FOND DU LAC, WI– The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders (2-1) battled the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (2-1). This was a total pitchers duel, which was expected all night.
Ryan Bader (Northwestern) took the mound and he was masterful. Six strong innings out of Bader and only allowing two runs kept the Dock Spiders offense in it.
The Dock Spiders offense never quit even when trailing multiple times in this game. A first inning run by the Rafters put the Dock Spiders behind.
It as the offense that stepped up and answered quickly. Zeb Adreon (Iowa) delivers a game tying single and then a wild pitch would bring home another run. The Rafters would come back with another run in the third to tie it up.
Connor Dryer (Central Missouri) would come out of the bullpen and give up an immediate run in the seventh to put the Rafters up again 3-2.
The Dock Spiders offense delivered in the clutch. Bottom of the seventh lead off with Charlie Maxwell (Northwestern) getting on base and Tate Kolwyck (Vanderbilt) followed suit with a base hit.
After a throwing error by the Rafters brought home to tying run, it was up to Aaron Anderson (Flagler) to deliver the go ahead run.
Anderson came up with a runner on third and delivered a base hit to give the Dock Spiders the lead. He would come around to score to add some insurance.
Max Cioffi (Mississippi) came in with a two run lead and shut it down in the ninth to secure the 5-3 win.
Fond du Lac plays the Rafters tomorrow night at 6:35 PM CST. It’s “Superhero Night” at the ballpark.
The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The 25-year old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 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, over 200 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 (MIA). All league games are viewable live via theNorthwoods 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.
