KENOSHA, Wis. – The Kenosha Kingfish (23-17) nearly stormed back from a 9-0 fifth inning deficit with six runs in the final two innings, but ultimately fell to Wisconsin Rapids (31-10, 4-1) on Sunday 10-8. The Rafters totaled four home runs, tying a Kingfish staff record for the most allowed in a game.
Right-handed pitcher Quinn Snarskis (St. Joseph’s) got the start for the Kingfish on the mound, and never got a chance to settle into a rhythm against the high-octane opposing bats. He allowed a leadoff single to score on a one-out double off the bat of right fielder Dustin Woodcock (SIU-Edwardsville), which plated the game’s first run. The Rafters then struck for solo home runs in both the second and third innings off of Snarskis, before the Kingfish ace was forced to exit the game with an undisclosed injury.
Right-hander Nick Long (Florida) then made his season debut on the mound, and walked one batter before hitting two more to load the bases for designated hitter Jake Guenther (Sacremento City CC). Guenther then battled through a seven-pitch at-bat before launching his second home run of the game, a grand slam to right-center that broke things open and made the score 7-0. Wisconsin Rapids continued to pour it on with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, including another solo home run, while Rafters starter Sam Carver shut down Kenosha’s offense on the mound.
The Kingfish finally got on the scoreboard in the sixth inning thanks to a 2-run homer by third baseman Tim Millard (Dallas Baptist), which immediately followed a 2-out error. Millard drove in another run with a single in the eighth inning, giving him 15 for the season in just 25 games.
The Kingfish rose fully from the dead in the bottom of the ninth inning, though, which got started with a 2-run homer by right fielder Tyler Paulsen (Illinois State). Second baseman Austin Bodrato (Florida) followed with a single and catcher Jesse Wilkening (Nebraska) drew a hit-by-pitch to set the stage for first baseman Derek Bangert (Bradley), who crushed his eighth homer of the year and suddenly made it a 10-8 game.
The Kingfish would go on to get the tying run all the way to the plate in the ninth, but couldn’t tighten things any further.
Catcher Nick Zouras (Illinois State) collected three hits including a double for Kenosha on Sunday, while Bodrato (Florida) added a two-hit afternoon. Bangert’s (Bradley) two hits extended his hitting streak to eight games.
The Kingfish will host Wisconsin Rapids again on Monday, with game time set for 7:05p.m. There will be a Lee Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Electric iElvis Smart Watch bobblehead giveaway, as well as a Bark in the Park night.
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The Kenosha Kingfish are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The 23-year-old summer collegiate 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 170 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champion Ben Zobrist (CHC) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM) and Lucas Duda (NYM). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.kingfishbaseball.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Kingfish as your favorite team.
