Eau Claire, Wis.— The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters stormed back from an early deficit to beat the Eau Claire Express 11-8, splitting the double-header between the two first half champions. Daulton Varsho had a big game, with four RBI’s, including his league-best 12th home run of the year in the ninth inning to spark a rally that fell just short against the South Division leaders.
Unlike in the first game of the night, the Express wasted no time scoring in the evening contest against the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters. Alex McKenna and Jared Mang drew back-to-back walks off of Calvin Giese. A sacrifice bunt advanced both runners into scoring position, and a Rudy Rott RBI ground out gave Eau Claire an early 1-0 lead. Mang would score on a throwing error by third baseman Patrick Cromwell to extend the advantage to two runs in the second inning.
The Rafters would prove why they have consistently been the top team in the South Division, as Cromwell’s one-out single came back to hurt Express starter Reagan MacDonald. Logan Mattix ripped a sharp line drive through the middle of the infield, scoring Cromwell to slice the Eau Claire lead to 2-1 after two innings at Witter Field.
Daulton Varsho drove a double to the warning track in the deepest part of the park in the top of the third, scoring Zach Ashford and Mickey McDonald who reached on back-to-back singles to start the inning. Varsho would score himself on an RBI ground out from Mang, giving the Express an early 5-1 lead. The scoring would continue on an RBI double for Sam Hurt, scoring McKenna for the second time in the interdivision contest.
Two singles and a walk loaded the bases for the Rafters in the bottom of the fourth, threatening to quickly mount a rally with the tying run standing in the on-deck circle with no outs. A Mattix fielder’s choice scored Rob Calabrese to cut the lead 6-2. With the bases reloaded on a hit-by-pitch, Joey Morgan’s double off the fence in right-center drove in two runs and forced an Eau Claire pitching change to Jake Sommers. Demetrius Sims lined the first pitch from Sommers down the first base line, tying the game 6-6 with a two-run double. Sommers forced a pop-up to end the five-run inning for Wisconsin Rapids.
Sommers and John Jaeger pitched to a stalemate through the sixth inning, with Jaeger setting down all 10 hitters he faced out of the bullpen heading to the seventh at Witter Field. Sommers rebounded from a tough fourth inning, allowing just two hits while striking out four opposing hitters. The Express put two runners on base in the top of the seventh against Jaeger, but the right-hander proved why he is one of the top relievers in the NWL, retiring three straight batters to hold the 6-6 tie.
Errors plagued the Express in the bottom half of the seventh, with a fielding error allowing a Rafters runner on base with two outs in the inning. Mattix joined Dustin Woodcock on the base paths with a single. Max Widmar took a 7-6 lead for the Rafters with an RBI single up the middle, scoring Woodcock from second base.
Reliever Blair Lakso singlehandedly pitched out of a tough jam in the top of the eighth with the Express threatening to retake a lead. Eau Claire had two runners on base with nobody out, but Lakso struck out two batters and forced a lineout to get out of the jam.
The Rafters added four insurance runs against Sean Maher in the bottom of the eighth on four hits. Singles from Sims and Jake Lumley put runners on the corners for Rob Calabrese, who lined a one-run single to double the Rapids lead. Cromwell hit his first home run of the season over the wall in right field, driving in three runs to balloon the home team’s lead to 11-6 with just one chance left for Eau Claire. A fly ball double play ended the hit parade heading to the ninth.
Garrett Schilling, the top statistical closer in the league, came on to pitch the top of the ninth in a non-save situation. Schilling ran into trouble with a lead-off infield single by Ashford. Varsho capitalized on a hanging slider from Schilling, blasting a no-doubter deep into right field. Varsho’s league-leading 12th home run of the season cut the Rafters’ lead to three runs (11-8). However, Schilling forced a ground ball double play to complete the come back win.
Sommers was credited for the loss, with Jaeger taking the Northwoods League lead with his seventh win of the summer. Varsho was a standout offensively, with four RBI’s on a 2-5 hitting night. Rott went 0-4, but had a key RBI, his third of the day following his strong performance in the day portion of the double-header.
Caleb Boushley will get the start tomorrow night at 6:35 p.m. when the Express open a series against the surging Willmar Stingers. Boushley, the starter for the North Division in July’s Northwoods League All-Star Game, is looking for his seventh win of the season in his ninth start. Boushley has an impressive 3.57 ERA, 41 strikeouts, and a 6-2 record this summer under Dale Varsho’s coaching. Boushley has been the ace all season for Eau Claire, leading the team in wins for the entirety of the 2016 campaign.
The Eau Claire Express have won the Northwoods League North Division and have earned a trip to the playoffs for the first time since winning the Northwoods League Championship in 2010. They will host a playoff game at Carson Park on Monday August 15th 6:35pm. Group and individual game tickets are on sale now! Season tickets and single-game tickets for the regular season are also on sale now for Express home games. All tickets can be purchased by calling the Express office at 715-839-7788 or by stopping at the downtown office at 102 E. Grand Ave.
The Eau Claire Express are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23rd 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 150 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.eauclaireexpress.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store and set the Express as your favorite team.
