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Lefty Is 2nd NWL Pitcher To Throw No-Hitter And Lose
Mequon, Wis.- It was a surreal scene at Kapco Park as the Lakeshore Chinooks (34-12, 10-2) downed the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (17-30, 5-7) in the most unusual of fashions. Lakeshore won the game 2-0 despite not recording a hit all night off of Rafters’ starter Domenic Mazza (UC Santa Barbara). Both runs came in the 6th and were both unearned.
It was a pitcher’s duel right from the start as Lakeshore starter James Teague (Arkansas) was excellent in his six innings of work. Teague mowed through the Rafters, retiring the first eight hitters he saw with seven via the strikeout. Teague would go on to strike out twelve in six innings and give up the only hit the game saw.
The honor of the game’s lone hit belonged to Kirby McGuire (New Mexico) who also contributed a great defensive play. As always, a no- hitter usually relies on a outstanding effort and McGuire’s diving catch in the bottom of the first was the toughest defensive play made by Wisconsin Rapids.
That being said, it was some sloppy defense that allowed Lakeshore to pull out the win despite not recording a hit. Two errors committed by the Rafters allowed two runs to come in during the bottom of the 6th. After that the Northwoods League’s top pitching staff took over.
Two Chinooks’ relievers shut down the final three innings and completed history. Mazza’s performance is the 18th no- hitter in NWL history and is the second that occurred in a losing effort. Thanks to the brilliant pitching Tuesday’s game lasted only 2 hours and 5 minutes. The two teams wrap up the series tomorrow evening with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 pm.
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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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