BATTLE CREEK, MI., – The Bombers hosted the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters Saturday on Home Town Heroes night. The home crowd got to see Battle Creek come back from an early 2-0 deficit and take a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the second before the rain came through.

The Rafters got the sticks going out the gate. A lead off single in the first by Sterling Hayes followed by a walk to Reeve Holley put two on with no outs. A batter later, Marco Castillo drove Hayes home on an RBI single. Holley came into score on the next at-bat when Benjamin Swords recorded the third single of the inning. Bombers’ starter, Brady Held, got out of the jam though as he fielded a ground ball back up the middle and started a double play to end the inning.

Battle Creek wouldn’t let the game escape them though. Nick Powell walked to lead it off, new Bomber Trevor Patterson beat out the infield bunt single, and both runners advanced on a throwing error by the catcher. That brought up Roman Kuntz with two runners in scoring position and no outs. Kuntz chopped a high hopper over the head of the Rafters’ first baseman and into right field. Both Powell and Patterson would come around to score and tie the game up at 2-2.

Held got a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the second and Battle Creek was quickly back at the plate. Brian Zapp singled to lead off, Cameron Dalrymple moved him to second on a sacrifice bunt, and Powell moved Zapp to third with a ground ball out. Patterson had another chance to make an impact with his new team. With two outs and the rain coming down, Patterson singled to center field to score Zapp and give Battle Creek a 3-2 lead.

The game was halted after the second for a brief time due to the weather. When play resumed, Hayes walked, Holley reached on a fielder’s choice as Hayes was out at second, and McKinley Erves singled. With runners at the corners and one out, the rain came again, and the game was suspended.

The Bombers and Rafters will resume play Sunday afternoon. The game will start in the top of the third with Battle Creek leading 3-2 and the Rafters at-bat. There will be runners at first and third with one out and a 2-1 count to Castillo. The teams will finish a 9-inning game and then play a 7-inning game afterwards.

By Josh Baker