Hodag Little Leaguers roll to sectional title

The Hodag 10U Little League All-Stars took Game 1 of the Section 2 championship series by the slimmest of margins last Saturday in Superior. Game 2 on Sunday was a much more lopsided affair and has Rhinelander two wins away from a state championship.

The Hodags jumped out to a 9-0 lead Sunday and cruised to a 9-2 victory over Superior to sweep the best-of-three sectional series in Superior. That earned Rhinelander a return trip to Superior this weekend for another best-of-three series against Section 1 champion Kenosha National with the state title on the line. 

“It’s not hard to believe, but to be one of the two teams left is pretty amazing,” Hodag manager Dan Bauer said. “But I’m not surprised, because they put in a lot of work. We practiced, even when we didn’t play (after earning the bye in to the district championship), on Wednesday we practiced. These kids work hard and they put in a lot of work. So I’m not surprised at the success they’re having. They put in the work and they want to be the best players they can be.”

Sunday’s game turned into a rout when the Hodags batted around in the fourth inning, scoring six times, to open up a 7-0 lead. That was more than enough run support for Eli Bauer, who struck out 12 and gave up just one hit over 4 2/3 innings to earn the win. Nick Schneider pitched the final 1 1/3 innings for the Hodags.

Rhinelander scored all of its runs with two outs in the fourth. Jeter Vander Gailen and Jaxon Eades scored on Schneider’s single past first base to get the parade started. Following a Cooper Clark single, Easton Ostrom smacked a two-run double, William Sundby added an RBI single and Blake Sundby drew a walk with the bases loaded to cap off the scoring. 

After having only four hits total in their previous two games, the Hodags had six in the fourth inning alone Sunday as they put the game all but out of reach. 

“We keep playing solid defense and, today, our bats came alive which was nice to see. It’s been a few games since we’ve been able to do that,” Dan Bauer said.

The Hodags got on the board first Sunday as Cooper Clark singled and came around on a two-out base hit by Rylan Pasanen in the second. Rhinelander tacked on two more runs in the fifth as Vander Gailen walked and scored on an Eli Bauer single. Schneider then picked up his third RBI game with a ground out that brought in Eades. 

Though the Spartans managed to get two off Schneider in the sixth inning, the Hodags had plenty of cushion in a game that Superior needed to win to force a decisive third game. 

Rhinelander would have been on the brink of elimination Sunday had it not experienced a little good fortune Saturday as it rallied to take Game 1, 5-4, on a dramatic final play. 

With the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the sixth inning, Eli Bauer’s fly ball went off the glove of the center fielder, clearing the bases and giving the Hodags a dramatic walkoff win. 

“I don’t know if the kid couldn’t see it in the sun, misread it or what, but he was kind of hesitant to go for it and it went off the tip of his glove, and fell to the ground. We scored the two runs to tie it and then, when Jaxon got to third, both of the players were back at the fence (getting the ball after a throw to the plate), so I sent him home,” coach Bauer said. “I felt pretty good after we were able to squeak that game out. After pulling that one out, our emotions were high and, obviously, it kind of took the wind out of them. They were one out away from winning Game 1 and we were able to pull it out.”

Eli Bauer was credited with the pitching win in both games after throwing an inning of relief in the sixth on Saturday. He managed to keep his pitch count low enough that he was still eligible to pitch on Sunday. 

The Hodags are now 8-0 during their run through the state tournament which included two weeks of district play before the sectional series. Rhinelander has not allowed more than five runs in any game. Coach Bauer credited that to strong pitching and solid defense, while noting the job that Blake Sundby has done behind the plate during the postseason run. 

The team planned to practice Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday before heading back to Superior this weekend. Rhinelander will likely come in as the underdog against a team from the talent-rich southern half of the state, but coach Bauer said, the same formula that has gotten the Hodags this far will be key during the state championship series. 

“We’ll have to continue with our solid pitching and good defense and we won’t be able to get away with not hitting the ball. We’ll have to hit the ball every game if we want to come away the champion,” he said.

Game 1 of the championship series is set for Saturday, with Game 2 on Sunday. Game 3, if necessary, will be played Monday. All games are slated for 1 p.m. start times at the Hayes Court Complex in Superior.

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].