(Pictured: Michael Jurgella)

Tonight Starts A Five Game Home Stand For The Rafters

By: Joe Quade, PR Intern

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (8-11, 20-34) are looking to find their groove on this upcoming home stand which starts tonight as they take on the Lakeshore Chinooks (17-3, 41-13) with the first pitch coming at 6:05. The Rafters are coming off of a hard fought 5-3 loss at the hands of the Kenosha Kingfish and and are in search of their first win since returning from the all-star break. The Chinooks, arguably the hottest team in the Northwoods League, are coming off a 4-1 victory over the Madison Mallards and have won seven straight games.

Over the past four games Rafters pitching has been superb, allowing a total of just 14 runs during that span. Command of the strike zone will be vital tonight for the Rafters as the pitching staff will be dealing with a Chinooks squad that is last in the Northwoods League in hits as a team, but ranks first in drawing base on balls.

The Chinooks have a team ERA of 2.53 which is by far the best team ERA in the Northwoods League this season. However the last time the Rafters faced the Chinooks they put up eight runs in an 8-2 victory for Wisconsin Rapids. The Rafters are actually the last team that has beaten the Chinooks and they will be looking to even up the season series with them this weekend.

The Rafters offense will once again be sparked tonight by leadoff man Zack Domingues (Long Beach State). Domingues is hitting .351 on the season and has an on base percentage of .474. Domingues has been playing well of late also, as over his last four games he is hitting .357 and has scored a total of six runs. Michael Jurgella (St. Cloud State) looks to keep his strong season going as he is batting .275 with two home runs and has driven in 18. The offensive numbers go along with the fact that Jurgella is about as versatile as they come as he has played at least five positions on the field and even stepped onto the mound for some emergency pitching relief.

The game starts at 6:05pm tonight which means the gates to historic Witter Field will be opening at 5:05pm. To get this five game home stand underway tonight is McCain Foods Potato Night which features french fry specials and postgame fireworks. Also with it being Saturday, that means all kids in attendance get to run the bases post game, which is presented by Marshfield Clinic.

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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.