Tourney run ends for Hodag 10U All-Stars

RIB MOUNTAIN — There will not be a return trip to the state championship series for the Rhinelander Little League 10U All-Stars this year. 

The Hodags bowed out in fourth place in the District 5 tournament after falling to Appleton National 8-0 on Monday and Wausau National 8-3 on Tuesday at Doepke Park.

The Hodags fell behind early in Tuesday’s elimination game against Wausau and couldn’t quite fight their way back. Wausau scored in every inning except the fourth and pulled away with five runs over the final two innings. 

Wausau got on the board with a RBI fielders’ choice to center in the first, a run-scoring wild pitch in the second and what was ruled a two-out error in the third when Wausau’s Eli Wais was called safe at first on a throw that appeared to be in time by Rhinelander pitcher Cooper Clark.

The Hodags were held off the board until the fourth as Mac Maufort drew walk and scored on a throwing error after Clark lined out to left field. The Hodags are unable to tack on any more runs in the inning as Gage Dantoin was thrown out at home trying to score following a Mason Paulson bunt. 

With the bases loaded and one out in the fifth, Wais hit a pop up that dropped in the infield dirt just behind second base. No infield fly was called on the play and two runs scored for the Nationals. 

Rhinelander got its first hit of the game in the fifth inning, an RBI single up the middle by Derek Jorata that scored Rylan Pasanen. The Hodags got nothing further that inning as Colt Waksmonski lined into a double play at second two batters later.

Wausau tacked on three runs in the sixth. Rhinelander got one back in the bottom of the inning as Paulson drew a bases-loaded walk that scored Isaac Bauer. 

The Hodags had only two hits on Tuesday. Clark added a single for Rhinelander in the sixth inning. 

Paulson started and took the loss for Rhinelander, giving up two runs on two hits with three walks and two strikeouts over two innings. Clark worked three innings, giving up three runs on six hits with five strikeouts and a couple of walks. Braxton Bolkema allowed three runs on two hits over two-thirds of an inning and Watson White struck out the only batter he faced to get the Hodags out of the sixth.

The Hodag offense was quiet on Monday night as well, managing only two hits in the loss to Appleton National. White and Easton Rady had the hits in that contest. 

Appleton score twice each in the second and third innings and blew the game open with a four-run fifth inning. 

The Hodags used four pitchers in the contest. Easton Ostrom started and allowed two runs on a hit with two walks and three strikeouts over the opening two innings. Paulson allowed two runs on two hits with a pair of walks in the third. Pasanen gave up for runs on four hits over two innings and Bolkema worked a scoreless sixth with a walk and a strikeout. 

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected]. 

    Rhinelander’s Watson White prepares to take off from first base during the third inning of a District 5 10U tournament game against Wausau National in Rib Mountain Tuesday, July 16. (Jeremy Mayo/River News)
  

    Rhinelander’s Mason Paulson tracks down a ball hit behind second base during the fifth inning of a District 5 10U tournament game against Wausau National in Rib Mountain Tuesday, July 16. (Jeremy Mayo/River News)
  

    Rhinelander’s Derek Jorata hits an RBI single during the fifth inning of a District 5 10U tournament game against Wausau National in Rib Mountain Tuesday, July 16. (Jeremy Mayo/River News)
  

    Rhinelander’s Gage Dantoin ducks out of the way of ball four as he draws a walk during the fourth inning of a District 5 10U tournament game against Wausau National in Rib Mountain Tuesday, July 16. (Jeremy Mayo/River News)
  

    Rhinelander’s Cooper Clark pitches during the fourth inning of a District 5 10U tournament game against Wausau National in Rib Mountain Tuesday, July 16. (Jeremy Mayo/River News)
  

    Rhinelander’s Braxton Bolkema receives a throw from shortstop Cooper Clark for a fielder’s choice to end the top of the first inning of a District 5 10U tournament game against Wausau National in Rib Mountain Tuesday, July 16. (Jeremy Mayo/River News)