Mequon, WI – After falling short to the Rafters 3-2 in game one on Saturday, the Chinooks returned to Kapco Park on Sunday for two game of the series against the division-leading Wisconsin Rapids Rafters.

Keenan Bartlett (Richmond) started on the mound for the fourth time this season for the Chinooks. He’s made four total appearances coming into Sunday, sporting a 0-1 record and 2.07 ERA with 18 strike outs and 10 walks in 21. 2 innings of work for Lakeshore.

Jake Repavich (Grand Canyon University) took the mound in his third appearance and second start for the Rafters this season. Repavich came into Sunday with a 3.37 ERA and 0-0 record, recording three strike outs and three walks in 8.0 innings pitched for Wisconsin Rapids.

The Chinooks didn't hesitate to attack Repavich early in the first inning. Royce Ando (Michigan State) reached on a one-out infield single, followed by a walk issued to Tim DalPorto (Kent State) to put runners on second and first for Lakeshore. A fielder’s choice to short by Hayden Senger (Miami-Ohio) eliminated DalPorto from the bases with a putout at second. However, the throw by second baseman Jake Lumley (Canisius) sailed to the seats as he attempted to turn the double play, allowing Ando to score on the play to give Lakeshore an early 1-0 lead.

The lead did not last long, as the Rafters answered in the top of the second. A lead-off walk to Ben Fisher (Eastern Kentucky) started the inning for the Rafters. In the following at bat, Rob Calabrese (Illinois-Chicago) grounded into what looked like to be an easy double play, but the throw by first baseman Matt Johnson (South Dakota State) flew over the head of Owen Miller (Illinois State) into the outfield to put runners on second and first for the Rafters. A ground ball to first by Dustin Woodcock (SIU-Edwardsville) advanced the runners to second and third, then an RBI double by Logan Mattix (Georgia College) flew over the head of Zac Taylor (Houston) in left to score Fisher and even the game at 1-1. Then, with runners still on second and third, a sacrifice fly to center by Joey Morgan (Washington) scored Calabrese from third to give the Rafters a 2-1 advantage.

The Chinooks wasted a golden opportunity in the bottom of the second. Owen Miller lined a full-count delivery from Repavich down the right field line for a one-out triple. However, on a ground ball to third off the bat of Kevin Riley (Chaffey CC), Miller was caught in no man’s land and was tagged for the second out of the inning. Then, with Joe Duncan (Eastern Illinois) at the plate, Kevin Riley was caught off guard and picked off at first for the third out of the inning.

However, Duncan was able to reach in the third after he lined a lead-off single up the middle. He advanced to second after Rafters’ short stop Demetrius Sims (Bethune-Cookman) couldn’t field a ground ball off the bat of Zac Taylor, putting runners at first and second. Then, on a sacrifice bunt to the right side of the infield by Royce Ando, the throw by first baseman Ben Fisher sailed into the outfield to score Duncan from second to even the game at 2-2 and advance the runners to second and third. Following the error, a sacrifice fly to center by Tim DalPorto brought home Royce Ando to score the go-ahead run for Lakeshore, making the score 3-2 in favor of the Chinooks.

The Chinooks threatened once again in the bottom of the fifth. A lead off single by Royce Ando started the inning for Lakeshore. Ando advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Tim DalPorto and then proceed to steal third to put a runner in prime scoring position for the Chinooks. A walk issued to Hayden Senger put runners on the corners, but then Matt Johnson grounded into a 1-6-3 double play to end the inning and silence the Chinooks’ offense.

Lakeshore continued to tack on more runs in the bottom of the sixth. Darius Sewell reached on the fourth error of the game for the Rafters, later advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Owen Miller. Then, Kevin Riley stepped to the plate and lifted a soaring fly ball over the right field wall for his first home run of the season, giving the Chinooks a commanding 5-2 lead. Joe Duncan then singled up the middle and stole second to put a runner in scoring position once again for the Chinooks. After Zac Taylor flied out for the second out of the inning, Royce Ando delivered yet again for Lakeshore, slapping a line drive to right to score Duncan from second and increase the Chinooks advantage to 6-2.

Keenan Bartlett would be relieved by Chris Choles (North Dakota State) in the top of the seventh after Bartlett threw 114 pitches. In his 6.0 innings of work, Bartlett gave up two runs, one of which was earned, on four hits with three walks and seven strikeouts.  

Rafters’ starter Jake Rapavich was also taken out of the game in the seventh inning, as Joe Wainhouse (Washington) came into the game in relief for Wisconsin Rapids.

Neither team could break through past the sixth inning, as Chirs Choles held the Rafters’ offense at bay to take game two 6-2, splitting the series and snapping Wisconsin Rapids’ five game win streak.

Chris Choles picked up his first save of the year after holding the Rafters’ scoreless and allowing only one hits and striking out two in his three innings out of the bullpen. Keenan Bartlett was finally awarded his first win of the year, improving his record to 1-1 and his ERA to 1.95 in an impressive outing for the right-hander. Jake Rapavich was issued his first loss of the season for the Rafters after giving up six runs, one of which was earned, on nine hits in his six innings of work.

With the win the chinooks improve their record to 11-17, while the Rafter’s drop their record to 16-9 on the season.

The Chinooks return to Kapco Park on Monday to face off against the Madison Mallards in game one of a two-game series at 6:35pm.

The Lakeshore Chinooks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23rd season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods 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 150 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 (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit http://northwoodsleague.com/lakeshore-chinooks or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App in the Apple App Store and set the Chinooks as your favorite team.