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Close 2014 Season With Walk-Off Loss
Green Bay, Wis.-One of the more exciting and tense games of the season ended in a thud as the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (27-45, 15-22) lost by walking in the winning run in a 1-0 game versus the Green Bay Bullfrogs (36-36, 19-18).
Pitching was the name of the game as Rafters’ starter Jason Freeman (Texas A&M) went toe to toe with a stable of Bullfrogs’ relievers to keep the game knotted at zeroes through eight and a half innings. Freeman was excellent in his final appearance of the season as he went eight innings while allowing only two hits while walking three and striking out five. The right- hander rolled through the Bullfrogs lineup as he did not allow a base runner to advance past second base.
Wisconsin Rapids would have their chances throughout the game as they left seven runners on base. The key moment in the game came in the top of the 8th when one of the top RBI players in the league Keelin Rasch (Louisiana Monroe) stepped to the plate with runners on first and third and two outs. The Bullfrogs went to one of their top relievers in Sam Brunner (Dodge City CC) who induced a groundout to end the threat.
Green Bay took advantage of their opportunities as they opened up the bottom of the 9th with back-to- back singles. Rafters’ reliever Chip Rosales (Valley City State) would retire the next two batters but would walk the bases loaded. Rosales would walk Matthew De La Rosa (Lenoir-Rhyne) to force in the final run of the 2014 season for both teams.
The Rafters wrap up their season having played some of their best baseball at the end of the schedule. It was a record breaking year and the team now turns their attention to 2015.
The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit www.raftersbaseball.com.
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