April 20, 2023 at 8:44 a.m.
Hodag baseball sweeps Pines for first wins
The Hodags swept a Great Northern Conference doubleheader from Northland Pines in Wisconsin Rapids on Tuesday. Max Ratty struck out 13 in a complete-game performance and Owen Kurtz drove in three runs as Rhinelander took the first game, 4-2. Five runs in the first two innings proved to be enough cushion in Game 2 as the Hodags won the nightcap, 9-2.
Tuesday's doubleheader was already scheduled for Wisconsin Rapids prior to Sunday night's snowstorm that dumped several inches of snow on the Northwoods. Luckily for both teams, between lesser accumulations further south and Wisconsin Rapids' faster-melting artificial turf fields, they were still able to get the contests in as scheduled.
"Mentally, you're in a place where you get 6-7 inches of snow one day and the next day you're playing a doubleheader down in Wisconsin Rapids," Hodag coach Joe Waksmonski said. "We were able to get two quality wins in conference here."
Ratty outdueled Northland Pines ace Landyn Hoeft in Game 1 as the Hodags jumped out to a quick lead. Hoeft, who did not allow an earned run in GNC play last season, was tagged for two runs in the top of the first by Rhinelander. AJ Turek singled and moved to third on an errant pick off throw before Ratty helped his own cause with an RBI double to left center. Following a Sam Schneider single, Kurtz delivered his first run of the day on a sacrifice fly to right.
"I thought it was important that we scored the first two runs off of him right off the bat in the first inning," Waksmonski said. "I think, in those situations when you are facing a top pitcher like that, that you score right away before they get a chance to settle in. I thought that played big time into our favor to do that."
Kurtz tacked on two more runs for the Hodags in the top of the fifth with to a two-out double to left center. Rhinelander took advantage of a fielding error on a Ratty grounder to keep the inning alive and Schneider singled to bring Kurtz up for the big hit.
"Owen, we've been trying to tweak a couple of things with him with his swing. I think we may have found something," Waksmonski said.
Pines took advantage of a couple of Rhinelander miscues in the bottom of the fifth as Kadin Kroeplin reached on a dropped third strike and later scored when Nolan Lurvey grounded into a fielder's choice. Lurvey ended up at third on the play after an overthrow on a double play attempt and scored on a Hoeft groundout to make it 4-2.
Ratty locked down from there. He retried the final eight batters he faced to get his first win of the year. Despite striking out 13, Ratty (1-1) needed only 94 pitches in his complete-game effort. He threw 67 pitches for strikes.
"He was just able to command the zone and able to mix and match his fastball and curveball. It was just quite a starting performance by Max," Waksmonski said. "It seemed like once Max got ahead, he was able to put them away right away."
Pines jumped out to an early lead in Game 2 as Hoeft walked, stole second, moved to third on an overthrow and scored on an Austin Samanske base hit. Rhinelander responded in the bottom of the first thanks to an error-aided two-out rally. Schneider singled to keep the inning going before Kurtz reached on a throwing error after a ground ball to third. With runners at the corners, Kurtz and Schneider executed a double steal of second and home before James Heck reached on a dropped pop fly to the right side of the infield that allowed Kurtz to score and give the Hodags a 2-1 lead.
The Hodag bats did the work in another two-out rally in the second. Seth Nofftz's single started a hit parade. Turek doubled followed by a two-run double by Ratty and an RBI single by Schneider to make it 5-1.
That proved to be plenty of cushion for Heck (1-1), who walked five and struck out five over four innings. He allowed two runs on four hits to get the win.
"Scoring five runs after two innings, that was big. James kind of struggled on the mound today to get ahead in counts," Waksmonski said. "We had some nice plays behind him, but to score like that to kind of help him out and get his feet underneath him, was huge for us."
Pines got a run back in the top of the fourth as Matthias Milanowski walked and scored on an infield hit by Devin Kevilus. Rhinelander returned the favor in the bottom of the inning as Nofftz reached on an error and scored when Ratty ground into a double play.
Rhinelander tacked on three insurance runs in the sixth as Nofftz singled and scored on a throwing error after Ratty reached on a fielder's choice. Schneider added an RBI groundout that plated Turek and Kurtz collected his fourth RBI of the doubleheader with a double to deep left.
Sophomore Dylan Vanderbunt earned his first career varsity save for Rhinelander. He scattered three hits and struck out two in three innings of scoreless relief.
"Dylan came in and was very efficient as well, in and around the zone," Waksmonski said. "He got hit up a little bit, but he showed a lot of poise and a lot of command. The defense made a couple of plays behind him. I'm very happy about his pitching performance too."
Rhinelander won Game 2 despite being outhit 9-8. Turek and Schneider collected two hits each for the Hodags, as did Nofftz, who went 2-for-3 with three runs scored out of the ninth spot in the batting order.
"Seth's in that spot in the lineup where we view him as almost a second leadoff (hitter), trying to get on base so that the top to the order can have another baserunner in front of them," Waksmonski said. "Seth had a nice night there in Game 2 in the 9-spot for us."
Weather permitting, Rhinelander (2-4, 2-2 Great Northern) has picked up a non-conference contest Friday at Marathon.
"Hopefully, Friday's supposed to be the dry day where we can try to get out there and play. Their field's up high and gets a lot of sun. Hopefully we can get that in," Waksmonski said.
The Hodags are scheduled to host Medford this coming Tuesday in the home opener at Stafford Field.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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