May 12, 2022 at 8:50 a.m.
Medford softball routs Hodags
Medford softball routs Hodags
Medford scored multiple runs in every inning and defeated Rhinelander via the 15-run rule, 17-0, in four innings in the Hodag Dome.
Medford ace Martha Miller did not play after tweaking a hamstring over the weekend in Gilman, but backup Laurissa Klapatauskas scattered two hits and struck out five in a win. Rhinelander did not have nearly as much success with its bullpen, with No. 1 option Addi DeMeyer still unable to pitch due to an ankle injury. Three Hodag pitchers combined for 12 walks in the contest.
"Medford's a good team, top to bottom," Hodag coach D.J. DeMeyer said. "They didn't have their No. 1 catcher or their No. 1 pitcher. They're both injured, but they've got a good backup (pitcher). She plays a lot of ball. They're just a better team than us and we struggled pitching today."
The Raiders jumped on Rhinelander for five runs in the first inning and tacked on two in the second before exploding for seven runs in the third. Medford added three runs in the fourth to get the margin above the 15-run threshold.
Medford tagged Rhinelander starter Laney Haenel for five hits in the first inning, including a two-run home run by Katie Brehm. Haenel allowed two more in the second on an RBI single by Morgan Huegli before Brehm reached on a two-out error, bringing in another run.
Austyn Iwen came on in relief in the third, but had five walks in the inning as Medford pulled away. Freshman Kelsey Winter made her varsity debut in the fourth inning but last only a third of an inning, allowing three runs on a hit and a pair of walks before Haenel returned to the circle to finish the contest.
"We've been getting by on our pitching because we've been able to locate the changeup. Today we couldn't locate the changeup," coach DeMeyer said. "All three pitchers couldn't throw a changeup for a strike and that's what hurts. They don't throw hard enough to be able to throw it by them, so we have to be able to mix speeds a little bit and we weren't able to do that today."
Addi DeMeyer singled off of Klapatauskas in the first inning and Kayla Tessman was thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double in the second. Rhinelander's only other base runner came in the third when Natalee Sundby drew a leadoff walk.
"We hit the ball. They made some nice plays. Addi had a hit and Kayla Tessman had a hit. We hit the ball," coach DeMeyer said. "Their pitcher was hittable. She's not as good as (Miller). She's hittable but it's hard to stay up for a game when you're down 10-0 right away. We've just got to stay positive and try to get some rallies going."
The same two teams were set to meet Wednesday afternoon in Medford, making up a contest that was rescheduled twice due to rain (see RHS sports recap, linked below). That game concluded the regular season for the Hodags (4-15, 2-9 Great Northern) who were set to learn Wednesday night who they will face when the WIAA playoffs begin next Thursday.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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