5 Runs In Top Of 9^th Seal The Deal

Box Score

Wausau, Wis.-In the final matchup of the season between the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (20-31, 8-9) and the Wisconsin Woodchucks (30-24, 12-8) it was a tight affair before the Rafters blew open the game in a 10-3 contest.

The Rafters jumped ahead right off the bat when Keelin Rasch (Louisiana Monroe) continued his hot play with a two out RBI double in the top of the 1^st. That allowed starter Jason Freeman (Texas A&M) to take the mound already with a lead and he went on to pitch well in his 6 innings. He would run into trouble in the bottom of the 3^rd when after getting the first two outs quickly the Wisconsin Woodchucks would string back to back bashits together to tie up the game.

The Woodchucks would take the lead in the 4^th as Connor Beck (TCU) recorded a RBI base hit with two outs. Wisconsin Rapids would respond immediately in the top of the 5^th. Heading into the All-star break, it was fitting that the Rafters’ All-star shortstop Zack Domingues (Long Beach State) would pick up the RBI that would tie the game. Domingues would finish the day getting on base all five times he came to the plate with three walks and two hits.

Both teams went silently through the next couple innings until the 7^th. With two runners on, Michael Jurgella (St. Cloud State) would blast an Austin Tribby (Missouri) pitch for his second home run of the season. Things would get hairy for Wisconsin Rapids in the bottom half of the inning as the Woodchucks loaded the bases with one out and the powerful Brendon Hayden (Virginia Tech) stepping to the plate. In perhaps the defining moment of the game, Justin Schander (Phoenix College) came in and struck out Hayden and the following batter.

Connor McClain (Central Arkansas) would help get Schander out of some trouble in the 8^th which would allow the Rafters to tack on some insurance runs in the top of the 9^th. The Rafters would take full advantage as they would bat around and score five runs to blow the game open. At one point the Rafters would record six consecutive base hits en route to their 10-3 win.

The Northwoods League will head into the All-star break with play resuming Thursday.

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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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