Freeman Looks To Stifle The La Crosse Lineup

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – After a tightly contested 4-2 matchup the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (5-16) aim to upend their division rival the La Crosse Loggers (13-8) tonight. The Loggers took an early lead in last night’s ballgame just to give it up in the seventh inning on a very peculiar play, but ended up scoring a run in both the eighth and the ninth innings to seal the victory. The Rafters look to get back to their winning ways tonight here at Witter Field before they travel to Kalamazoo to start a five game road trip.

Tonight’s starting pitcher for the Rafters will be Texas A&M Aggie right-hander Jason Freeman (0-0). Freeman is coming off a no decision in his first start of the season with the Rafters as he went five strong innings against Kalamazoo and struck out seven batters in the 14-4 Rafters victory. Freeman will have to be careful pitching to the Logger’s Ryan Kirby as he has been a nightmare for Rafters pitching this season. Kirby is batting .294 against Wisconsin Rapids pitchers and both of his home runs this season have come against the Rafters.

The Loggers pitching staff got out of a lot of tough situations in last night’s ballgame and the Rafters offense will look to cash in should those same situations present themselves again tonight. Woody Woodward looked impressive last night in his second game with the Rafters, as he went 2 for 5 and had a stolen base while playing a stellar second base. Erik Payne increased his hitting streak to seven games and still remains the clubhouse leader in home runs and runs batted in.

The game starts at 7:05pm tonight so the gates to Witter Field will be opening at 6:05pm. Tonight is Riverview Family Clinic Night here at the ball park.

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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.