April 24, 2023 at 9:18 a.m.
Two big innings bite Hodag baseball in 6-2 loss
Two big innings bite Hodag baseball in 6-2 loss
The Raiders had only one hit in the decisive fifth inning - a bunt that ended up in no-man's land down the first-base line. Most of the damage came courtesy of an error, two walks and a hit batter.
"They're a good team. When you give them free bases like that, with the walks and the errors, miss a bunt coverage and the inning will get away from you in a hurry." Hodag coach Joe Waksmonski said. "That's what happened."
Rhinelander outhit Marathon 8-4 in the contest, but struggled to come up with hits with runners in scoring position. Meanwhile, the Raiders took advantage of two Hodag errors and 10 free bases via balls or hit batters to put up two big innings.
The Hodags jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the contest with a two-out rally in the first as Sam Schneider, Owen Kurtz and James Heck produced three straight two-out singles. Heck plated Schneider and then Kurtz came around after Cody Everson reached on a two-out error.
Daniel Laqua walked to lead off the bottom of the third and Tyler Underwood put Marathon on the board with an RBI double off the left field fence. Starter Dylan Vanderbunt walked back-to-back batters to load the bases with two outs before the Hodags went to the bullpen. Kaden Vanney walked Hector Pintor to force in a run and tie the game.
Grant Warren reached on a error to short to begin the fifth inning before True Thurs dropped down a bunt that neither Vanney, Schneider or first-baseman Tyler Morrison could get to. Vanney then walked Cooper Hoeksma to load the bases, plunked Pintor on a 1-2 pitch to force in a run and then walked Pierson Hamann to make it 4-2. Laqua added a run-scoring fielder's choice later in the inning before he and Pintor executed a double-steal of second and home to add an additional insurance run.
Underwood pitched five innings of relief to get the win and seemed to quiet the Hodag bats from the third inning on. Kurtz and Heck greeted him with back-to-back singles to lead off the third, but Underwood fanned Everson, Barak Rappley and Adrian Patrone in order to get out of the jam. Rhinelander had only two more hits the rest of the game. The Hodags also got runners in scoring position in the fifth and the sixth, but could not find a way to score.
"Offensively, there were a couple of situations we couldn't get the bunt down," Waksmonski said "The bunt play was on and we did not get it down. We missed an early steal where we were trying to get a run. We had a couple of runners in scoring position and just couldn't get the hit."
Kurtz finished the night 3 for 4 while Heck went 2 for 4 with an RBI. Schneider, Everson and Seth Nofftz also collected hits, but Rhinelander was a combined 1-for-9 in the bottom third of the order.
"The same top five guys in our order are the guys that are really producing," Waksmonski said. "We need to start having some more production from the bottom of our order and, quite frankly, just better at-bats. We're getting overpowered quite easily in certain spots of our lineup. We just can't count on the same four or five guys every single game for our run production. It's time for some of our other guys to start stepping up and producing."
Vanderbunt went 2 2/3 innings giving up two runs on two hits with four walks in a no decision. Vanney (0-1) took the loss, allowing four runs, but only one earned, on two hits with three walks and a strikeout over 2 1/3 innings. Oscar Hanson worked around back-to-back walks to start the sixth, fanning two batters to get through that inning scoreless.
Friday's game was played in chilly 40-degree conditions that featured light snow during the first couple of innings. It was the first time this season Rhinelander played on a natural surface as its first six games were played on turf at the Rapids Area Sports Complex in Wisconsin Rapids.
Rhinelander (2-5, 2-2 Great Northern) travels to Medford this afternoon for a GNC doubleheader. That replaces what was to have been a home-and-home series today and Thursday, beginning in Rhinelander.
"It's one of the top teams in the state and we have to step up and bring our game offensively, defensively and pitching-wise to stay in it and make it a game with them," Waksmonski said.
Weather and field conditions permitting, Rhinelander will now have its home opener Friday in a non-conference contest against Ashland.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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