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Rafters Drop Fifth Consecutive Game
The Wisconsin Rapids’ Rafters (2-7) bats were once again held silent as they suffered their fifth consecutive defeat in a blowout 12-2 loss to the La Crosse Loggers (4-5). A La Crosse offense that had struggled recently suddenly exploded for the 12 runs on 16 base-hits as the Loggers won their second in a row.
The game started out as a pitchers duel as Wisconsin Rapids’ Nick Blackburn (Illinois) and La Crosse’s Ryan Deemes (Nicholls State) went toe to toe. Blackburn was making his season debut for the Rafters and he was stellar in his first appearance of the year. However, Blackburn hadn’t started any of the 18 games he pitched in for the Illini so he was pulled after three innings in order to ease him back. From there the Loggers were able to take advantage.
Nick Prebelski (UW-Stevens Point) came in and was victimized by some sloppy defense. Prebelski would pitch 2 innings and give up 4 runs, only two of which were earned. The Loggers would send 8 batters to the plate in the top of the 5th and score 4 runs. For a team that came into the game with the lowest team batting average in the Northwoods League, 4 runs seemed like an insurmountable mountain to begin with. With three more in the 6th and a big inning of 5 runs scored in the 8th, the Loggers polished off the blowout victory.
Ryan Deemes cruised through 6.1 innings pitched as he only gave up 4 hits and two earned runs. He and Nick Milligan (Western Illinois) combined to strike out 11 Rafters batters.
Wisconsin Rapids will look to break out of their funk when they and La Crosse do battle again tomorrow night from historic Witter Field at 7:05 pm cst.
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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.
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