Zach Jackson Takes The Hill For Wisconsin Rapids

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.- Following a night in which each team’s offenses put on impressive hitting displays, the Rafters will hand the ball to Zach Jackson (Arkansas) to stifle the Northwoods League’s batting average leaders. First pitch tonight from Homer Stryker Field is set for 6:05 pm local time in Wisconsin Rapids.

With Jackson originally slated to start yesterday’s ball game, the Wisconsin Rapids coaching staff elected instead to give the start to Christian Hull (SE Missouri St.) due to the threat of rain interrupting the game. Hull responded with three strong innings giving up only two hits and striking out three. Isaac Behme (Webster) followed suit and delivered two solid innings of relief to earn the win and take his record to 3-1 on the season. Nick Prebelski (UW- Stevens Point) finished out the game for the Rafters by recording the final four outs for his first save of the season.

Erik Payne (Virginia Tech) continues to swing a red hot bat for the Rafters. Following his 3×5 performance in last nights game, Payne is now hitting .414 over the past week, with a slugging percentage over .650. Cullen Gassaway (Blinn College) has begun to settle into the Northwoods League nicely as he is batting .360 over his past seven games. A bright spot in the lineup last night was William Elliott (Alabama), who replaced an injured Ryan Sluder (Oklahoma State) and went 2×3 at the plate with two runs driven in. Contiued production from Elliott will be important should Sluder have to miss any time.

Following the conclusion of the series with the Growlers, Wisconsin Rapids heads to Battle Creek to play their final games in the state of Michigan against the Bombers. The Rafters return home on Monday, June 23 at 7:05pm to take on the Green Bay Bullfrogs for Schoep’s Ice Cream Superhero Night.

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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.