June 18, 2023 at 8:10 a.m.
Rebels double up Fondy Springs
Rebels double up Fondy Springs
Ryan Jamison tossed six strong innings and the Rebels got four RBIs from Sam Schneider in an 8-4 win over Fond du Lac Springs at Stafford Field.
Schneider's bases-clearing double in the fifth capped a four-run rally with two outs in the inning. Those insurance runs proved key in the seventh as receiver Jacksen Smith walked the bases loaded before Dylan Vanderbunt came in to pick up the save.
"It was a good, quality win. I'm glad we were able to have a little bit of a cushion, because we needed it," Rebels manager Dan Huhnstock said.
The Rebels left nine runners on base and nearly squandered a key opportunity in the fifth after singles by Cody Everson and Kolby Ridderbusch and a walk by Barak Rappley loaded the bases with nobody out. AJ Turek grounded back to the mound as the Ledgers threw out Everson at the plate and then Seth Nofftz struck out, but Jamison drew a bases-loaded walk to put Rhinelander ahead 5-2 before Schneider cleared the bases with a three-run double to the left center gap.
With Jamison two away from the 105-pitch limit, the Rebels went with Smith to close things out in the seventh, but he walked four straight batters, cutting the lead to 8-3. Casey Bartelt then hit a sacrifice fly to right off Vanderbunt, but some quick thinking turned that into a key double play.
Ridderbusch gunned the ball all the way in from right field to catcher Sam Schneider, who fired it back over to third to catch Kaden Krusick trying to advance. Vanderbunt then got Jonathan Korb to ground out to end the contest.
"Unfortunately, Jacksen couldn't find the zone. There will be other days. Dylan was able to come in with the help of a tremendous double play and shut the door on them," Huhnstock said. "Kolby set himself up real good for the catch and the throw. He has a terrific arm. We were able to take advantage of some aggressive base running there on their part and pick up a second out there."
The Ledgers took their only lead in the top of the first as Wagner singled, stole second, moved to third on a balk and came around on a Bartelt grounder. Bartelt, Springs' starting pitcher, walked four in bottom of the first inning. Back-to-back two-out walks to Everson and Ridderbusch with the bases loaded gave Rhinelander a 2-1 lead.
Springs tied it in the third as Max Bauer singled and scored on a Wagner base knock. The Rebels took the lead for good in the fourth. Schneider had a sacrifice fly and Max Ratty added an RBI ground out after Nofftz led off the inning with a single followed by a Jamison double.
Jamison improved to 1-1 on the summer, striking out six and walking three while scattering four hits over six innings.
"That's what we expect from Ryan game in and game out. He is undeniably our leader, on the field, off the field. How he goes, we go," Huhnstock said.
The Rebels outhit the Ledgers 10-4 in the contest. Nofftz and Everson had two hits each for Rhinelander.
Rhinelander struggled to keep up the momentum on Saturday, falling 5-3 to Everest in the morning and then 6-5 in an error-plagued game Saturday night against Minocqua. Full reports from those games, plus Sunday's finale against Merrill which concluded after press time for today's edition, will be published in Friday's River News.
The Rebels will play two more games against Minocqua this week, first traveling north to play the 89ers on Wednesday. The teams will meet again at Stafford Field on Friday.
Minocqua was scheduled to come to Rhinelander last Wednesday, but did not show due to a scheduling error. The teams were able to reschedule for this Friday after Antigo backed out of a game against the Rebels due to needing to make-up a Wisconsin Valley Legion League game against Stevens Point.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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