May 30, 2023 at 7:16 a.m.
Hodags knock out Red Robins
RHS baseball advances in WIAA tourney, gets Medford today
Hodags knock out Red Robins
That made what transpired Thursday afternoon even sweeter for the underdog Hodags.
Owen Kurtz hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the fifth inning and the Hodags held off a late rally to defeat the Red Robins 5-3 in the first round of the WIAA playoffs.
The Hodags (8-13) benefitted from some sloppy Antigo defense, as the Robins (8-11) committed seven errors in the contest. Max Ratty pitched six strong innings for the Hodags and James Heck worked out of a bases-loaded jam with the winning run on base in the bottom of the seventh, recording back-to-back strikeouts to end it.
"It's just one of those special feelings that you don't get to experience too often," Hodag coach Joe Waksmonski said. "It's especially great for high school kids to experience a feeling like that, to be a part of a great, gritty victory in enemy territory against a rival to win a playoff game. You just wish you could bottle up that feeling and open it up whenever you need it but, I tell you what, we're going to enjoy the heck out of that win tonight."
Only one of Rhinelander's runs was earned, and it came off the bat of Kurtz, who blasted a 1-1 fastball over the fence in left center for his second home run of the spring. It was a two-run shot after Sam Schneider reached on a leadoff error moments prior.
"Owen got enough lift on that. We felt it had a chance as soon as it went off the bat and when Owen's hot, there's no one better as far as hitting the ball hard and hitting for power," Waksmonski said.
Rhinelander got a bit of good fortune in the top of the seventh as it extended the lead. After a leadoff single, Cody Everson was caught off base after Seth Nofftz was unable to make contact on a bunt attempt. A throw behind Everson made him break for second and first baseman Mason Gray launched a throw into left field, allowing Everson to take third. Nofftz eventually struck out, but Everson came around a short time later on a Heck ground out.
That insurance run proved vital as Heck came on for a save opportunity in the seventh after Ratty reached the pitch count limit. Jake Hanus singled and then Heck walked Gray and Luke Bastle back-to-back to load the bases with one out. Trevor Tarras beat out a throw on a slow roller to third to score Hanus, cut the lead to 5-3 and put the winning run aboard. From there, Heck struck out Alec Knapkavage for the second out, and got Hunter Aiuppy to chase a 3-2 curveball to end it.
"We've talked all year long about James. He has poise and command where not everyone does have poise and command," Waksmonski said. "We had the two walks there. We felt like maybe (the ump) was getting a little tight with the strike zone there at the end, but he battled through that and threw two of the nicest curveballs he's thrown all year, two of the sharpest curveballs he's thrown all year to get those swinging strikeouts."
A combination of good luck and bad defense allowed Rhinelander to take a 2-0 lead in the second. Nofftz started the inning with a swinging bunt single that settled fair down the first base line. After a sacrifice by Heck, Barak Rappley dunked a check-swing single between third base and the pitcher's mound to give Rhinelander runners at the corners with one away. Antigo pitcher Connor Cornelius attempted to pick Rappley off first base, but his throw went into the expansive foul territory at Kretz Bros. Park, allowing Nofftz to score and Rappley to get to second.
Dylan Vanderbunt reached on an error that allowed Rappley to get to third and he scored two batters later when Antigo was unable to field a Max Ratty pop up to short.
Antigo tied it in the bottom of the fourth as Tarras singled and Alec Knapkavage was hit by a pitch. Aiuppy bunted them along before Cornelius hit a sacrifice fly to center. Everson was unable to field a sharp grounder by Preston Knapkavage with two outs that allowed Alec Knapkavage to score and tie the game.
Ratty worked out of a pair of two-on jams early in the contest and got a head's up defensive play in the fifth inning as Tarras grounded into a fielder's choice to short. Rhinelander's attempt to throw to first and complete the double play sailed wide and Tarras broke for second. Catcher Sam Schneider backed up the play, however, and was able to gather the ball in time to throw back to second and help turn the unconventional 6-4-2-4 double play.
"It was such an energizing play to get us going and really get us into the ball game it felt," Waksmonski said.
Ratty only struck out one over six innings, but scattered five hits and walked only two as he gave up one earned run.
"If we make some of routine plays early on he might even throw a shutout here tonight. That's how well he was throwing the ball," Waksmonski said. "Max did a great job of locating the fastball. The zone was kind of tight tonight and Max was able to work within that zone, keep their hitters off balance and it was just a great effort on his part."
Nofftz collected two hits for Rhinelander in the game. Preston Knapkavage, Gray and Tarras each had two hits for Antigo. Cornelius allowed one earned run on five hits over 4 2/3 innings with three strikeouts in defeat.
Waksmonski called the win a testament to how the Hodags have progressed over the season. Antigo swept an early season doubleheader form Rhinelander 12-2 and 12-8 in Wisconsin Rapids.
"Just to be able to get these ball games in, get some experience and then get momentum," he said. "I felt the game Tuesday (a 4-3 win over Stratford) was a big step toward getting momentum and then just seeing some of those plays tonight go our way I think was also a big confidence booster."
The Hodags earned a trip to second-seeded Medford this afternoon for a regional semifinal with their victory. The GNC co-champion Raiders swept a doubleheader from Rhinelander 10-6 and 10-0 back on April 25.
"A month later we get to see what our growth is and what kind of at bats we can put together," Waksmonski said. "But, more importantly, we feel like we go into that game right now with some confidence. We've got to be able to put together some solid at-bats."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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