FOND DU LAC, WI – The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders fell, 8-2, to the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters at Witter Field on Friday night in the final road game of the 2022 season. The loss eliminated the Dock Spiders from Northwoods League playoff contention. The Dock Spiders will return home for their final game of the season on Saturday at 6:35 p.m. against the Rafters at Herr-Baker Field.

The Rafters started the offense early after Dock Spiders starter Ian Delleman (Illinois-Springfield) struck out the first four batters that he faced. The Rafters brought home the first run of the game after three wild pitches and brought home another on four straight walks to take a 2-0 lead after two innings. Aidan Brewer (Hillsdale) drove in another run in the fourth to extend the Rafters lead to 3-0. Then, a solo home run from Garrett Broussard (Utah Valley) made it 4-0 after five.

On the mound for the Rafters, starter Cooper Robinson (UC-Irvine) tossed four no-hit innings, and reliever Cody Urban (UW-Stout) helped take the no-hit bid into the sixth. The Dock Spiders offense, however, broke up the bid in the sixth inning and tallied their first hit of the night on a single from Chad Herrera (Viterbo). They scored their first runs of the night in the seventh off an RBI single from Herrera and an RBI double from Peter Fusek (Western Illinois) to cut the deficit to 7-2. The Rafters scored their final run of the night in the eighth off a Brady Jurgella (Minnesota) fielder’s choice.

Urban (1-0) earned his first win of the year while Delleman (0-1) took the loss for the Dock Spiders.

During tomorrow’s game, the first 500 fans are set to receive a mystery gift courtesy of Horicon Bank. All kids are welcome to run the bases postgame courtesy of A&W and Grande Cheese. A player high-five line and a treat from A&W will await each participant at home plate.

The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 28^th season, the Northwoods 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 280 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (NYM), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2021 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. League games are viewable live at watchnwl.com. For more information, visit dockspiders.com 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.