LEGION BASEBALL: Rebels go 3-0 at Merrill Invite

STAR JOURNAL REPORT

Rhinelander’s Legion baseball team has once again gone undefeated at a weekend tournament after winning all three games the Rebels were able to get in amid the rainy weather at last weekend’s Merrill Invite.

Rhinelander last month had won all four of its games when hosting the Rebel Invite. In the first game Saturday, the Rebels rallied for six runs in the top of the seventh to defeat Merrill, 8-7.

Rhinelander tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the second after Tyler Blomdahl walked and scored on a two-out single by Nick Spencer, his first of three hits for the game.

Merrill regained the lead in the bottom of the second with three runs on four hits that included a double by Justin Pyan off of Rebels starting pitcher Brandon Hess, who worked four innings, allowing four earned runs out of the five scored on eight hits with a walk and a strikeout.

The Merrill lead extended to 5-1 in the bottom of the fourth before the Rebels got a run back in the fifth inning when Nick Spencer singled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Tait Spencer.

Rhinelander’s Nick Spencer pitched the final three innings to record the victory, giving up two earned runs on three hits with a walk and a strikeout.

Merrill scored its final two runs in the bottom of the fifth that included an RBI single by Nick Bowe and Pyan also driving in a run with a sacrifice fly.

The Rebels sent 11 batters to the plate in the top of the seventh when they were able to generate the six runs on five hits that included a double by Cole Spaulding, singles with 2 RBI each from Brad Comer and Nick Spencer, an RBI single by Kurt Zuiker and another single by Liam Stevens.

Merrill ended up using three pitchers, none of whom recorded a strikeout. Starter Brett Seubert worked the first four innings, allowing an earned run on a hit with two walks. Trey Seubert pitched the next 2 1/3 innings and was charged for six earned runs on five hits with three walks. Bowe worked the final two-thirds of an inning and picked up the loss, giving up an earned run on two hits and walk.

REBELS 7, HOLMEN 4

Rhinelander took the lead with four runs in the top of the second en route to winning its second game Saturday over Holmen, 7-4.

Holmen scored first with a run in the first inning when Drew Becker singled and reached home on a single by Austin Braund.

The Rebels took a 4-1 lead in the second inning when Brad Quade, Jacob DeMeyer and Tait Spencer each singled and scored and Zuiker added a double.

Rhinelander added a run in the top of the third when Quade walked and scored on a single by Tait Spencer. Holmen responded with a 2-RBI single in the bottom of the inning by Mitchell Torud.

The Rebels got another run in the top of the fifth when DeMeyer recorded his third single of the game and scored on an RBI single by Bryce Young.

DeMeyer pitched the first five-plus innings and recorded the victory, allowing four earned runs on six hits with five walks and a hit batter while striking out four.

Rhinelander picked up its final run in the top of the sixth when Easton Senoraske singled and scored. Senoraske also pitched the final two innings to record a save. He didn’t give up a run or a hit while recording a walk and striking out a batter.

Hunter De Smet pitched all seven innings for Holmen and took the loss, giving up seven earned runs on 11 hits with five walks while striking out four.

REBELS 4, RSW 1

Rhinelander closed out the tournament Sunday by winning a five-inning game over Rothschild/Schofield/Weston, 4-1.

The Rebels scored first in the first inning when Senoraske led off with a double and scored on a single by Zuiker.

Rhinelander extended the lead to 3-0 in the third inning with an RBI double by Comer and an RBI single by Hess.

Both teams scored in the fifth inning. Nate Jagadzinski singled to drive in RSW’s only run. The Rebels’ final run came on a solo homer by Blomdahl.

Zuiker pitched all five innings and picked up the pitching victory, giving up an earned run on three hits with two walks and two hit batters while striking out four.

Tanner Cywinski pitched the first four innings for RSW and recorded the loss, allowing three earned runs on six hits with two walks while striking out three. Matt Schmidt came in to pitch the fifth inning when he gave up the home run and struck out a batter.

Following last weekend’s tournament, Rhinelander improved its overall season record to 10-5. The Rebels are scheduled to return to action at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Stafford Field against Chequomegon before their final home games of the season in a make-up doubleheader starting at 5 p.m. Thursday against Eagle River.

Saturday’s first game

Rebels 8, Merrill 7

Rebels 0-1-0 0-1-0 6 – 8 8 1

Merrill 1-3-0 1-2-0 0 – 7 11 0

WP–Nick Spencer; LP–Nick Bowe

Saturday’s second game

Rebels 7, Holmen 4

Rebels 0-4-1 0-1-1 0 – 7 11 3

Holmen 1-0-2 0-1-0 0 – 4 6 0

WP–Jacob DeMeyer; LP–Hunter De Smet

Sunday’s game

Rebels 4, RSW 1