(Pictured: Kyle McHugh)

Kingfish blowout Rafters for Franchise’s first Victory   

The weather wasn’t the only thing that was dreary in Wisconsin Rapids on Tuesday. After the town was drenched by rainstorms through Monday night into Tuesday morning, the weather improved and a sense of optimism arose as the Rafters and Kingfish broke the ice on the 2014 Northwoods League season. Kenosha got their inaugural season off on the right foot when designated hitter Kyle Brooks led off the game with a single. He was then able to advance to third after a throwing error and a wild pitch all committed by Rafters starter John Cook. Brooks would score the first run in Kingfish history on an RBI fielder’s choice by Zach Ratcliff.

The Rafters had a chance to even things up in the bottom half of the inning when Erik Payne doubled Michael Hurwitz to third with only one out and the four and five hitters coming up. However, Kingfish starter Rico Garcia maintained his composure and struck out clean up hitter Kyle McHugh and induced a Ryan Johnston ground out to shortstop Brian Sisler. From there Garcia would go on cruise control. From that point in the first until the 6th, the Kingfish starter retired 15 Rafters in a row before Michael Hurwitz broke through with a one out single.

Kenosha scored in six of the nine innings they hit in. The game was broken open in the fifth inning. It was a 5-0 ballgame heading into the top of the 5th, when the Kingfish sent ten men to the plate, scoring 5 in the frame and essentially ending the contest. Some Rafters wildness certainly contributed as John Grant hit three Kenosha batters and threw a wild pitch that allowed a run to score.

After Tuesday’s 14-0 game, The Rafters and Kingfish meet again Wednesday night at historic Witter Field at 7:05 pm as Jake Johansmeier takes the hill for the Rafters looking to pitch Wisconsin Rapids to their first win this season.

###

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.