Story and Photos by Bob Mainhardt

Friday, the Hodag girls softball team hosted their first two games of the season. The Hodags faced the Crandon Cardinals early in the afternoon and lost 9-2. The Crandon Cardinals then played the Ashland Oredockers after defeating the Rhinelander girls and beat Ashland in five innings via the 10-run mercy rule.

Later in the day the Rhinelander girls played Ashland. The Hodags were hoping for their first win of the spring season against the Oredockers and would attempt to do so as the visiting team on their home diamond. The girls accomplished that feat using three pitchers: Sophia McGinnis, Brylee Ridderbusch and Alex Oestreich. In the game, catcher Ella Mullikin belted a home run to center field to help make the final score of 14-5 and give the girls their first win of the season.