great Northern Conference play in the Hodag Dome.
It was Rhinelander's first win since a 7-1 victory over Northland Pines April 7. The Hodags have seen a mix of blowouts and heartbreakers since, but finally got back into the win column.
"It's really nice to get a win," coach D.J. DeMeyer said. "We've been getting beat up here for the last couple weeks. I've been telling the girls to just keep working hard and it came through today."
Lakeland appeared to take a 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth inning when Karlin Williams smacked a two-run ground-rule double to left. The Hodags appealed the play, saying lead runner Sarah Barton missed home plate as she came into score. The umpires agreed. Barton instead was the final out of the inning, Lakeland got no runs and Rhinelander maintained a 2-1 lead.
Coach DeMeyer credited his assistant coaches for catching the base-running mistake.
"It should have been an easy two scores, but the first runner missed (home) base," he said. "That's why I have extra coaches. Danny McDonald caught it, I appealed and they called her out. That was a swing."
The Hodags did not have a hit through five innings against hard-throwing freshman Saylor Timmerman, but got some needed insurance in the sixth thanks to some heads-up base-running. Lily Treder singled to left to start the inning, stole second and got to third on a passed ball. Lucy Lindner then bunted her way aboard. Treder was unable to score on the play, but came around a short time later when Addi DeMeyer reached on a dropped third strike. Another dropped third strike to Annika Johnson allowed Lindner to score and got DeMeyer to third.
DeMeyer then waited for the right moment, caught Lakeland going through the motions getting the ball back into the pitching circle, and stole home to give Rhinelander a 5-1 lead.
"We started bunting, moving around. Addi stole home in the last inning," coach DeMeyer said. "We were aggressive on the base paths and we had the right runners on where we could be aggressive a little bit."
The run support was enough to make a winner out of Laney Haenel, who allowed three hits, struck out eight and worked around five walks over seven innings. The only run she allowed came back in the second inning as Ali Timmerman led off the inning with a walk, got to third on a pair of wild pitches and scored on a Lily Dahl grounder to third in which Rhinelander could not make a play to the plate in time.
"I want to give kudos to Laney Haenel. She really pitched well. I think she had eight strikeout outs. They shouldn't have even had that run," coach DeMeyer said. "That was a walk and then a ground ball to third, Natalee (Sundby) was ready to throw home, but our catcher wasn't ready to catch it and by the time we went to first, they were safe."
Haenel helped her own cause to tie the game in the second inning. Chloe Felde drew a two-out walk and got to third on a pair of passed balls. Haenel dropped down a two-out bunt and Felde beat the throw home to even the score at a run apiece.
Rhinelander took the lead in the fourth inning as Annika Johnson drew a walk, stole second and third and scored on a wild pitch.
Saylor Timmerman struck out 13 and allowed only two hits in the loss for Lakeland.
"We had her at 65 (MPH) today," coach DeMeyer said. "She throws hard and she's young. She's only going to get better. I don't want to face her in a couple more years."
The same two teams meet again Saturday in Minocqua. Rhinelander (4-12, 2-6 Great Northern) traveled to Northland Pines yesterday afternoon to face the Eagles in a game that concluded after deadline for today's edition.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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