(Pictured: Keelin Rasch)

Jason Freeman Looks To Turn It Around

By: Joe Quade, Public Relations Intern

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – With the second half not going quite as they expected, the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (8-14, 20-37) will be seeking their first victory tonight since the all-star break as they go up against the Kalamazoo Growlers (10-13, 23-35). The Rafters were defeated by the Growlers last night by a score of 14-5, in another tough outing for the Rafters pitching staff.

Tonight the Rafters will turn to Jason Freeman (2-1, Texas A&M) as they look to get back on track. Freeman is coming off of a strong start against the Wisconsin Woodchucks where he went six innings giving up two runs on six hits and only walking one as he struck out a season high eight batters in the win. Freeman has faced the Growlers once this season, but that was a completely different Growlers lineup and that was also Freeman’s first start of the season.

Starting for the Growlers tonight will be the right handed pitcher Ryan Colegate (1-3, Ohio Dominican). Colegate has had a rough go of it for the most part this season as he has a 5.06 ERA on the season and in 42.2 innings pitched he has allowed 44 hits and opponents are hitting .270 against him. Colegate has faced the Rafters twice so far this year with one of those starts being his lone win of the season, but in the other the Rafters roughed him up for four runs in just an inning and a third of work.

The man who has done the damage to this Growlers pitching staff all season long has been Keelin Rasch (Louisiana Monroe) who is hitting .579 in five games versus Kalamazoo and has hit two home runs and driven in seven runs against them. Ricky Ramirez (UIC) looks to keep his hot start as a Rafter going as well as in his first four games he is batting .294 and has already driven in three runs.

Tonight’s game is once again at 7:05pm, which means that the Witter Field gates will be opening at 6:05pm. Tonight is also Solarus Baseball Card Night where fans in attendance will receive baseball cards of their favorite Rafters players and coaches.

###

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.