RHS Sports recap: Monday, May 6

Baseball: Merrill 3, Rhinelander 2

Brady Norton’s RBI single in the top of the seventh proved to be the difference as the Rhinelander High School baseball team dropped a pitchers’ duel to Merrill 3-2 Monday at Stafford Field.

The Hodags led 2-0 after an inning, but Merrill tied with with on a two-run double by Sam Reimann in the fifth and Rhinelander’s bats went silent, posting only one hit after the opening inning. 

Dylan Vanderbunt took a tough-luck loss for Rhinelander, allowing three runs on four hits over six-plus innings with five walks and seven strikeouts. Vanderbunt, Seth Nofftz and Max Ratty had the Hodags’ only hits in the game.

Rhinelander (1-13, 1-7 Great Northern) is scheduled to travel to Wausau East Tuesday. 

Boys’ tennis: Rhinelander 6, Wausau West 1

The Rhinelander High School boys’ tennis team cruised in a non-conference match Monday, winning five matches in straight sets as part of a 6-1 victory at Wausau West.

The Hodags, even without No. 1 doubles player Joey Belanger in the lineup due to a prior commitment, swept doubles with the teams of Dalton Fritz/Dawson Pontell, Gavin Denis/Michael Schiek and Karter Massey/Aiden Ostermann.

John Currie and Zacha King picked up straight-set wins at Nos. 1 and 4 singles and Payton McCue prevailed 10-5 in a match tiebreaker at No. 3 singles. 

Rhinelander (13-6, 4-0 Great Northern) in scheduled to close out conference play this afternoon at Medford.

Golf: Rhinelander 4th/7, GNC Meet No. 3

The Rhinelander golf team shot 343 and took fourth in its home leg of the Great Northern Conference tournament Monday at Rhinelander Country Club.

Sam Schoppe posted a 4-over round of 76 as he tied for second on the day, one stroke behind medalist Jack Rubo of Lakeland. Rhinelander didn’t have anybody else in the top 10, however, as Brody Kowieski shot 84, Blake Petroff shot 91, Hank Kowieski shot 92 and Samuel Strong carded a 109.

The fourth leg of the GNC meet is scheduled to take place Tuesday at Bass Lake G.C. in Deerbrook.

Full reports will be published in Friday’s River News.