Stranded runners cost River Monsters in opener

The Rhinelander River Monsters had their chances Sunday in the 2025 Dairyland League opener against defending Large Division champion Marshfield.

Ultimately, Rhinelander didn’t capitalize on enough of them and fell to the Chaparrals 5-3 in Marshfield.

The River Monsters (0-1) left 15 runners on base in the game and stranded the tying and go-ahead runs after loading the bases with one out in the ninth. 

“We left 15 guys on base. We had plenty of opportunities,” Rhinelander manager Todd Johnson said. 

Sam Schneider collected a pair of RBIs in the game for Rhinelander. His second drove in Easton Senoraske who started the River Monsters’ rally in the ninth with a one-out double. Joe Schneider also reached on an error that inning and Ben Quade walked to load the bases. Jesse Robinson popped out to first and Tyler Blomdahl struck out swinging to end the contest. 

“Got it back to 5-3 and had bases loaded with one out. Again, just didn’t get that key hit when we needed it,” Johnson said.

Martin Hoger worked six innings in the loss for Rhinelander. He allowed four runs, on eight hits with a pair of walks and a pair of strikeouts. Meanwhile the River Monsters left runners in scoring position in each of the first four innings. 

“Martin pitched well. Defensively, you know, pretty solid game. I think for the first game, we played well,” Johnson said. “And like I said, we certainly had our chances, especially early, to maybe build the lead. We could have got it to like 4-1 or 5-1 and just didn’t get that key hit at the right time.” 

Rhinelander struck first as Quinn Lamers walked, stole second and scored on a two-out single by Sam Schneider. Marshfield answered in the home half of the inning as Isaiah Baierl walked, stole second and reached third on a throwing error before scoring on a single by Riley Baumann. 

Rhinelander inched back in front in the fourth as Kurt Zuiker hit a leadoff triple and scored on an infield hit to short by Lamers. 

Marshfield took its first lead of the game on a two-out rally in the fifth as Baierl walked, Baumann singled and both eventually scored on passed balls. Caden Schillinger got aboard on a leadoff error in the sixth and scored on a two-out single to shallow right-center by Ben Dietsche. Kurt Zuiker sustained a shoulder injury while making a diving attempt at the ball and did not return to the contest. 

“It sort of started in that one inning where Martin got the first two guys and then walked the leadoff guy (Baierl). I think he got the first two guys in the inning on five or six pitches and then walked the leadoff guy, and then I think they ended up scoring a couple. A couple pass balls in there and that was the bad inning.”

Joe Schneider worked two innings of relief, striking out two, but ran into command issues in the eighth inning. Three hit batters and a wild pitch led to an insurance run for the Chaps. 

Senoraske and Sam Schneider each had a pair of hits for the River Monsters, who were outhit 9-8 in the contest. 

Rhinelander will be home this Sunday to take on the Everest Merchants. First pitch is set for 1:30 p.m. at Stafford Field. 

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].