(Pictured: The ZOOperstars!)

ZOOperstars!, Whiplash the Cowboy Monkey, and Duck Dynasty’s John Godwin Highlight Rafters games in 2014

For a complete listing of all the 2014 Promotions, please click here.

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.-The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are thrilled to announce their full promotional schedule for the 2014 season. Dazzling fireworks shows, unique bobble head giveaways, exciting celebrity appearances, and very funny entertainment acts fill the schedule all season long.

Opening Week
The Rafters will begin the 2014 season with a three game home stand at historic Witter Field. Opening Night is slated for Tuesday, May 27th at 7:05 pm when the team plays host to the expansion Kenosha Kingfish. The Rafters will celebrate the beginning of their 5th year in Wisconsin Rapids with various promotions and giveaways throughout the evening and all fans in attendance will receive a commemorative 5th Year Anniversary poster. Wednesday, May 28th will feature an appearance by the always-entertaining ZOOperstars!, sponsored by Paper City Savings. The Rafters will wrap up their opening week on Thursday, May 29th when all fans will take home a Magnet Schedule presented by the TerMaat Glavin Group.  It will also be the first Budweiser Thirsty Thursday of the season, with two-for-one tap beers offered through the 5th inning.

Special Theme Nights
On Monday, June 16th the Hunger Coalition Food Sculpture Event-United We Can, sponsored by United Way, will be on display for the game against the La Crosse Loggers. Monday, June 23rd will be Schoep’s Ice Cream Superhero Night. Kids dressed in their favorite superhero costume will get in to the game for free. There will also be superhero ice cream specials offered all night long! The ever-popular Bacon Appreciation Night returns to the schedule on Monday, June 30th when the Rafters take on the Eau Claire Express. Bacon themed specials like BLT’s, pigsicles, bacon chocolate sundaes, and bacon wrapped shrimp will highlight the menu that evening. The Rafters are thrilled to announce that on Saturday, July 5th Element Mobile will present the second annual Outdoorsman Night at Witter Field that will feature special guest John Godwin from A&E’s hit television show Duck Dynasty.  There will also be a Rosco P. Rafter Duck Dynasty themed bobblehead promotion that will precede the appearance and the Rafters urge all fans to stay tuned for an announcement from the Rafters and Element Mobile at a later date. Witter Field will once again welcome all dogs to the game on Tuesday, July 8th with the return of Quality Feed and Seed Bark in the Park Night. Fans can bring their canine companions to the game and receive a Rafters dog Frisbee, courtesy of Quality Feed and Seed. Monday, July 28th will be dedicated to Social Media with great giveaways for fan interaction. On Monday, August 4th get ready for Rapids Has Talent Night, the Rafters very own version of the hit television show “America’s Got Talent”. The night will consist of fans displaying their skills through a variety of contests and themes on the field.  Thursday, August 7th will be special to one lucky lady as Paul Gross Jewelers will bring the Diamond Dig back to the infield at Witter Field.  The first ladies through the gates that evening will receive a Rafters and Paul Gross Jewelers ice cream scoop that they will be able to use to help find a diamond buried under the infield dirt following the game against the Lakeshore Chinooks.

Bobbleheads
The 2014 season will feature three games in which bobbleheads will be the showcase attraction. Skyward Educators Appreciation Night on Tuesday, June 10th will feature the first bobblehead of the season when Skyward Central Wisconsin Teacher of the Year, Mr. Scott Sigourney of Woodside Elementary, will have a bobblehead featured with his likeness. The first Rosco P. Rafter bobblehead giveaway of the season will come your way on Wednesday, July 9th on Advanced Disposal “Go Green” Night.  The bobblehead will  feature  Rosco P. Rafter driving an Advanced Disposal garbage truck. Saturday, July 19th will feature a Rosco P. Rafter biking bobblehead. On the morning of July 19th fans can join Rosco P. Rafter, Rafters players, and front office staff at 9:00 am at Witter Field for a family bike ride on the bike trail in Wisconsin Rapids. All pre-registered bikers will receive bobblehead dolls.  Additional details on the bike ride will be revealed closer to the event.  

Fireworks
On four occasions during the 2014 season the Rafters will feature post-game fireworks shows that will awe all fans in attendance. On Saturday, June 14th the Rafters will host the Battle Creek Bombers at 6:05 pm. Gates will open at 5:05 pm for the game and be sure to stick around following the game as Budweiser sponsors the first fireworks spectacular of the 2014 season. Marshfield Clinic will help kick off Fourth of July festivities with a fireworks extravaganza following the Rafters home game on July 3rd. All fans in attendance on July 3rd will also receive a lighted baton to enhance the atmosphere at Witter Field during the fireworks display. Saturday, July 26th will be the third fireworks show of the season following the Rafters tilt with the Lakeshore Chinooks. The final post-game firework show of the season will occur following the final regular season game on Fan Appreciation Night, Saturday, August 9th, and is presented by Advanced Disposal.

Entertainment Acts
The inflatable, zany, ZOOperstars! will appear at Witter Field twice during 2014 season–on May 28th presented by Paper City Savings and again on August 6th presented by Element Mobile. The acrobatics of a group that has appeared on America’s Got Talent, the Russian Bar Trio, will be on display on June 12th, presented by Element Mobile. The Human Cannonball will soar across the field on July 6th courtesy of Bull’s Eye Credit Union and Whiplash the Dog Riding Cowboy Monkey will jump in his saddle and herd sheep following the game on July 7th, presented by Heartland Farms. Fans can also enjoy a petting zoo at the July 7th Agriculture Appreciation Night as well. The drumming group Bucket Ruckus will dazzle fans during and after the game on August 7th.

Jersey Auction Nights
The Rafters will hold three jersey auctions during the 2014 season that will feature all-new jersey designs than in previous seasons.  Wednesday, June 11th will see the return of “Turn Back The Clock Night” presented by Fey Printing. The Rafters will pay tribute to the city’s baseball history of the Wisconsin Rapids Twins and will don vintage white Twins uniforms that will be available in a silent auction. On Tuesday, June 24th Advanced Disposal will present the first-ever Cranberry Appreciation Night. The Rafters will honor the rich history of the cranberry industry in the area by wearing cranberry themed jerseys that will be auctioned off after the game. Marshfield Clinic Cancer Awareness Night will be held on Saturday, August 2nd. That night the Rafters will wear purple uniforms that will be available for auction with all proceeds going to cancer research.

Giveaways
Opening Day for the Rafters on Tuesday, May 27th will feature a poster celebrating the 5th Year Anniversary of baseball returning to Wisconsin Rapids. Thursday, May 29th fans can take home a Rafters magnet schedule courtesy of the Ter Maat Glavin Group. Fans of casino games will want to circle the night of Wednesday, June 4th as Ho-Chunk Gaming in Nekoosa is sponsoring a Rafters Dice Cup giveaway for the first fans through the gates. Make sure to bring your dad and a baseball glove to the 3:05 pm game on Sunday, June 15th for Bull’s Eye Credit Union Play Catch with Dad Day.  Following the game, fans will have an opportunity to go on the field and play catch with a brand new Rafters baseball, courtesy of Bull’s Eye Credit Union. Safety-first will be the motto on Saturday, June 28th as Duncan Disability Law will sponsor a First Aid Kit giveaway. Marshfield Clinic will help fans enjoy the post game fireworks on Thursday, July 3rd as they sponsor a lighted baton giveaway which fans are encouraged to use to enhance the post-game atmosphere at Witter Field that night. The Incourage Community Foundation will be sponsoring a pen giveaway with the Rafters logo on Thursday, July 10th. Fans will get to take home a poster of the 2014 Rafters team on Sunday, July 27th, presented by Luke A. Weiland Attorney at Law. Solarus Baseball Card Night will be held on Tuesday, July 29th, when trading card sets of the 2014 team will be handed out prior to the game.

Community Nights
Assumption Catholic Schools Night will occur on Thursday, June 5th as the Rafters host the La Crosse Loggers at 7:05 pm.  Make sure to wear blue and show off your Royals pride as the Assumption marching band performs during the evening. Riverview Family Clinic Night will be Tuesday, June 17th.  Join us for a night dedicated to all the good Riverview Family Clinic does for Wisconsin Rapids and the surrounding communities.  July 4th will be Incourage Community Foundation Day at the ballpark.  All fans that bring a non-perishable food item to the game will have the chance to purchase two tickets for the price of one.  The game will begin at 3:05 pm and will be over in plenty of time to head downtown and view the spectacular fireworks display Wisconsin Rapids has to offer.  Wednesday, July 30th will be a 12:05 pm weekday game, Assisted Living and Day Care Day at the ballpark.  This may also present a great opportunity to “Play Hooky from Work” and watch the Rafters take on the Eau Claire Express before departing on a road trip to Eau Claire and Thunder Bay, Canada.  August 8th will be Schierl Tire and Service Night to benefit the Boys and Girls Club.

The Rafters host their season opener on Tuesday, May 27th at 7:05 pm when they take on the Kenosha Kingfish.  Rafters single game tickets go on sale on Friday, April 25th at 9:00 am.  Tickets will be available by visiting Raftersbaseball.com or calling the Rafters ticket office at 715-424-5400.

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The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, 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 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live and free of charge via the Northwoods League YouTube channel.  For more information, visit www.raftersbaseball.com.