Hodag softball no-hit by Antigo

The Rhinelander High School softball team fell to Antigo 15-0 in four innings on the road Friday night in Antigo.

Scoreless after an inning, the Red Robins took advantage of some Hodag miscues to score five runs in the second and then tacked on nine runs in the third before ending the game via the run rule in the fourth. 

Antigo pitcher Bethany Lewis, meanwhile, struck out eight Rhinelander batters as she tossed a no-hitter one week after holding the Hodags to two hits in a 19-0 decision in Rhinelander. 

A walk and an error to lead off the bottom of the second proved costly for the Hodags as the Robins mustered a two-out rally in the inning. Two runs scored on a passed ball before the Robins did more damage later in the inning on a two-run single by Emily Beck, followed by an RBI single by Mya Burt.

Lewis led off the Robins’ big third with a solo home run. Syndie Heinzen singled and scored on a ground out by Molly Neufeld, which turned into two runs as the Hodags made an overthrow trying to prevent Lilly Washatko from advancing to third. 

A dropped pop out with two out in the inning allowed Kailee Krueger and Tristen Arlen to score. The Robins followed that up with four straight RBI hits — a triple by Jenna Czerneski, a double by Lewis, a triple by Heinzen and a single by Washatko —that made it 14-0. 

The Robins plated the clinching run in the fourth as Arlen singled and scored two batters later on a base hit by Burt.

Kelsey Winter took the loss for Rhinelander. She allowed 15 runs on 13 hits over 3 1/3 innings with five walks and two strikeouts, but only four of those runs were earned as the Hodags committed five errors in the contest. 

Chase Verbist reached base twice for Rhinelander thanks to a walk and an error. Rhinelander’s only other base runner came in the top of the fourth as Laney Haenel walked. 

Rhinelander co-coaches Sadie Adamski and Ali Bender did not respond to requests for comment by the River News prior to press time for today’s edition.

The Hodags (1-12, 1-8 Great Northern) face a tough test this afternoon as GNC-leading, undefeated and top-ranked (D2) Mosinee comes to town this afternoon. The Indians defeated the Hodags 15-0 in their first meeting back on April 11. Rhinelander will travel to Lakeland on Thursday for its penultimate game of the regular season. The T-Birds won the first game 21-0.

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].