WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI- For the first time in team history the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders (6-6) defeated the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (7-5) at Witter Field.

Field Manager, Zac Charbanneau, weighed in on the win saying, “We have a new group of guys this year, but quite a few returners, so it felt like getting the mini monkey of our backs. It’s tough to go anywhere in this league and win especially a place like this.”

Fondy wasted no time getting on the scoreboard when Troy Black(Kentucky) hit a single in the 1st which drove in Brad Hudson(Southern Illinois). The next run would come thanks to two players that were out of the lineup last night.Keiji Parkhurst(Daytona State) hit a sacrifice fly to center field which would result in Alex Henwood(Nebraska) marching to the home plate bag for run number 2. For Henwood he extended his hit streak to 5 games where he is 12/22 with 2(2B), 2(3B), and 4 RBI.

Perhaps one of the best stories of the night was Zack Kesterson(Arkansas Tech). The New Hartford, NY native who is listed as a pitcher on the roster was slotted into the DH spot. He did not disappoint when in his first at bat in the 2nd inning recorded a single. When asked about finding out he would be at DH tonight he said, “I found out just before BP and I was really excited. I took it as an opportunity to have fun and help the team out.” Kesterson would end up scoring in the inning after a sacrifice fly from Brad Hudson.

With a 3-0 lead after Hudson’s sacrifice fly, Henwood scorched a double into the outfield that sent home Mitch Boe(Iowa) for a 4-0 lead.

Stellar pitching came all night long from Jon Young(Indiana Wesleyan) who started the game for the Dock Spiders on the rubber. The West Chicago, IL native finished the game with 7 IP, 4 H, 5 K on 24 batters faced. There were four different occasions where Young would retire the side (1st, 2nd, 6th, and 7th).

In the top of the 6th inning Kesterson would hammer a ball down the left side of the outfield for his first double of the night. The Dock Spiders would grab one more run when the bases were loaded and the batter at the box was walked.

Leading things off in the 8th Kesterson would get his second double of the game. When joking with Radio Announcer, Cam McGuire, before the game, Kesterson laughed and said, “You better have some big calls up there for me tonight.” Well when asked after the game what he thought McGuire said he chuckled, “Honestly I have no idea. Maybe something a long the lines of I hope this guy can swing the bat.” The 6th run of the game was grabbed in the 8th with Kesterson scoring after Mitch Boe (Iowa) reached on an error.

For Zack Kesterson he finished the night going 3/4, 2(2B), and 3 runs.

The win came just one night after Fond du Lac had lost 11-2 to the same team in the same venue getting out hit 19-5. Well on this Saturday night in Wisconsin Rapids the Spiders recorded 12 hits and the Rafters just 6.

To wrap the great night of baseball Charbonneau said, “I’m proud of how we bounced back last night. It says a lot about the character of this team.”

Fond du Lac will end their 6 game road stretch in Mequon, WI against the Lakeshore Chinooks at 5:05 PM.

The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Now in its 25th anniversary season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 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 190 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (TOR).  All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.dockspiders.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Dock Spiders as your favorite team.