Shortstop Seth Nofftz tags second base before throwing to first to complete a double play.

Bob Mainhardt photos

SOCCER

The Hodag girls soccer team, going into Thursday’s game against the Lakeland Thunderbirds, had won their last four games with shutouts. The girls were hoping to continue that streak in Minocqua. But it wasn’t to be. The T-Birds scored the only goal of the game with a defensive breakdown by the Hodags. The T-Birds are now the only undefeated team in the conference with the Hodags only a game behind with six conference games to go.

SOFTBALL

Finally, the Hodag softball team was able to play a home game outdoors, after playing no home games last year outside and so far all of this year’s games indoors.

The inaugural game on the Andrea Musson field ended in favor of the Hodags with a 9-6 win. The team scored five runs in the first inning and four in the second while Crandon scored four in the second inning and two in the fourth inning.

Laney Haenel was the starting pitcher for the Hodags earning the win giving up all six runs, two earned. Addi DeMeyer pitched the last three innings to pick up the save.

DeMeyer led the Hodags in hitting going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs while being a home run short of hitting for the cycle. Libbey Buchmann and Maddi Roeser both had two hits apiece. Abigale Johnson led off the game for the Hodags with a double on the first pitch and scored the first of the five runs in the first inning.

BASEBALL

Hodag baseball opened the home season Friday evening with a game against the Ashland Oredockers at Stafford Field. Sophomore Dylan Vanderbunt started on the hill for the Hodags and pitched the complete game giving up one run on three hits and did not walk a batter while striking out five on 75 pitches.

Ashland scored a run in the top of the third and the Hodags came back with four of their own in the inning to take the lead. Neither team would score again giving the Hodags the 4-1 win.