RHS Sports recap: Thursday, April 16

Girls’ soccer: Lakeland 1, Rhinelander 0

The Rhinelander High School girls' soccer team couldn't find the back of the net against Lakeland in a game at Mike Webster Stadium on Thursday, falling 1-0 in a game pitting last year’s Great Northern conference co-champions.

The game's only goal came on a penalty kick from Lakeland's Karsyn Dyre in the 51st minute. Ella Miljevich had a one-on-one opportunity to even the score in the 53rd, but her shot was blocked out of play by Kasey Wise.

Rhinelander took 16 shots, 7 of them on goal, Lakeland had two shots and one on goal. Four corner kicks were granted to Rhinelander, while Lakeland had two. 

Rhinelander (3-1-0, 2-1-0-0 Great Northern) is scheduled to be on the road for its next game against Merrill, Tuesday  April 21.

Baseball: Rhinelander 11, Merrill 1

The Rhinelander High School baseball team broke things open with eight runs in their final two innings at bat as they defeated Merrill via the run-rule 11-1 in five innings Tuesday at Stafford Field. 

The Hodags jumped out to a 3-0 lead through two innings and, after Merrill made it 3-1 in the fourth, pounced on the Bluejays for five runs in the bottom half of the inning. Rhinelander tacked on three more in the fifth to end proceedings early. 

Rhinelander pounded out a season-high 13 hits in the game, including three each from Abe Gretzinger and Charlie Johnson. Rowan Wiczek and Sawyer Bishop each had two hits and two RBIS and Vince White drove in three runs. 

Conner Rappley scattered six hits over five innings, allowing one run with two walks and six strikeouts in the win. 

Rhinelander (4-0, 3-0 Great Northern) travels to Tomahawk on Friday. 

Softball: Merrill 13, Rhinelander 6

Rhinelander’s short-handed pitching staff could not keep up with Merrill in a 13-6 loss Thursday in Merrill. 

Freshman Carsen Schallock made her first career start in the circle with Aleece Johnson (illness) and Kendall Vanney (toe) both out of the lineup. She gave up 13 runs on 11 hits with eight walks and four strikeouts over six innings. 

The Hodags trailed 7-6 going into the sixth, but the Bluejays salted the game away with six runs that inning, including a grand slam by Maddie Rogalla. 

Rhinelander collected five hits in the game, including two from Ava Rathbun. Cassidy Lindner drove in a pair of runs. 

Rhinelander (7-5, 3-1 Great Northern) hosts Tomahawk on Monday. 

Boys’ tennis: Rhinelander 4, Medford 3

The Rhinelander High School boys’ tennis team opened its Great Northern Conference title defense Thursday with a narrow 4-3 win at Medford. 

Two matches were decided by tiebreakers, and Rhinelander won both of them, as Asher Rivord prevailed at No. 1 singles and Danek Koniar and Henry Bonardelli were victorious at No. 1 doubles. Rhinelander two other wins came from Calvin Loomis and Brayden Barnhill at Nos. 2 and 4 singles. 

Rhinelander (2-1, 1-0 Great Northern) hosts Ashland on Tuesday. 

Track: RHS girls 1st/8, boys 3rd/8, Marathon Invite

The Rhinelander High School girls’ track team won seven events and took first place in the Marathon Invite on Thursday. 

Libbey Buchmann had the highlight of the night for the Hodags, breaking her own school record in the discus with a toss of 135 feet, 1 inch, as she won that event. Aila Bergman doubled up wins in the 100 and 300 hurdles. Kara Monk took the 3,200, Macy Myers won the pole vault and both were on the winning 4x800 relay with Lucy Eddy and Millie Gruett. Marsadies Williams added a win in the long jump.

The Hodags were third in the boys’ division and did not come away with any wins. Avrom Baar was a runner-up in the 3,200 and as part of the 4x800 relay. Sam Zwaard took second in the 200 and Ryley Hull was second in the 300 hurdles. 

The Hodags will be back in action Tuesday at the Wausau West Invite.

Boys’ golf: Rhinelander 2nd/12, Mosinee Invite

The Rhinelander High School boys’ golf team posted a round of 327 and sits in second place after one round of the Mosinee Invite contested at Wild Rock G.C. in Wisconsin Dells. 

The Hodags were paced by Chase West, who shot a career-best round of 78 and was tied for third after the first round of play. Grant Gremban shot 81, Hank Kowieski fired and 82, Blake Petroff had an 86 and Dylan Shefveland shot 94.

The second and final round of the tournament will take place Friday morning in the Dells.

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