Babe Ruth Roundup

The Northwoods Babe Ruth Prep League title was likely decided Monday in a game that featured an abbreviated time limit, and an even more condensed strike zone. Neither of those factors played into Rhinelander’s hands. 

The Hodags ran out of time after rallying to score four runs in the fourth inning as they fell 9-8 to Tomahawk at Stafford Field in what was likely a de facto championship game in the Northwoods Babe Ruth Prep League.

The loss dropped Rhinelander (8-2-1) a half game behind Tomahawk (9-2-0) in the league standings with both teams still pending to play make-up games with last-place Phillips (1-9-0) to round out their seasons. 

Due to Stafford Field already being booked for an American Legion game Monday night, the teams started their game at 5:30 p.m. and agreed not to begin a new inning after 7:15 p.m. Prep League rules typically state that a new inning cannot begin more than two hours following first pitch. The Hodags got the tying run to second in the bottom of the fourth before Daniel Meier popped out to end the inning, and the game, as the time limit expired. 

    Rhinelander’s Dylan Webster hits an RBI single during the fourth inning of a Northwoods Babe Ruth Prep League game at Stafford Field Monday, July 15. (Bob Mainhardt for the River News)
  

The game would have likely seen the fifth inning or beyond had either team been able to figure out an elusive strike zone with any regularity. Tomahawk won without recording a hit as three Rhinelander pitchers combined to issue 17 walks and a hit batter — the latter forced in what proved to be the winning run in the fourth.

Rhinelander drew eight walks in the game, including five in the opening inning, as it jumped out to an early 2-0 lead. Jaxon West and Dylan Webster both walked to begin the inning and eventually scored thanks to a passed ball and wild pitch, both with two out. 

The Hodags kept Tomahawk off the board in the second after some over-zealous base running by the Hatchets as second baseman Tanner Augustine threw out a runner trying to tag and score from third on a pop fly he caught a couple of steps into the right field grass.

Things went south in the third as Tomahawk drew eight consecutive two-out walks that, coupled with a wild pitch, gave the Hatchets a 6-2 lead. Rhinelander got two of those runs back in the bottom of the inning as Brayden Dervetski doubled, moved to third on an errant pick off attempt and scored on a wild pitch. Matthew Haselton then doubled down the right field line, stole third and scored when Johnny Baker reached on an error.

Tomahawk scored three more times in the fourth, which began with four straight walks and a couple of wild pitches to bring in a pair of runs. A one-out hit batter with the bases loaded forced in the third run of the inning.

The Hodags scored all of their runs in the fourth with two outs. Brodee Dillenberg walked and scored on a wild pitch. West walked, advanced on a couple of wild pitches and scored on a single to left by Webster. Dervetski was hit by a pitch to give the Hodags two on. Webster scored on a passed ball and Haselton came around on a wild pitch before Haselton reached on an infield hit to keep the game alive. 

Haselton went 2-for-2 with a walk and a run scored in the game as Rhinelander collected four hits in the game. West took the loss, allowing six runs with nine walks and two strikeouts over 2 2/3 innings. Dervetski walked seven in a third of an inning, allowing three runs. Augustine struck out one, walked one and hit a batter in the fourth. 

Tomahawk took two of three from Rhinelander in the season series. The Hatchets won 13-6 in Tomahawk June 19 and the Hodags scored a 15-5 road win June 26.

The date and time for Rhinelander’s makeup game against Phillips had not been finalized as of press time for today’s edition. The game will be played at Stafford Field. 

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].