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Published On: July 31st, 2015

Mequon, WI – The Lakeshore Chinooks returned home on Wednesday for just one game against the Kenosha Kingfish, and the team went back on the road on Thursday for the start of a four-game road trip. Taking on the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters in the first game of a two-game series, the Chinooks emerged victorious by a score of 5-2. 

The Lakeshore offense jumped out to an early lead, scoring three runs in the top of the first. Anthony Massicci (Canisius) continued to stay hot as the leadoff hitter, smacking a single on the first pitch of the game. He was retired when Doug Kraeger (Richmond) grounded into a fielder's choice, but then a single hit by Zarley Zalewski (Kent State) put two on with two outs. Jack Benninghoff (Arkansas) came through to open up the scoring, smacking a three-run homer to bring in Kraeger and Zalewski and give his team the early advantage. 

Wisconsin Rapids did not wait long to get on the board, however. Facing Lakeshore starter Kevin Long (Lehigh), the second batter in the bottom of the first, Bryce Jordan (Louisiana State), hit a home run of his own, a solo shot, to make it a 3-1 game. 

The Chinooks came right back in the top of the second, however, to regain the three-run lead. Jake Romano (Miami-Ohio) reached base with a leadoff single, and he proceeded to put himself in scoring position by stealing second. Eric Fasnacht (Concordia- St. Paul) came through in the clutch this time, bringing in Romano with a base knock. 

Long held the Rafters scoreless in the second, but back out in the third, he gave up another solo home run, this one to Scotty Wright (North Florida), bringing the score to 4-2. Long was ultimately removed from the game with two outs in the inning, giving him 2.2 innings pitched with two earned runs on four hits. He was replaced by Jake Tuttle (UW-Milwaukee). 

The Chinooks added another run in the top of the fourth. Romano again reached base as the first hitter in the inning, this time via a walk. He advanced to second when Massicci reached on an error, and after both runners stole a base, Romano would come around to score thanks to a sacrifice fly off the bat of Kraeger. 

That was all the scoring the Lakeshore offense had in them, but it was plenty thanks to a great outing from the team's bullpen. Most of that can be credited to Tuttle, who threw 4.1 scoreless innings in relief, giving up no runs on two hits and two walks while striking out five. That was good for Tuttle's longest relief outing of the year, and his five strikeouts were also the most in any single appearance. Thanks to his efforts, Tuttle was ultimately awarded the win. 

The only other reliever that the Chinooks needed was Joe Stoll (Ohio State). He gave up no hits in his two shutout innings, earning the save in the process. Stoll also lowered his ERA on the year to 2.19 with the outing. 

The Chinooks and Rapids will complete this two-game series on Friday. Lakeshore then travels to take on the La Crosse Loggers on Saturday and Sunday. 

The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. The 21 year old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 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 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. For more information, visit www.lakeshorechinooks.com.