RHS baseball dealt first loss of season by Mosinee

The Rhinelander High School baseball team lost its first game of the season to the Mosinee Indians on May 14 by a score of 2-0. It was Mosinee’s 10th straight win after they started the season 2-5.

“We learned lessons tonight,” coach Joe Waksmonski said. “It was just two little mistakes that we made defensively that kind of cost us those runs.”

Kaden Kolodziej was hit by a pitch in the fifth inning, and scored when Tyler Baars hit a line drive to center after advancing to second on a single from Mitchell Michlig. 

The following inning, the Indians scored after Noah Zebro also singled to center, sending Sebastian Andersen around to score the second run for Mosinee. They almost squeaked out another run on Conner Rappley’s 100th pitch, but Hodag center fielder Vince White threw out Parker Chmiel as he tried to advance home. 

In the first and third, Rhinelander had a runner in scoring position with nobody out, but weren’t able to capitalize. 

The sixth brought a similar situation, with both Rappley and Sawyer Bishop singling to give the Hodags first and second with one away. A flyout and a groundout ended Rhinelander’s chance to tie the game at one apiece. Down two in the top of the seventh, the Hodags struck out three times to end the game. 

“When we have a chance to score runs, especially early, we have to really start focusing on our approach and having the right attitude at the plate,” Waksmonski said. “I felt today, you know, our approach offensively at the plate ... our individual approaches just did not mesh with what we’ve been doing all year.” 

The Hodags had a season-low four hits in the game against Mosinee striking out ten times. 

“I think it’s just one of those things where you just have an off night,” Waksmonski said. “It’s baseball, sometimes you just don’t have it on a given night.”

The Hodags’ hitting struggles clashed with what Waksmonski called Rappley’s “best start of the season.” He had seven strikeouts and two walks in six innings, allowing seven hits and two runs. 

“Mosinee is a tough lineup,” Waksmonski added. “It’s, you know, by far the toughest lineup we’ve seen all year. And I thought he really had them swinging and missing, had them guessing today.”

The small miscues, however, ultimately allowed Mosinee to come out on top.

“You hate to point out those as big mistakes because ultimately, you know, our offense didn’t produce,” Waksmonski said. “It’s just one of those things and you learn from it and move on.”

The result kept Mosinee mathematically alive for a share of the GNC title — though the Hodags would have to drop their final two conference games and Mosinee would have to run the table.

The Hodags were scheduled to play Lakeland at Stafford Field Monday after of press time for this edition. Rhinelander gets Edgar in non-conference play this afternoon and will continue the homestand Thursday against Medford.

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