Woodchuck Bats Catch Fire in Home Opener

WAUSAU, WI – The Wisconsin Woodchuck bats got hot in the midway through their home opener Tuesday against the Wisconsin Rapids Rapids. Seeking two-game, season-opening series sweep over their neighbors from Wood County, the offense came early and often for the Chucks in a 16-5 win.

Patience at the plate was also on display, with the Chucks drawing 19 walks at Athletic Park, including six in the eighth inning. The Woodchucks batted over .400 Tuesday night, with nine hits and two extra base hits.

After briefly falling behind a run in the top of the third inning, Wisconsin scored four runs in the home half of the third, three in the fourth, one in the fifth, four in the seventh and four in the eighth.

Starting pitcher Nate Madej allowed four runs in four innings pitched. Osvaldo Mendez, JD Schultz and Jace Baumann came out of the bullpen and surrendered just one combined run in the eighth, protecting the Woodchuck batters’ robust evening at the plate.

Top Performers

Kevin Kilpatrick: Double, a triple, a walk and two RBIs in five plate appearances. He also had an outfield assist to third base in the fifth inning to preserve a budding Woodchucks lead.

Norris McClure: 2-2 with two walks and two hits.

Tyler Kehoe: 2-3, with three walks and an RBI.

JD Schultz: Three innings pitched, one hit, no runs, three walks and six strikeouts.

Next Up

The Woodchucks continue their season opening homestead Wednesday with a 6:35 p.m. first pitch against the Madison Mallards at Athletic Park. It will also be White Claw Wednesday at the ballpark, with the first 250 fans to purchase a White Claw from our concession stands getting a White Claw Koozie courtesy of Lee Beverage.

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The Wisconsin Woodchucks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The 27-year old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 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, over 200 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (TOR). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.woodchucks.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Woodchucks as your favorite team.