June 21, 2023 at 12:59 p.m.
Rebels finish second in home tourney
Post 7 bounces back after two losses to beat Merrill
Rebels finish second in home tourney
The Rebels got it Sunday, cranking out 16 hits as they outslugged Merrill 16-12 in the final game of the tournament. It was a needed bounce-back win for the team after falling 5-3 to eventual champ Everest Saturday morning and then committing nine errors in a stunning 6-5 loss to Minocqua Saturday night.
"It was huge for us to play a good game, play as a team and play inspired baseball," Rebels manager Dan Huhnstock said. "After the letdown we had last night, the performance with all of the errors and stuff and men left on base, we needed to get our hitting shoes on. We needed to play good defense throughout the game."
The Rebels finished in a three-way tie for second in the tournament at 2-2 with Merrill and Fond du Lac Springs. Rhinelander was credited with second place overall by virtue of beating both of those teams head-to-head. The Rebels opened the tournament last Friday night with an 8-4 win over Fond du Lac Springs.
"Obviously, our goal is to win our home tournament every year, but considering the hole we dug ourselves in last night, to come out of it in second place is very satisfying," Huhnstock said.
Everest 5, Rhinelander 3
The Rebels weren't able to find enough offense Saturday morning, falling to Everest 5-3. Post 492 broke a 1-1 tie with two runs in the fourth and then added a pair of insurance runs in the fifth. Rhinelander got the tying run aboard in the seventh, but Max Ratty struck out looking to end the game.
The Rebels seemed poised for a big inning to start as Ryan Jamison reached on an error and then three straight two-out walks forced in a run, but James Heck ground into a fielder's choice, limiting Rhinelander to only one in the inning. Everest tied it on a Nate Langbehn two-out single in the bottom of the inning and then took the lead on back-to-back RBI hits by Andrew Cotter and Pierson MacDonald in the fourth.
Rhinelander got one back in the fifth as Jamison tripled and scored when Sam Schneider reached on an error, but Everest tacked on two more in the bottom of the inning on an Logan George RBI single and a grounder by George Jackson that brought in a run.
The Rebels had the bases loaded with one out in the seventh after a Jamison walks and hits by Schneider and Kolby Ridderbusch. Cody Everson grounded into a fielder's choice that scored Jamison before Ratty went down looking to end it.
Heck took the loss for Rhinelander, allowing three runs on five hits with five walks and four strikeouts over four innings. Kaden Vanney pitched two innings of relief, giving up a pair of runs on five hits.
"Against Everest we had a tough time stringing hits together. Our pitching was pretty solid. James threw well. Kaden came in and threw like I know he can and shut them down," Huhnstock said.
Minocqua 6, Rhinelander 5
Saturday night's game ultimately was a matter of who wanted it less. The teams combined for 13 errors in the game, and none of the 11 runs scored were earned. Ultimately, Rhinelander made too many self-inflicted errors.
The Rebels committed nine errors in the game, including four in a four-run fifth inning for Minocqua, which put the 89ers up 6-5 and ended up being the final score.
"We just did not play defense. We had some mental errors besides that. I'm surprised we did not get blown out. You cannot win games with nine errors," Huhnstock said.
Even so, the Rebels had chances to rally. Schneider was hit by a pitch to lead off the sixth, but Vanney lined into a double play while Schneider was trying to steal second. Minocqua then walked the bases loaded in the seventh with two out before Jamison flew out to center to end it.
Minocqua scored one in the first as Danny Gahler reached on an infield hit and moved to second on an overthrow. That proved costly as Nate Ariola scored him with a two-out single up the middle.
Rhinelander took the lead in the second as both Jamison and Vanney, running for Ratty, scored when Owen Kurtz reached on an error. Minocqua tied it in the third as Will Fortier reached on an error and then scored on an overthrow to third following a wild pitch.
The Rebels seemed to retake control in the fourth as Jacksen Smith reached on an error, stole second and scored when Seth Nofftz reached on an error. Nofftz later scored on an overthrow following a passed ball. Later in the inning, Ratty delivered Rhinelander's lone RBI of the game, singling home Jamison to make it 5-2.
Ratty pitched 4 2/3 innings and had six walks in the loss. He allowed only two hits - both of which came in the first inning. Vanney struck out five over the final 2 1/3 innings in his second pitching appearance of the day.
It was Minocqua's only win of the tournament as the 89ers finished last with a 1-3 record.
Rhinelander 16, Merrill 12
Rhinelander held a nine-run lead after five innings Sunday afternoon, and needed most of that cushion as Merrill plated six in the sixth before the Rebels held on for a 16-12 win.
Rhinelander had production up and down the lineup as all 12 players who recorded a plate appearance scored a run, had a hit and/or collected an RBI.
"Last game in a round-robin tournament, everybody's rotation is pretty beaten up. We had good, patient at-bats and barreled up a lot of balls," Huhnstock said.
Up 15-6 in the sixth, things got interesting as Rhinelander put Smith on the mound in relief in his first outing since walking four straight batters in the seventh inning of the Fond du Lac Springs win. Things didn't go much better on Sunday as he walked three batters and Merrill collected five hits off him in the sixth. That included a two-run single by Nathan Brzoznowski and a three-run homer to right by Brady Kanitz that made it 15-12.
After getting an insurance run in the seventh on a Seth Nofftz RBI single, Smith worked around a leadoff double in the bottom of the inning to get three straight groundouts to end it.
"We need Jacksen to get experience on the mound and, yes, it seemed like they had a lot of hard contact off of him, but the only way you get the experience is on the mound," Huhnstock said. "Luckily, we had enough of a buffer to carry us through."
Rhinelander jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first keyed by RBI doubles from Schneider and Ridderbusch, but Merrill scored on an error in the bottom of the inning before a three-run shot to left by Connor Cortright made it 4-3 in favor of Post 46.
Rhinelander got the lead back in the second on an RBI single by Jamison and a sacrifice fly by Schneider. Merrill answered in the third, tying it on a Kanitz base knock. Kanitz scored as Cam Wallin reached on a throwing error, putting Merrill ahead 6-5.
Rhinelander scored 10 unanswered runs for there. The Rebels scored four in the fourth on an RBI double by Jamison, an RBI single by Ridderbusch and a two-run double by Smith. Six more runs scored in the fifth as Schneider singled home a run with the bases loaded, Smith drew a bases-loaded walk, Dylan Vanderbunt hit a two-run single, Cody Everson had an RBI single and Vanderbunt scored on a overthrow off a wild pitch.
Vanderbunt settled in after early trouble to work five innings in the win. He gave up six runs on six hits with a pair of walks and two strikeouts.
Honor Guard honored
Sunday's game wrapped of the busiest baseball weekend of the summer at Stafford Field. On Friday night, the Hodag Diamond Club welcomed the Northwoods Honor Guard from Dalhberg-Makris American Legion Post 7 for a pregame ceremony that included the display of colors and a 21-gun salute. Following the opening ceremony, the Diamond Club made a $250 donation to the Northwoods Honor Guard.
"That was absolutely awesome for them guys to come over and do that for us," Huhnstock noted. "It really set the tone for a Legion baseball tournament to have them guys here. You've got to thank each and every one of them for their service. That's why we're able to play this fun game."
Minocqua rematches
The Rebels had two chances this week to make amends for Saturday evening's mistakes as they faced the 89ers twice. The first game took place Wednesday night in Minocqua and concluded after press time for today's edition. The final meeting takes place tonight at Stafford Field.
Given what happened last Saturday night, and that Minocqua will likely be in a much stronger spot in their rotation for this week's games, Huhnstock said the Rebels absolutely cannot take their Oneida County neighbors lightly.
"We're going to have to play our A game," he said. "They showed us that if we don't bring our A game, they can play with us. They can beat us. We have to bring our A game, every game."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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