WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. – Down nine runs in the final inning, the Kenosha Kingfish (12-18) completed the largest ninth-inning comeback in Northwoods League history beating the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (14-18) 12-11.
The game started in Kenosha’s favor when the first two batters on base came around to score on a Jack Yalowitz (Illinois) RBI single. That was Kenosha’s final hit until the ninth.
Kaleb Schmidt (Drury) got the start for Kenosha but was only able to go one inning because of a rain delay in the top half of the second. The rain delay lasted one hour and 11 minutes before play resumed at 7:40 p.m.
Kevin Napoleon (Butler) relieved him and went 3.2 innings giving up two hits and allowing four runs. Garrett McGraw (Madison College) then entered the game and allowed seven runs on seven hits in 1.1 innings.
Brady Kais (McHenry CC) and Connor Doyle (San Diego) each pitched a scoreless inning in the seventh and eighth giving up one hit each. Doyle, who is a usual outfielder, did not make a pitching appearance this past year at San Diego.
Then, in the top of the ninth, Yalowitz hit a solo home run to lead off the inning. Ben Troike (Illinois) and Carson McCusker (Oklahoma State) both hit singles on the next two pitches to keep the inning going. Nick Elsen (Kent State) then grounded a ball to third in what looked to be a surefire double play. Third baseman Matt Schmidt threw the ball away and allowed Elsen to reach.
Scott Dubrule (Jacksonville) hit a single on the first pitch he saw to bring home Troike and kept the train rolling. Mike Madej (NW Florida State) was hit by a pitch which brought home another run. Devin Ortiz (Virginia) and Jack Weiller (Virginia) walked and singled respectively which brought the score to 11-7.
Yalowitz completed the bat around and represented the tying run at the plate. Yalowitz was hit by a pitch which brought home a run, and then a wild pitch during Troike’s at-bat brought home another. Troike walked to load the bases once again and McCusker walked a run home on the very next at-bat.
With Dubrule back up to the plate, he hit a line drive double to the right field corner to bring home lead taking run. Josh Serio (UW-Milwaukee) struck out the side in the bottom half to close out the game and earn his fifth save.
Earlier in the game, Field Manager Duffy Dyer was ejected in the fifth for arguing with umpires about a call at first base. It was Dyer’s first ejection on the season.
Sunday, the Kingfish play their last game in Wisconsin Rapids on the season. The game will be played at 4:05 p.m. at Witter Field and be aired online on the Kenosha Kingfish Radio Network.
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The Kenosha Kingfish are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Entering its 25th anniversary season, the Northwoods 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 185 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 (TOR). 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.
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