Mequon, WI – Despite a short ninth-inning rally the Lakeshore Chinooks fell to the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters 6-4 on Thursday at Moonlight Graham Field at Kapco Park. 

The Chinook’s (11-14) game started the way any fan would like with a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning after Adain Longwell scored on an overthrow to first base from the Rafters shortstop. With no outs, the Chinooks’ Tony Livermore was hit into a 6-4-3 double play scoring another run. 

The Rafters (22-2) answered right back in the top of the fourth inning with a two-run home run to left field by Chase Call to tie the game at two. 

Johnny Czeslawski (0-2, 4.76 ERA) got the start on the mound for the Chinooks and went five innings. Czeslawski allowed three runs on one hit and had two strikeouts. 

The Rafters took a 3-2 lead in the fifth, grabbing even more momentum by scoring on a wild pitch.

The Chinooks began to struggle at the plate, but they managed to put the base runners on board with walks but lacked the big hit to bring them around. 

Luke Llewellyn (0-0, 20.25 ERA) made his Chinooks debut when he entered the game in the top of the sixth inning. Llewellyn pitched one inning striking out three batters and allowing three runs on one hit. 

While the Chinooks continued to struggle at the plate, the Rafters took advantage. The rafters scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning off an RBI hit by pitch and a two-run single to left field taking a 6-2 lead over the Chinooks.

Jackson Reid came in to pitch in the middle of the seventh inning for the Chinooks. Reid had two strikeouts, allowed no runs on one hit and walked none of the eight batters he faced. 

In the bottom of the seventh inning the Chinooks loaded the bases off three walks, but they were once again left stranded.  

“Offensively we left a lot of guys on base…we didn’t get a big hit, we out hit them and held them to three hits, but I think we gave up seven walks and three hit by pitch…,” said head Coach Travis Akre. “Those are the differences in the game, and we didn’t get enough done.” 

After the Rafters were sat down in order in the top of the eighth inning, the Chinooks had the bases loaded for the second straight inning due to a walk and two hit by pitches. 

The Chinooks sat the Rafters down in order once again in the top of the ninth inning and using the momentum the Chinooks found themselves in a ninth inning rally. Matthew Deprey started the rally with a single into the gap in right center field. Deprey found himself on third after back-to-back walks and then scored on a wild pitch. Soon after, another run was brought in on an RBI walk to Jack Firestone, but the rally was cut short as the Chinooks fell to the Rafters with a final score of 6-4.

The Chinooks will look to bounce back in game two of the series against the Rafters tomorrow at Moonlight Graham Field at Kapco Park, first pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.