May 19, 2023 at 7:27 a.m.
Hodags use big inning to race past Hatchets
Hodags use big inning to race past Hatchets
Rhinelander sent 12 batters to the plate and scored seven times in the frame, which was more than enough cushion to get past the Hatchets 11-3 at Kahle Field.
James Heck collected three hits and five RBIs in the contest for the Hodags, who seemed to snap to attention after Tomahawk took a 3-2 lead in an error-plagued third inning.
"We had a little bit of a wake-up call where we had the bad inning defensively and we were able to lock in, focus and put some good at-bats together in that inning," Hodag coach Joe Waksmonski said. "It was time for us to focus. It was time to get off the cruise control and it was time to play baseball. We have a lot of respect for Tomahawk and I just felt like, initially, maybe we didn't respect them as much. They're a good ball team and they're fundamentally sound. Anyone can win any ball game and we can't just walk onto a field and just win a ball game. We have to go out, be focused and be ready to go."
The first eight batters of the Hodag fourth inning reached safely, chasing Tomahawk starter Brayden Larson from the hill after 3-plus innings of work. Heck delivered the final blow to Larson, a two-run single to left that gave Rhinelander an 8-2 edge. The junior had three run-scoring singles in the contest and added an RBI groundout in the seventh inning.
"James is very coachable in that regard. It's just about getting that timing down, putting the ball in play and, more or less, not being afraid to fail," Waksmonski said. "James is definitely fearless out there, whether it's at the plate, on the bases, on the mound. He's definitely willing and ready to compete."
The Hodags led 2-0 after 2 1/2 innings, but it could have easily been more, considering the team had already stranded six base runners. AJ Turek was hit by a pitch and scored on a Sam Schneider single in the first. The Hodags had the bases loaded with one out in the second and could not score. Owen Kurtz reached on an error and scored on a two-out single by Heck in the third. Larson had three strikeouts in three innings, all of which caught Hodag batters looking.
"It just came with focusing on locking in with runners in scoring position," Waksmonski said. "The first two, three innings, we had multiple runners in scoring position and were striking out looking in those spots where all you've got do is just put the ball in play and score the man."
The Hodags had two errors by shortstop Seth Nofftz in the third, helping give Tomahawk the lead. Addison Peissig reached on an error, stole second and game around on an Drew Tollefson single. Tyler Jablonski followed with an RBI double and another error gave the Hatchets runners at second and third with no one out. Monty Framke eventually grounded into a run-scoring fielder's choice, but the Hodags limited the damage as Framke was caught trying to steal second to end the inning.
Dylan Vanderbunt reached on an error to begin Rhinelander's big fourth frame. Turek was hit by a pitch for a second time before Ratty hit an RBI single to left. Schneider walked to load the bases before Kurtz hit a slow roller up the third-base line, scoring Turek. Everson drove two in with a single up the middle. A single by Nofftz reloaded the bases for Heck, who lined a single to left, driving in two. Framke relieved Larson, and the Hodags got an RBI fielder's choice by Barak Rappley before Framke put an end to the rally.
Heck dumped a two-out single into right in the fifth inning, scoring Kurtz and grounded out in the seventh, bringing home Everson.
Ratty walked five and struck out five over five innings to get the win. He allowed three runs, one earned, on four hits. Vanderbunt closed things out with two innings of hitless baseball, aided by a pair of double plays turned by Nofftz.
"It was just a matter of being able to throw strikes and get ahead," Waksmonski said. "Early on, especially for Max, he was kind of falling behind, a lot of 2-0 counts it seemed like. That eventually drove up his pitch count. But he was able to recover and we made a couple of plays behind both pitchers, turned some double plays and got out of here with a W."
The same two teams were set to meet Thursday at Stafford Field to wrap up their conference series. Rhinelander (5-11, 3-7 Great Northern) will round out conference play with a Saturday morning matinee at Lakeland. The game is a make-up of a contest that was snowed out May 1.
Rhinelander will follow that with two scheduled non-conference home games against Wausau East on Monday and Stratford on Tuesday before the WIAA playoffs begin next Thursday.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
WEATHER SPONSORED BY
E-Editions
Latest News
E-Editions
Events
August
To Submit an Event Sign in first
Today's Events
No calendar events have been scheduled for today.
Comments:
You must login to comment.