Late RBI single from Griffin Selby lifts Rockers over Rafters
Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.-The Green Bay Rockers came from behind twice and started the 2022 season on a high note taking down the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters 6-5 Monday night at Witter Field.
A go-ahead RBI single from Griffin Selby gave the Rockers the lead for good in the ninth and won 6-5 to go to 1-0 on the season.
To start out the game, the Rafters struck first, scoring on a fielder’s choice to take an early 1-0 lead. However, a groundout forced from starting pitcher Chris Spry kept the Rafters further off the board, as it remained a 1-0 ballgame after a frame.
The Rafters added one more in the second to make it 2-0 in favor of Wisconsin Rapids off an RBI single, but the Rockers offense then responded in the third after a leadoff double by David Melfi.
From there, Tristin Garcia sent Melfi home off a towering double to deep center field and Chase Hudson brought Garcia home to tie the game at two apiece through two and a half innings of play.
The Rafters responded once again in the bottom half of the third, scoring two runs off an error and an RBI single to take a 4-2 lead after three innings.
Green Bay cut the lead to one in the fourth off an RBI single from Griffin Stevens, but a strikeout stranded two runners on, and it remained 4-3 heading into the bottom of the fourth.
After the Rafters went scoreless in the bottom of the fourth, the Rocker offense took control, scoring two runs courtesy of an RBI double from Hudson and an RBI single from Matt Scannell, giving the Rockers their first lead of the game at 5-4 through four and a half innings of play.
Wisconsin Rapids tied the game in the bottom half of the fifth, knotting it up at 5-5 through five innings off an RBI groundout.
After a scoreless sixth, seventh, and eighth innings for both sides courtesy of stout pitching from each team’s bullpen, that set up the ninth, with the top of the order coming up for the Rockers with a chance to give the Rockers the lead.
With two outs and two runners on base, Griffin Selby delivered, driving an RBI single into right, giving the Rockers the lead for good as Chase Pelter retired the last three to slam the door shut on the opening night victory.
The Rockers and Rafters will square off once again Tuesday, this time at Capital Credit Union Park as it will be the home opener for Green Bay. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. with the pregame concert and gates set to open at 5:35. The first 1,000 fans will receive an Opening Day Commemorative Vinyl Rockers Record with one lucky fan receiving the gold record to be Rockstar for a Year.
Single game and group tickets are on sale now. Visit www.greenbayrockers.com or call the ticket office at 920-497-7225 to reserve your seats today. The Rockers front office and Team Apparel Fan Shop at Capital Credit Union Park are located at 2231 Holmgren Way in Ashwaubenon. Office hours are Monday-Friday 8:30am-5pm.
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The Green Bay Rockers 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’ 28th 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 www.greenbayrockers.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Rockers as your favorite team.