Big inning dooms Hodag fastpitch in 10-5 loss to Lakeland

The Rhinelander High School softball team has had a penchant for the dramatic this season. While the Hodags tried to stage another comeback at home Thursday, April 23, this time they dug themselves too big of a margin to overcome.

Lakeland scored seven times in the third inning, keyed by a Marlee Strasburg grand slam, and the Thunderbirds defeated the Hodags 10-5 at the Haug Family Softball Complex. 

That big inning staked Lakeland to an 8-0 lead and, while the Hodags chipped away at the margin late in the game, they ran out of time and dropped to 4-3 in the GNC.

“You take that inning out of the ball game, and we’re in that game, and we win that game,” Hodag coach Ali Bender said. “Our biggest thing right now is that we are struggling to start a game. It has been all season long that we come off to the slowest start, and then by the fifth inning, we’re in the game, and it’s like, that’s too late when you’re down, the deficit we are. So we talked about how do you start the game with enthusiasm, wanting to win? Because that’s where we can’t get it together. And as coaches, we can talk to them all we want, but eventually they got to step up, and they got to do it.”

Kendall Vanney was back in the lineup for the first time in nearly three weeks, coming off a toe injury. She was called to the pitcher’s circle in the third after starter Aleece Johnson gave up a two-run shot to Lani Frisch that made it a 3-0 game. However the rust was apparent for Vanney, who didn’t get much help from her defense, either. 

After walking Layla Kropidlowski, Rayna Hella reached when a ground ball was misplayed at third by Kalyn Miller. Two batters later, Vanney walked Addison Trapp to load the bases for Strasburg, who popped the first pitch she saw up into foul territory. Catcher Saige Mutter had the pop-up fall out of her glove and, two pitches later, Strasburg smashed a ball to left to give Lakeland a 7-0 lead. 

Vanney then walked Alena Bohne before the Hodags switched and put Johnson back in the circle for the remainder of the contest. Malia Newport drove in Bohne with a two-out single to round out the scoring in the third. Because of the two errors, all five runs Vanney allowed were unearned.

“That was a coaching decision to take out Aleece and put Vanney back in, and they had that one big inning with that home run and a few walks, and that hurt us,” Bender explained. “We pitched Aleece the last game against them, and they had enough hits off of us too. I think it was just to see a change. We had that pitching. Now, we’ve got a second pitcher back. We had that opportunity to bring her in, and we thought, ‘Well, let’s see if there’s a change’. We were about to be back through the second time through the order. So it was like, let’s see a change. And, you know, like I said, Vanney hasn’t pitched in a while, and that’s OK. And we took that opportunity, and we made a fast change back. 

“It was really nice to see Vanney back out on our field, and we gave her that opportunity tonight. And I told her, ‘You can’t hang your head on that because you haven’t been out on the field. You haven’t pitched the ball in two weeks. We’re just happy to have you back.’”  

Rhinelander got a run back in the bottom of the third inning on a Kadyn Taylor RBI single that drove in Cassidy Lindner and had the bases loaded with one out that inning, but Mutter popped out and Miller ground into a fielder’s choice to third to end that threat. 

    Rhinelander’s Kadyn Taylor smacks a line drive during the first inning of a GNC softball game at the Haug Family Softball Complex Thursday, April 23. Taylor went 2 for 4 with two RBIs in the Hodags’ 10-5 loss. (Bob Mainhardt for the River News)
  

Base running plagued Rhinelander in its comeback bid. Ava Rathbun was doubled off second base to end a rally in the fourth following a line drive caught by Strasburg at short. Taylor doubled home Chase Verbist in the fifth and was then lifted for pinch runner Neveah Anderson. Anderson was thrown out to end the inning trying to advance to third on a pitch in the dirt. 

The Hodags threatened again in the sixth. Miller hit her first career home run to make it 10-4, and Lindner added an RBI single that cut the lead to five with two on and nobody out in the inning. However, following a Verbist flyout, Rathbun was thrown out at home after getting a late jump from second on a ball hit into the gap by Maddie Paulson before Taylor grounded out to end the inning. 

“One of our weakest points right now is base running, and we got to keep fixing it, but being more heads up (is important),” Bender said. “I told the girls that we did a few things right on the bases. We’re finally starting to recognize when there is a loose ball and take advantage of that. Even though we got thrown out, it was like by the time I tell you (to go) it’s too late.”

Johnson struck out eight over 6 2/3 innings in a losing effort for Rhinelander. She gave up five runs, four of which were earned, on nine hits and did not have any walks.

“Aleece did an amazing job for coming out of the game and going back in and still having that confidence and not hanging her head and being up in the game the entire time,” Bender said. “So I’m super proud of her. I’ve been proud of her all season. She pitched really well for us.”

Taylor and Miller each collected two his and two RBIs at the plate. Paulson also had two hits as the Hodags got hits from eight different players in the loss.  

The Hodags return to action this afternoon with a tough matchup at home as they face undefeated Medford.

Rhinelander will then travel to Tomahawk Thursday in a rematch of last Monday’s dramatic affair, won by the Hodags in nine innings, 5-4.

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].