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Cage Looks To Continue His Dominance

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (12-21, 24-44) halted a three game losing streak last night and tonight will look to keep things rolling as they play the Lakeshore Chinooks (25-8, 49-18). The Rafters bats came alive last night as they scored in every inning except the first two and defeated the Battle Creek Bombers by a score of 12-5. The Chinooks are coming off of a 2-1 win over the Wisconsin Woodchucks and are currently riding a three game winning streak.

Starting for the Rafters tonight will be right handed pitcher Jake Cage (3-1, Azuza Pacific). Cage has had a very impressive season as he has compiled an ERA of 3.37 in 26.2 innings of work and only walked a total of four batters and has struck out 15 to go along with that three and one record. Cage has started once against these Chinooks and defeated them by going six innings allowing two runs on four hits and striking out three batters.

The Rafters lineup will be facing a Chinooks pitching staff that is the best in the league as they have a team ERA of 2.76 and also lead the Northwoods League in opponents’ batting average by holding opponents to an average of .216. The Chinooks pitchers will have to be wary of Keelin Rasch (Louisiana Monroe) however as he is red hot of late. Rasch is coming off of a seven RBI performance last night, a game in which he also broke the Rafters single season doubles record by hitting his 18^th double of the season. Another hot bat in the Rafters lineup has been Nick Unes (UW-Milwaukee) who has a six game hitting streaking coming into tonight. Unes is batting .345 on the season for the Rafters and has driven in four runs in his short time with the team.

First pitch for the game tonight is scheduled at 7:05pm, so that means the gates here to historic Witter Field will open at 6:05 pm. Tonight is also a very special night as it is Paul Gross Jewelers Ladies Diamond Dig with special guest Bucket Ruckus. The first 300 women at the ballpark tonight will receive an ice cream scoop that they will use after the game to try and find the half carat pendent, valued at $1,900, which will be buried somewhere in the infield. Also being Thursday night that means it is Budweiser Thirsty Thursday here at the park and domestic taps are two for one through the fifth inning.

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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.