Rhinelander finishes 15-7 overall

STAR JOURNAL REPORT

The Rhinelander Rebels saw their baseball season come to an end three games into the American Legion AA Regional Tournament in Merrill.

The Rebels, who ended up in the losers’ bracket of the four-team, double-elimination tournament following Wednesday’s 11-1 loss to Antigo in the opening game, won Thursday in six innings over Northwoods, 12-2.

Rhinelander took the lead in the opening inning and stayed in front throughout the game.

The Rebels picked up three runs in the top of the first. They loaded the based with two outs after Brad Comer singled, Tyler Blomdahl doubled and Brad Quade walked. Comer scored when Jacob DeMeyer was hit by a pitch from Eagles starter Spencer Huettl, who then gave up a 2-RBI single to Nick Spencer.

Northwoods scored both of its runs in the bottom of the first. Huettl was hit by a pitch and scored on a single by Brad Sowinski.  Zach Neddo singled and scored on an infield groundout by Nick Edwards.

The Rebels added a run in the second inning when Josh Randolph singled and scored on a single by Kurt Zuiker.

Rhinelander batted around the order in the top of the third when four more runs scored on three hits that included doubles by Quade and Tait Spencer and another single from Zuiker.

The Rebels extended their lead to 9-2 in the fourth inning when Blomdahl led off with a walk and scored on a passed ball.

The Rebels' Brad Comer (2) delivers a pitch in Thursday's AA Regional Tournament game against Northwoods.

The Eagles changed pitchers three batters into the sixth inning when Sowinski took the mound and gave up a three-run homer to Blomdahl. Huettl put the two runners on base when Zuiker led off with a double and Comer added a single.

Huettl recorded the loss after pitching five-plus innings and being charged for 11 runs, six earned, on 10 hits with two walks and two hit batters while striking out two. Sowinski gave up an earned run on a hit with a walk and a strikeout in closing out the sixth inning.

Comer pitched all six innings in picking up the victory, allowing two earned runs on four hits with four walks and a hit batter while striking out four.

MERRILL 8, REBELS 6

Rhinelander led early in Friday’s game before being knocked out of the tournament in an 8-6 loss to Merrill.

The Rebels scored first in the top of the first when Easton Senoraske led off with a single and reached home on a double by Comer.

Merrill tied the game at 1-1 in the first inning when Adam Messerschmidt singled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jared Schmeltzer.

Rhinelander regained the lead with two runs in the second inning. Nick Spencer led off with a walk and scored on a sacrifice fly by Tait Spencer. DeMeyer singled and scored on another single by Senoraske.

Merrill cut the lead to a single run in the bottom of the second when Justin Pyan walked and scored on a fielder’s choice.

The Rebels pulled back in front by two runs in the third inning when Zuiker led off with a single and scored. Rhinelander then loaded the bases before Merrill starting pitcher Brett Seubert left the game, but didn't add another run when Pyan took the mound and recorded the inning’s final out.

Merrill took its first lead of the game with three runs in the bottom of the third. Messerschmidt and Nick Bowe each singled and scored in an inning in which two Merrill batters reached base on errors.

Merrill’s lead extended to 7-4 in the fifth inning. Schmeltzer led off with a double and scored on a single by Bowe, who was the final batter Senoraske faced as Rhinelander’s starting pitcher. Bowe also reached home while Nick Spencer pitched in relief.

Drew Hoff scored Merrill’s final run in the bottom of the sixth when he led off with a single and scored on a passed ball.

The Rebels plated their final two runs in the seventh inning. Quade singled and scored on a double by DeMeyer. Nick Spencer walked and scored on a sacrifice fly by Randolph.

Senoraske recorded the loss after pitching four-plus innings, in which he was charged for seven runs, five earned, on seven hits with a walk while striking out two. Nick Spencer threw in the final two innings, allowing an earned run on three hits with a walk while striking out two.

Merrill also used two pitchers with Seubert working the first 2 2/3 innings, allowing four earned runs on seven hits with two walks. Pyan threw for 4 1/3 innings and picked up the victory, giving up two earned runs on three hits with three walks and a hit batter while striking out three.

The Rebels ended their season 15-7 overall. Merrill then was knocked out of the tournament Friday after losing 4-1 to Antigo, which went undefeated in the regional and advanced to the state tournament.

Thursday’s game

Rebels 12, Eagles 2

Rebels  3-1-4 1-0-3 – 12 11 0

Eagles   2-0-0 0-0-0 –   2   4 2

WP–Brad Comer; LP–Spencer Huettl

Friday’s game

Merrill 8, Rebels 6

Rebels   1-2-1 0-0-0 2 – 6 10 3

Merrill   1-1-3 0-2-1 X – 8 10 2

WP–Justin Pyan; LP–Easton Senoraske