June 14, 2023 at 1:30 p.m.
Rapids rallies to walk off vs. River Monsters
Rapids rallies to walk off vs. River Monsters
Vinnie Fonti singled through a drawn-in infield with the bases loaded and nobody out in the ninth as the Wisconsin Rapids Redhawks rallied past the River Monsters 7-6 in Dairyland Baseball play at the Rapids Area Sports Complex.
Rhinelander led 6-1 after four innings, but the Redhawks scored in every inning except the eighth from the fifth on to rally and take the win.
"That was a really tough loss after sort of being in control for a while," River Monster manager Todd Johnson said. "To their credit, they got back into the game, but it's a game you walk away and you think you should have won that game."
The River Monsters couldn't come up with a play when they needed it in the final inning and, when they did, they couldn't get a call. Leading 6-5, Josh Young was unable to handle Brennan Huber's leadoff grounder to third to put the tying run aboard. Then pitcher Martin Hoger could not field a sacrifice bunt attempt by Nathan Krommenakker, giving the Redhawks runners at second and third with nobody out.
After Hoger walked Tyler Beyer to load the bases, Fonti hit a high chopper in the infield that caromed off of Hoger's glove in a leaping attempt, deflected past shortstop Quinn Lamers and through into left field. Huber scored on the play. Krommenakker was also sent on home the play and ruled safe, despite photographic evidence showing that Rhinelander catcher Ben Quade tagged Krommenakker just before he touched home plate.
"The very last one, Martin gets a glove on it and sort of deflects it. Had Martin or Quinn fielded the ball, we're probably OK there," Johnson said. "We had a leadoff error in the ninth and that hurt and a bunt that Martin didn't get clean and things sort of unraveled from there.
The River Monsters had no answer for Rapids native Ethan Peters, who led the nation in saves at the Division-III level in 2022 at Loras Collage. The southpaw allowed one hit over 5 1/3 innings, striking out nine to pick up the win.
"The lefty, he could throw. He was really tough and he held us at bay then. That's what they needed to do to get back into the game," Johnson said.
Rapids struck first against Rhinelander starter Joe Schneider as Beyer singled home Huber in the bottom of the first inning.
From there, a pair of two-out rallies gave the River Monsters the lead. Back-to-back walks to brothers Sam and Joe Schneider gave Rhinelander life in the third. Hoger singled up the middle to tie the game and Jesse Robinson doubled to right to put the River Monsters ahead 3-1. A two-out walk by Sam Schneider again set the table in the fourth. Joe Schneider singled to center to score Caden Palubicki before Hoger doubled to right, driving in two and chasing starter Blaine Wahlen from the mound.
"We had some good at-bats against him. Just watching him warm up and watching him throw, he was throwing hard, but we had some good at-bats," Johnson said.
Rapids got two back off Joe Schneider in the fifth as UW-Stevens Point standout Jacob Boos walked and scored on a single by Krommenakker. Huber made his way home on a passed ball, cutting the lead to 6-3.
Hoger came on in relief in the sixth and Rapids got one that inning. Carson Gunderson singled up the middle and scored on a Peters two-out single up the middle. Rapids got one more in the seventh as Hoger hit Krommenakker with a pitch and then gave the Redhawks player/manager third base following an errant pickoff attempt. Beyer drove in Krommenakker with a sacrifice fly to make it 7-6.
Hoger worked three-plus innings in the loss for Rhinelander, giving up three runs, all unearned, on four hits. Joe Schneider struck out five as he scattered three runs on six hits over five innings.
Rapids outhit Rhinelander 10-9 in the game. Hoger and Robinson each collected two this for the River Monsters.
Rapids moved to 5-2 in Dairyland play thanks to a weekend of back-to-back walkoff wins. They edged Minocqua 3-2 in 10 innings the day prior. Rhinelander dropped to third in the Dairyland Large Division standings at 3-2.
"You look at their lineup, I know Joe Schneider said three of them were his teammates (at UW-Stevens Point) and then there's a couple of guys committed to other college programs. It's certainly a really good lineup. To be in a game that we walk away thinking we should have won, that makes it tough," Johnson said.
The River Monsters will play their next two games against the neighboring Minocqua Wood Ducks (1-4). The teams will play this Sunday up in Minocqua and then meet again Saturday, June 24 at Stafford Field.
"It's a couple big weeks for us here. We've got to get back on track," Johnson said.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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