May 10, 2024 at 6:05 a.m.

Top-ranked Mosinee too much for Hodag softball

Mosinee’s Amber Gonzalez attempts to elude the tag of Rhinelander’s Nora Rutkowski on a ground ball to first during the first inning of a GNC softball game at the Hodag Dome Tuesday, May. 7. (Bob Mainhardt for the River News)
Mosinee’s Amber Gonzalez attempts to elude the tag of Rhinelander’s Nora Rutkowski on a ground ball to first during the first inning of a GNC softball game at the Hodag Dome Tuesday, May. 7. (Bob Mainhardt for the River News)

The Rhinelander High School softball team faced a strong challenge Tuesday as undefeated Mosinee, the No. 1 team in Division 2, came to town. Like most teams, the Hodags had a difficult time slowing down Mosinee’s offense.

The Indians cranked out 17 runs on 11 hits and defeated the Hodags via the run-rule 17-0 in three innings at the Hodag Dome. While a couple of errors opened the door for Mosinee to turn big innings into huge innings, the Hodag coaching staff said it was pleased with its team’s effort.

“They’re a great team. After the game, when we talked to our girls, it’s much better than last time and that’s all we can ask for,” Hodag co-coach Sadie Adamski said. “For them being No. 1 in the state, I think we did a good job. Yes, we had physical errors. Yes, we had mental errors but, overall, we improved the score. We played a lot harder and we were making plays. I think, compared to last game, it was an improvement, and that’s all we can as for right now.”

Though the score was 15-0 when Rhinelander played at Mosinee April 9, the Hodags did improve in couple of metrics. Rhinelander did not allow a double-digit inning, like it did the first time around. Mosinee’s runs per inning were also fewer as the Indians only had two innings at bat in the April 9 contest. 

Mosinee jumped on Rhinelander for seven runs in the opening inning, Alanna Bembenek opened the scoring with a two-run double, Tristan Wicklund added a two-run single, Ava Busse had an RBI base hit and two runs scored with two out after Taelyn Jirschele reached on a high throw to first following a ground ball to third. 

Maggie Woller’s three-run homer to center capped off a nine-run second for Mosinee. The Hodags committee two errors — one on a dropped line drive to third and the other on a dropped fly ball to right — that helped extend that inning. Mosinee only scored once in the third as Wicklund walked and came around on a single to left by Jirschele.

Kelsey Winter pitched all three innings for Rhinelander in the loss. Only seven of the 17 runs she allowed were earned. She gave up 11 hits, walked five and struck out two.

“Kelsey Winter did a really nice job pitching, threw a lot of strikes,” Hodag co-coach Ali Bender said. “That’s all we could ask for. If we keep throwing strikes and they put the ball in play, there’s nothing we can do about that. They had a lot of hits tonight, Mosinee did, and I was really proud of our outfield and how they got the ball in right away, how they were crossing in the outfield and how they knew where to go with the ball. That was really, really good.”

Sophomore Kadyn Taylor, who missed a handful of games behind the plate due to injury, returned to the lineup at full strength on Tuesday and laced a double to the left-center gap in the second inning. That was one of only two hits on the night for the Hodags. The other was an infield single by Cassidy Lindner in the third. 

“Kadyn Taylor was back and she was a jungle cat,” Adamski said. “It was great to see her back there, too. Good to have her back, good to have her voice on the field, too. We’ve been working a lot with that. She runs that field. She can seen everything. She did a great job as well.”

Busse struck out three over two innings in the win for Mosinee. Adeline Strecj pitched a scoreless third, allowing one hit. 

Rhinelander (1-13, 1-9 Great Northern) was set to learn its playoff fate Wednesday in a regional seeding meeting that took place after press time for today’s edition. The Hodags then travels to Lakeland on Thursday and will close out the regular season on Tuesday at home against Tomahawk.

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].


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