March 20, 2023 at 8:47 a.m.
Spring break creates slow start for Hodag softball
Spring break creates slow start for Hodag softball
That's because the school vacation now falls on the same week that the Hodags can begin practice under WIAA regulations. This year was no exception, and the logistics of practicing while school is out have been a bit of a challenge.
Typically there are a number of absences with players on vacation. This year, that list included head coach D.J. DeMeyer. Practice started last Tuesday for the team but, due to issues getting back from his own vacation, DeMeyer was not able to watch the team practice until Thursday.
"Some of the girls that are gone, this is normal for the start of our season," he said. "Spring break always seems to kick off (at the same time) as softball season, which is unfortunate, because some girls do miss practice and it's difficult to get them up to speed. But we'll figure it out like we always do."
Luckily the team had plenty of helping hands while DeMeyer was gone, including a couple of new faces to the staff. Former RHS and UW-La Crosse pitcher Ali Bender (nee Schickert) is helping her alma mater. She's joined by first-year assistant Sadie Adamski.
"I tell you what, I met with Ali and Sadie about a half hour before practice and I'm really impressed with how they're running practice," DeMeyer said. "They had a whole list of things of what they were doing. They're really excited to bring a fresh excitement to the practice and to the girls."
While the Hodags practiced Tuesday through Saturday last week, DeMeyer said the team will have to make up for lost time this week, with its season opening contests just around the corner.
"Some of the girls that are missing right now have been coming to open gyms over the winter and are prepped, but we still have to get the team camaraderie and all those little things, the signs and all that stuff taken care of," he said. "On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, they're only two-hour practices, but there might be a little bit of chalk talk after or before to get things up to speed."
To that end, the Hodag Dome is a bit of a blessing and a curse. Practices have become much easier with plenty of room to roam but there also comes a guarantee that the first games of the year will not fall victim to fickle early spring weather in the Northwoods.
The Hodags have three early-season invites scheduled in the Dome, including the inaugural Danny Mac Classic, a 24-team event that will run Thursday through Sunday.
"It's a huge event and I can see it even getting bigger," DeMeyer said. "I think it was (former assistant softball coach) Paul Ellenbecker and (RHS activities director) Brian Paulson were talking about this last spring. I remember Paul calling me last spring and saying, 'what do you think of this?' I said I'm all for it. This is what we should be using this dome for is tournaments like this in the spring and getting high school teams in here.
"It's good for the community. It's good for the school. It's good for the dome. We have travel ball softball and the (Hodag) Diamond Club that are going to run the concession stand. It's going to be just a good kickoff to the season."
As for the tournament's moniker, it's a nod to longtime assistant softball coach and Rhinelander Fastpitch hall of famer Dan McDonald, as well as a number of others who have been instrument in Rhinelander softball over the years.
"Ellenbecker came up with the Danny Mac Classic and I said absolutely," DeMeyer said. "Danny and (fellow coaches) Elmer (Suess) and Clara (Groskopf), the stuff that they have done for fastpitch in this town, selflessness, they don't do it for anything. When you get a chance to name a tournament after them, that's awesome. Any time you can give them recognition for the endless hours they do on their own. I can't thank them enough."
The 24 teams are split into three separate eight-team brackets. Rhinelander is in the first of the three brackets, meaning they will play one game Thursday evening against Boyceville and then wrap up their tournament with a pair of games on Friday.
"They were about .500 last year, if I did my research right, but that first game is always an important game, to go out there and compete and play well and hopefully get the W," DeMeyer said of Boyceville, a Division 4 school that went 10-7 last year. "It lifts up the whole team and I expect us to go out there and win."
Lakeland, Kingsford (Mich.), Rice Lake, Marshfield, Clintonville and Pembine/Goodman are the other teams in the Hodags' bracket.
A full preview of the RHSâsoftball team's season will appear in Friday's River News.
With RHS track and softball in action, the remaining RHS spring sports ramp up this week and next week. Monday was the first day of practice for the Hodag baseball and girls' soccer teams. The RHS boys' tennis and golf teams start the practice next Monday.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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