Lakeland downs Hodag softball 18-2

The Rhinelander High School softball team was unable to sustain an opportunistic start on Thursday as it fell at Lakeland 18-2 in Great Northern Conference play.

The Hodags (1-14, 1-10 Great Northern) got on the board first, scoring twice in the top of the first, but Lakeland answered with six runs in the bottom half of the inning and then doubled that in a 12-run second. 

Thursday’s score was an improvement over the 21-0 loss it suffer to Lakeland in Rhinelander last month. Incremental progress has been something the team has been looking for in a season where wins have been few and far between.

“We had some nice plays, and calls not go our way. We continue to see improvement in the girls in different areas of the game,” Hodag co-coach Ali Bender said.

Lakeland ace Saylor Timmerman recorded 10 strikeouts in a three-inning game. Catching the hard-throwing University of Arkansas recruit has been difficult at times over the past few years for the T-Birds, and those troubles showed through in the top of the first as the first three third strikes all ended up in the dirt. Kelsi Beran and Chase Verbist reached on those mistakes and the Hodags took advantage as Lily Treder reached on an error on a ground ball past first that allowed both runners to score. 

“We are proud of the girls and the pressure they put on the defense the first inning,” Bender said. “We were very smart in our at-bats, running on a dropped third strike, taking extra bases on passed balls.”

Lakeland responded in the bottom of the first as Ali Timmerman tripled in the T-Birds first run before a single by Karlin Williams tied the game. Marlee Strasburg added a sacrifice fly to five Lakeland the lead before Williams scored on a passed ball and then Sarah Barton added a two-run double to cap off the six-run frame.

Barton added a three-run home run in the second inning, the final blow in Lakeland’s in an inning in which they scored 12 times on nine hits. 

Kelsey Winter took the loss for Rhinelander, allowing 10 runs on five hits with six walks over an inning-plus in the circle. Laney Haenel came on in relief in the second, giving up eight runs on seven hits.

“Kelsey Winter started out pitching well throwing strikes, they were putting the ball in play. Laney came in relief and she pitched well as well throwing strikes, but again Lakeland was putting the ball in play,” Bender said.

Rhinelander’s lone hit off Saylor Timmerman came in the third on a two-out single by Verbist. 

The Hodags will close out the regular season at home against Tomahawk on Tuesday before beginning the WIAA tournament this coming Thursday. The Hodags drew the 10th seed in their 10-team regional and will play at seventh-seeded Merrill in a regional quarterfinal contest. 

“We are looking forward to playing Tomahawk next week and senior night,” Bender said. “We are ready to play Merrill, and will continue to practice hard on coverages, hitting and pitching.”  

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].