(Pictured: Jake Cage)

Cage Takes The Ball In Series Finale

By: Abby Aubart, Marketing Intern

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (20-33, 8-10) take on the Kenosha Kingfish (29-24, 13-8) tonight in the final matchup of the season between the two teams. The game is scheduled to start at 7:05 with the gates opening at 6:05. Last nights matchup lived up the the hype as two of the Northwoods League’s top starting pitchers went toe to toe. Domenic Mazza (UC Santa Barbara) of Wisconsin Rapids went seven innings allowing only one earned run, and one walk. Rico Garcia (Hawaii Pacific) went six innings for the Kingfish without allowing any runs, giving the Kingfish the win with a final score of 2-0.

On the bump for the Rafters tonight will be right handed pitcher Jake Cage (Azusa Pacific). In his first start for the Rafters Cage threw six shutout innings allowing only three hits and one walk. Cage’s last outing came against the Lakeshore Chinooks. He went six innings allowing only four hits and two walks while he struck out three. Cage is coming into the game tonight 2-0 on the season with a 2.57 ERA.

The Kingfish will be sending left handed pitcher J.D. Neilsen (University of Illinois) to the mound tonight. Neilsen’s last start came against the Battle Creek Bombers on July 15th, where he could only go a total of 3.2 innings. During his start the southpaw gave up five earned runs on four hits while walking four and striking out four. Neilsen is coming into tonight’s game with a 3-2 record and a 4.43 ERA

Though hits were hard to come by in last night’s pitching duel two Rafters seemed to have the Kingfish’s number. Clark Eagan (Arkansas) went 3-4 last night, with all three hits being singles. Eagan is coming into tonight’s game on a hot streak bringing his season batting average to .351 and his batting average against the Kingfish to .333. Another hot bat for the Rafters was catcher Campbell Wear (UC Santa Barbara). Wear went 2-4 on the night with both hits being singles.

The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters return home to Witter Field this coming Saturday, July 26th, for McCain Foods Potato Night featuring French fry specials and post game fireworks. The game is scheduled for 6:05 and the gate will be opening at 5:05

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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.