(Pictured: Jake Johansmeier)

9 Men Left on Base for Rafters in Loss

Box Score

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.-It was a game of missed opportunities for the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters as they dropped their Tuesday contest against the Kenosha Kingfish. A great performance by Rafters starter Jake Johansmeier was wasted as the Rafters left 9 men on base.
The Rafters struck first in the bottom of the third. After second baseman Michael Hurwitz led off the inning with a double the next two batters were retired allowing newcomer Patrick Ervin to step to the plate. Having already hit into an inning ending double play in the first to kill a rally, Ervin collected the first of his two RBI’s on the night by stroking a single to center field.
It was a Houdini- like performance by Kingfish starter Connor Kelly. His final line was 5 IP while giving up 6 hits, 2 earned runs and striking out 4 while not walking anybody. The stats didn’t tell the whole story as Kelly pitched in and out of trouble all night long.
Johansmeier had cruised through the first four innings, facing the minimum up until Zach Ratcliff led off the top of the fifth with a double. After Ratcliff advanced and stopped at third on a Steven Sensley bloop single, Johansmeier almost got out of the inning before Zack Kolakowski collected a clutch, 2-out, 2 RBI double that gave the Kingfish a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Wisconsin Rapids put together a rally in the bottom of the ninth to make things interesting. Ryan Johnston and Hurwitz picked up 2- out singles bringing the potential tying run to the plate in the form of Bobby Gregorich. Closer Brett Shimanovsky kept his cool and induced a grounder to third to record the save for the 5-2 Kingfish victory.

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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 via the Northwoods League YouTube channel.  For more information, visit www.raftersbaseball.com.