(Pictured: Zack Domingues)

Mazza Makes Home Debut

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – After only completing three and a half innings last night, the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (14-26, 2-3) will be eager to get out there again tonight as they take on the rival Madison Mallards (23-17, 5-2). The Rafters were ahead 5-1 over the Thunder Bay Border Cats last night, but then the rain started to fall and the game will now be picked up when the Rafters head to Canada. The Mallards are coming off of a 7-4 victory over the Kalamazoo Growlers and currently sit a half game back in the South Division standings.

Making his home debut for the Rafters tonight will be the south paw Domenic Mazza (UC Santa Barbara, 0-0). Mazza will be making his third start of the season for the Rafters and in his first two outings he has impressed to say the least. He comes into tonight with an ERA of 1.63 in 11 innings pitched with only seven walks compared to his 15 strikeouts. Mazza looks to keep down a Madison Mallards squad that is 15th in the Northwoods League in batting average and 16th in overall hits.

The Rafters will be facing Tyler Buffett (Oklahoma State, 1-0) in tonight’s ballgame. Buffett is making his fifth appearance overall for the Mallards and this will be his fourth start. He has an ERA of 4.15 in his 13 innings pitched and has actually given up more hits than innings pitched with 16 hits against him.

Tonight the Mallards will have to contend with arguably the best hitter in all of the Northwoods League, Zack Domingues (Long Beach State). Domingues is batting .385 this season and has an on base percentage of .508, both of which lead the league.  In addition to Domingues, Keelin Rasch (Louisiana Monroe) has been on a tear of late. In his last four games he is batting .429 with five doubles and five runs batted in. Rasch has also been playing solid defensively at third base lately and has really secured the hot corner for the Rafters.

Tonight’s game is at 7:05pm and the gates to Witter Field will be opening at 6:05pm. Since the weather prevented Whiplash the Cowboy Monkey from performing last night, he will instead show his stuff at Witter Field tonight. Additionally, there will be a Quality Feed and Seed Dog Frisbee giveaway as it is Bark in the Park Night. Fans will be allowed to bring their dogs with them to the game.

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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.