LOVES PARK, Ill. – A local product got the decision on Saturday as the Rockford Rivets completed a four-game series sweep of the Kenosha Kingfish with a 10-2 win at Rivets Stadium.
Former Rockton Hononegah pitcher Jack Granath earned his first win for the Rivets. Granath (1-1) gave up two runs on five hits and four walks over 6 2/3 innings. Kacey Murphy struck out three in 2 1/3 scoreless innings to pick up his first save.
Kenosha starter Aaron Schwark (0-2) gave up four runs on seven hits and three walks over 4 2/3 innings and took the loss. The Rivets got to Schwark right away. In the bottom of the first, Hunter Steinmetz led off with an infield hit, moved to second base on a wild pitch and scored on Cory Wright’s single to center field. Rockford led the rest of the night.
Five of Rockford’s nine hitters in the starting lineup has two hits. No. 8 batter Braden Williams had a single and two walks in four plate appearances and scored three runs.
The Rivets head to Wisconsin to face the Rapids Rafters 4:05 p.m. Sunday. Broadcasts and live streams can be found at NorthwoodsLeague.com.
Rockford’s next home game is 6:35 p.m. Tuesday, when they host the Battle Creek Bombers.
Rockford is a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League, which will play its 23rd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2016. 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 (Washington Nationals) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (Chicago White Sox), Jordan Zimmermann (Detroit Tigers), Curtis Granderson (New York Mets), Lucas Duda (Mets) and Ben Zobrist (Chicago Cubs). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website, NorthwoodsLeague.com. For more information, visit RockfordRivets.com.
