One inning spoils late-game comeback from Hodag softball

The Rhinelander High School softball team was again plagued by one inning of breakaway scoring by the opposition, this time coming from the Tomahawk Hatchets at Tomahawk High School on April 30. Even after a late rally by the Hodags, the Hatchets had enough of a buffer early in the game to walk away with a 9-6 win.  

When the teams met for the first time this season on April 20, the Hatchets also got off to a quick start, hammering a pair of runs home in the first inning. In the previous matchup however, the Hodag defense was able to hold Tomahawk scoreless until the sixth inning, which gave the Rhinelander offense a chance to tie the game and heal the early inning wounds with late game heroics. 

The scoring in the sixth and seventh from the Hodags during the April 30 contest couldn’t overcome the distance down the stretch, due in part to an 8-2 deficit after a four-run inning from Tomahawk in the third. 

“I told the girls ... ‘we have had so many games where we’ve started so late in the game, but we’re down such a deficit that no matter how hard we battle, we don’t have enough outs to, you know, come back from that score,’” coach Ali Bender said. “The biggest thing that we continue to have happen is one bad inning a game that’s costing us four to five runs, which is why the score is the way it is.”

Tomahawk, up 4-2 to start the third, began the inning facing new pitcher Kendall Vanney as she relieved starter Aleece Johnson. Vanney walked opening batter Autumn Merrigan, who made it to second on a passed ball. Merrigan scored on a single from Ellie Micke. Ella Peissig also walked, and scored along with Micke, when Kylie Peissig reached on an error by Maddie Paulson. Anita Zeirt added to the damage when she hit a grounder into right field to make it 8-2 going into Rhinelander’s half of the fourth. 

The Hodags scored their first run in the second, when Vanney was sent home on bases loaded walk by Kalyn Miller. Ruby Plamman scored on a passed ball for the second run. In the third, fourth, and fifth, the Hodags didn’t get through more than four batters in the lineup.

The sixth brought a spark, but it was too little, too late for the Hodags. Vanney started the inning when she reached on an error, advancing to second on the same play. Saige Mutter sent her home on a single to center, and Ava Rathbun scored Neveah Anderson who courtesy ran for Mutter. Rathbun then scored on an error by left fielder Ziert, making it a three run game. 

A one-run answer from Tomahawk in the bottom of the sixth left the Hodags down four in their last at-bat. The final run for the Hodags was another bases loaded walk forced by Rathbun. 

“I think the biggest thing is just how are we going to get rid of the one inning and how are we going to start battling earlier on in the game,” Bender said. 

The pitching battle was fought by Johnson and Vanney, who gave up four earned runs against the Hatchets, on eight hits, seven walks and nine strikeouts. Johnson pitched the first two innings and struck out four on three hits and three walks, but was relieved by Vanney after dealing with some arm ailments. 

“We don’t really know as of right now, she had these arm issues last year and was out for a couple weeks, so we’re hoping, you know, it’s just tight right now because of the coldness, but we are unsure at this point,” Bender explained. 

Moving forward, Bender said the team will continue practicing pressure and game-like situations, and add additional classroom components. 

“We’re just going to  literally simulate game situations in high pressure situations throughout the next couple practices that we have.” she said. “We have the talent. We have to put it together and it’s really now at this point just a mental game. How are we going to get over this flat start?” 

The Hodags will look to score early and often against Antigo tonight as they battle the Red Robins at Al Remington Ball Field in Antigo. It was another dog fight the last time they met, with Rhinelander walking it off at the Dome in the bottom of the seventh. Coverage of the contest will be in the May 8 edition of River News. 

Blake Richard may be reached via email at [email protected].