By Star Journal and Green Bay Press Times

The Rhinelander Hodags beat Seymour 6-1 Tuesday morning in Wrightstown in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Division 2 sectional semifinal game.

The Hodags jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the second inning. The Thunder scored their only run on only three hits in the third to make it 2-1. Senior

The Seymour head coach told Green Bay Press Times sports editor Rich Palzewic starting Rhinelander pitcher Isaac Bixby was the best his team had faced.

“We knew Bixby would be good,” said Curt Jefson. “Honestly, we didn’t face a pitcher as good as him the whole season. We didn’t do a great job of adjusting to his pitches. He had a nice slider. Rhinelander also did a great job of putting the ball in play. It didn’t seem to matter where (our pitchers) put the ball – they were hitting it. We didn’t have many hits, and they had lots.”

Taking advantage of two Thunder errors, Rhinelander blew the game open with a four-run fourth, highlighted by five hits, including doubles by Ian Miller and Kolby Ridderbusch.

Rhinelander is scheduled to face Denmark at 4 p.m. for a chance to get to the state tournament.