Babe Ruth Roundup

Rhinelander could not overcome a slow start Thursday and fell to Phillips 15-5 in Northwoods Babe Ruth Senior League Play at Stafford Field.

The Hodags spotted the Loggers seven runs in the opening inning, and four more in the second, as they trailed 11-1 after an inning and a half. Rhinelander got three runs back in the third and one more in the fourth, but Phillips matched those totals in the fourth and fifth. The Hodags left the game-extending run stranded on third in the fifth inning. 

Most of the offensive highlights for the Hodags came in the third inning. Walks to Dylan Webster and Henry Schmitz book-ended an Aden Flannery single to load the bases with nobody out. Douglas Hartmann drew a walk to force in Webster and Hoyt Dantoin added a two-run single. The Hodags did no further damage, however, as the inning ended when Hartmann was thrown out in a close play at the plate while attempting to score on a wild pitch. 

Tanner Augustine had the Hodags’ only other hit in the contest on a infield single to the hole at short in the fourth inning. He came around to score thanks to a passed ball and a wild pitch. 

Schmitz scored for Rhinelander in the first inning. He drew a leadoff walk and came around thanks to a trio of passed balls. 

Dantoin took the loss for Rhinelander. He struck out the side in the first, but six walks, two hits, two errors and a passed ball allowed the Loggers to score seven times. Another error and two walks loaded the bases with nobody out in the second. All three runners eventually came around to score. 

Augustine worked 2 2/3 innings. He hit the first batter he faced, but that was the only run he allowed in the second. He struck out five and walked four, but the Loggers were able to string together four hits off him in the fourth, leading to three runs. 

Parker McCone struck out three over 1 1/3 innings for Rhinelander, but Phillips pushed across what proved to be the clinching run in the fifth on a bunt single, a stolen base, a passed ball and a wild pitch. 

The Hodags will be back in action this coming Thursday against Park Falls at Stafford Field.

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].