By John Baldridge/Fond du Lac Dock Spiders

Fond du Lac, WI – On Shantymen night at the ballpark, the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders secured a thrilling 6-5 walk-off victory against the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters. The game, which had been suspended from Friday night due to weather at Herr-Baker Field, resumed on Saturday and was shortened to seven innings. With this win, the Dock Spiders improved their season record to 12-18.

In the first inning, the Dock Spiders opened the scoring with a leadoff home run by Preston Knott (Northwestern), making it 1-0.

In the second inning, the Rafters tied the game with a double from Greyson Shafer (BYU) that scored Trotter Boston (Tabor College), evening the score at 1-1. In the bottom of the inning, the Dock Spiders reclaimed the lead with RBI singles from Drew Prosek (Gulf Coast State) and Drew Barragan (Embry-Riddle), putting them ahead 3-1.

In the third inning, the Dock Spiders extended their lead to 4-1 when a passed ball allowed Tyler Neises to score.

In the fourth inning, both teams exchanged runs. The Rafters reduced the deficit with a single by Kyler McIntosh (Alabama State) that brought in Trotter Boston, making it 4-2. The Dock Spiders responded with a single from Tyler Neises (Georgia Tech) that drove in Parker Knoll (Lawrence), increasing the lead to 5-2.

In the fifth inning, the Rafters rallied, sending nine batters to the plate and tying the game at 5-5. This surge was highlighted by a two-run single from Kyler McIntosh that scored Jack Mathey.

With the game still tied in the seventh inning, the Dock Spiders clinched the win in the bottom of the seventh. Drew Prosek walked to start the inning, and Donavan Canterbury (Xavier) came in as a pinch-runner. After stealing second base, Canterbury scored on a two-out single by Parker Knoll, securing a dramatic 6-5 victory.

The Dock Spiders will face the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters again on Sunday, concluding a four-game series. The game is scheduled to start at 1:05 p.m.

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. Entering its’ 31st season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 26 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 350 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 (TEX), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (STL) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2023 World Series Champion, 2021 and 2023 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner, and two-time All-MLB first-team shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. League games are viewable live at watchnwl.com and on ESPN+. For more information, visit 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