Mequon, WI – The Lakeshore Chinooks battled the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters on Monday in the final contest of a two-game series with the Rafters and a four-game home stand. After the team broke out to score 12 runs on Sunday against the Rafters, they continued their onslaught on Monday, scoring 16 runs in a 16-4 victory.

The Chinooks jumped on Rafters starter Zach Kolodziejski (Niagra) in the bottom of the first. Kyle Wood (Purdue) reached base with one out via a single, and after he advanced to second on a wild pitch, a Kyle Fiala (Notre Dame) single scored him. The team plated their second run of the game in the second inning. Zarley Zalewski (Kent State) tripled in the frame and scored on a Doug Kraeger (Richmond) base hit.

A big third inning opened the score up as the Chinooks scored seven runs in the frame. Wood doubled to start the inning, and Fiala once again drove him home with a double. Lucas Raley (Lake Erie College) grounded into a double play to clear the bases, but the Chinooks then proceeded to score six runs with two outs. 

Colby Fitch (Louisville) plated the second run of the frame after singling and coming home on a Zalewski double. Kraeger singled home Zalewski, and then he and David Edson (USC) came around to score on a double from Anthony Massicci (Canisius). Jake Romano (Miami-Ohio) continued the Chinooks onslaught, smacking a two-run homer over the left field fence to make the score 9-1 at that point.

Gavin Downs (Purdue) got the start for the Chinooks, and he cruised through the first four innings. He allowed one run in the second on back-to-back doubles from Mitchell McGeein (Eastern Michigan) and Sam Tolleson (Central Florida). Those were the only two hits he allowed in the opening four frames. 

Downs got into trouble in the fifth, however. He let up three runs in the inning, ceding RBI singles to McGeein and Michael McCann (Seattle). He did stay on to throw a scoreless sixth, which was his final inning of the game.

The Chinooks kept the offense going in the fifth, scoring five runs to bring their total to 14. Massicci doubled home Kraeger for the first run of the inning, and a sac fly from Romano brought in the second. Raley then did the big damage, slamming a three-run home run, his fourth of the season, bringing home Massicci and Wood.

The team scored yet another run in sixth, this time when Zaleski was plated on a Romano fielder's choice. In the seventh inning, yep, you guessed it, the team continued the scoring, adding another run to their total. Fiala reached on a walk, and he later scored when Fitch grounded into a double play. 

The Chinooks totaled 20 hits on the night with seven players having multi-hit games. Massicci had a great performance, going 4 for 5 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Romano had just one hit, but he did manage four RBIs on the night. Zalewski also had a good day at the plate, going 3 for 5 and falling a home run short of the cycle.

Joe Stoll (Ohio State) came on in relief for the Chinooks in the seventh, firing a scoreless inning. Fellow southpaw John Schreiber (Kent State) was the final pitcher the Chinooks needed, as he threw two scoreless innings. 

The Chinooks will now take to the road as they travel to Green Bay for a two-game series against the Bullfrogs on Tuesday and Wednesday. After that, the team will return to home for a rematch of the 2014 Championship Series against the North Division Mankato MoonDogs. Those two games will take place on Thursday and Friday.

The Lakeshore Chinooks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League.  Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League draws 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 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS, Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (TB).  All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information visit www.lakeshorechinooks.com.