LOVES PARK, Ill. – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters scored six runs over the first three innings, including a three-run first, in easily dispatching of the Rockford Rivets 11-2 on Thursday night at Rivets Stadium.
The Rafters jumped all over Rivets starter Max Frederick (Lackawanna CC) in the top of the first. Richie Palacios (Towson) singled and Jake Lumley (Canisius) doubled. After a flyout, Joe Wainhouse (Washington) knocked home Palacios with a single, Lumley scored on an error, and Ben Fisher (Eastern Kentucky) singled home Wainhouse for an immediate 3-0 lead.
The Rafters continued the onslaught in the second. After an out, Palacios walked, and with two outs, Dustin Woodcock (SIU-Edwardsville) doubled home Palacios and then scored on a Wainhouse single to make it 5-0. Frederick (0-1) would give up another run in the third before settling down and going five innings.
Meanwhile, Rafters starter Gareth Stroh (Coffeyville CC) was in cruise control. The left-hander Stroh (4-2) allowed six hits and two runs in 6 2/3 innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out six. The game was called in the middle of the ninth inning after storms hit Rivets Stadium very quickly.
The Rivets will wrap up the season series against the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters at Rivets Stadium Friday night at 6:35. Broadcasts and live streams can be found at NorthwoodsLeague.com.
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.
