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Pitcher Carries No-Hitter into 7th.
Wisconsin Rapids,Wis.- In a game that featured a roller coaster of emotions the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (5-13) took down the Battle Creek Bombers (8-11) by a score of 2-1 in 10 innings. It was a pitcher’s duel the whole way through as Jake Johansmeier (Eastern Illinois) and Jacob Waguesback (Ole Miss) traded zeroes up on the scoreboard.
Jake Johansmeier was excellent in his seven innings of work. He started off his evening by throwing 6.1 innings of no- hit baseball before finally allowing a single to clean- up hitter Matt Dacey (Richmond). The problem for the Rafters was that Waguesback was just as good. The righty scattered 5 hits in his 7+ innings as he went toe to toe with Johansmeier.
Wisconsin Rapids finally broke through when Keelin Rasch (Louisiana Monroe) came up with a clutch two out RBI single in the bottom of the sixth. The Bombers would respond immediately in the top of the 7th when Henri Lartigue (Ole Miss) came up with his own two out RBI single. Johansmeier would bear down and strike out Brandon Van Horn (Dallas Baptist) to end the threat.
Both teams squandered opportunities in the late stages of the game. Some base running blunders and some excellent pitching out of the bullpen from Christian Hull (Southeast Missouri State) and Nolan Blackwood (Memphis) allowed the classic contest to go into extras.
Wisconsin Rapids emerge victorious and send 1,285 Rafters fans home happy in the bottom of the 10th. After Ryan Sluder (Oklahoma State) picked up his first hit in a Rafters’ uniform, a sacrifice bunt from Zack Domingues (Long Beach State) would set the stage for Michael Hurwitz (Illinois). Hurwitz wasted no time by lacing the first pitch he saw from Joshua Leone (Louisiana Monroe) into left field to score the game’s winning run.
The two teams will be back at it tomorrow afternoon at 3:05pm cst live from historic Witter Field where it will be Bull’s Eye Credit Union Play Catch with Dad Day. Fathers and their families will have the chance to make memories and play some catch out on the Witter Field diamond.
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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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