(Pictured: Zach Domingues)

Start Final Home and Home Series With Wisconsin Before All-Star Break

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (19-31, 7-8) take on the Wisconsin Woodchucks (29-23, 11-7) tonight at historic Witter Field. The game is scheduled to start at 6:05 with the gates opening at 5:05. The Rafters just finished a 7 game road trip with a 3-4 record against division rivals Lakeshore and Kenosha.

Zach Jackson (Arkansas) will be making his sixth start tonight for the Rafters. Jackson is coming into the game with a 3.42 ERA, and has been a strikeout machine recording 36 strikeouts in just 23.2 innings of work. Last time Jackson took the mound he faced the Madison Mallards, going five strong innings allowing only two hits and three walks while striking out six.

The Rafters offense struggled last night putting up only four runs against the Kenosha Kingfish. A bright spot in the lineup once again was shortstop Zach Domingues (Long Beach State). Domingues was 1 for 5 on the night, but his one hit brought in two runs. Michael Jurgella (St. Cloud State) upped his hitting streak to six games as he finished the night 1 for 5 with an RBI.

On the mound for the Wisconsin Woodchucks tonight is Kaylor Chafin (Texas AM), making just his second start in 14 appearances and is coming into the game with a 2.07 ERA. In his 30.1 innings of work Chafin has given up 28 hits and has walked six batters. Chafin’s only other start of the season came against the Rafters on June 28th where he gave up five hits and two runs and received a no-decision.

The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters will head back on the road for the second game of the series in Wausau tomorrow evening before the All-Star break this coming week. Zack Domingues will be the lone player representing the Rafters in the All-Star game on Tuesday July 22nd at Kapco Park, home of the Lakeshore Chinooks. First pitch for the all-star game is slated for 6:45pm.

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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.