The Rhinelander Hodags High School baseball team advanced to the second round of regional play, defeating the Amery Warriors by a score of 6-0 at Stafford Field in Rhinelander last night. Rhinelander was the 7-seed, and Amery was the 10-seed. Rhinelander advanced to take on the 2-seed St. Croix Falls Saints on June 3rd in St. Croix Falls. Rhinelander finished last year with a 1 and 20 record. The team's only win came on the road at Northern Pines. This year, Rhinelander has found a way to turn things around, finishing 2nd in the Great Northern Conference, one game behind Mosinee. After winning the first round of regionals, Rhinelander improved to 12 and 10 on the season. Their pitching staff, led by Connor Rappley, Dylan VanderBunt, and Jackson Waydick, went into the post-season with a combined 2.24 earned run average. Rappley pitched a perfect game against rival Medford last week and only gave up two hits in 6 2/3 innings pitched last night against Amery. VanderBunt led the conference with a 0.72 earned run average in 20 innings of relief pitching. Rhinelander has leaned on pitching and defense to win games all year and hopes to continue its success next week on the road. Congrats to the Hodags on an incredible turnaround. 

Coach Mike VanderBunt