Woodchucks Battle Rain, Beat Booyah

WAUSAU, WI – Wednesday afternoon’s matchup between the Wisconsin Woodchucks and Green Bay Booyah was halted midgame for three hours and 20 minutes due to weather.

But just two at bats after the resumption of play in the sixth inning, Jacob Burke launched a two-run home run with Gino Groover on first from a base hit immediately before the long delay.

That would be enough for the Woodchucks, who gave a run back a frame later but kept control of the lead when play was ordered closed once again with precipitation reintensifying in the top of the seventh at 5:26 p.m.

Having completed the minimum five innings, the contest was ruled official at 6:10 and the Woodchucks claimed a 4-3 win in what was slated to be Game 1 of a day-night doubleheader.

With no outs and Groover on first in the bottom of the sixth at 1:50 p.m. and the score tied 2-2, umpires ordered the tarp installed over the playing surface with the rainfall rate rapidly increasing. The tarp was pulled back off as the downpour dissolved into a drizzle as the afternoon passed, allowing play to restart at 5:10 p.m.

Green Bay struck first in the 12:05 scheduled matchup with a two-run home run in the top of the third. The Woodchucks answered in the home half of the inning as Groover doubled Tyler Kehoe home before scoring himself off the bat of Stephen Reid.

The Woodchucks improve to 26-18 with the win and 5-4 in the second half of the season. They also clinch the season series over the Booyah, having won all seven matchups against the Ashwaubenon club.

Top Performers

Starting pitcher Dante Chirico pitched five innings, and allowed two runs, one earned with a strikeout.

Collin Millar pitched a shutout sixth inning and earned the win.

Burke went 1-3 with a two-run home run, being credited with two RBI and a run.

Groover was 2-3 with an RBI and two runs.

Reid went 1-3 with an RBI.

Kehoe scored a run and was 1-3.

Next Up

The Woodchucks’ scheduled Game 2 of Wednesday’s doubleheader has been postponed and will be made up on July 29 as part of a doubleheader.

The Chucks visit Fond du Lac Thursday and Friday before returning home Saturday to face the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters. The 6:05 p.m. first pitch on July 17 will feature post-game fireworks presented by North Star Mohican Casino Resort!

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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.