(Pictured: Kirby McGuire (10), Keelin Rasch (44), and Zack Domingues (2))

Offensive Leaders Domingues, Rasch Named Co-MVPs

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.- Following the conclusion of the fifth season of Rafters baseball, the team has announced the 2014 Most Valuable Player, Pitcher of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year Award recipients.

Though the 2014 Wisconsin Rapids Rafters season was filled with change and turnover, two players refused to allow the turmoil to affect their play on the field. Zack Domingues (Long Beach State) and Keelin Rasch (Louisiana Monroe) were named the 2014 Co-MVP’s for their efforts in both the batter’s box and with their gloves.

Zack Domingues provided an immediate spark to the Rafters lineup upon his arrival in Wisconsin Rapids. Occupying the role of table setter from the lead off spot in the Rafters’ lineup, Domingues was a nuisance to opposing pitching staffs on his way to winning the first Northwoods League Batting Title in franchise history finishing with a .376 average. Domingues also finished second in the Northwoods League in on-base percentage at .498. Contributing to his stellar OBP, Domingues set a new single season team record with 55 walks. On the defensive side, Domingues solidified the shortstop position and finished the season with a fielding percentage of .958 placing himself among the league leaders once again.

Similar to the way his teammate established himself at the shortstop position, Keelin Rasch took control of the third base job nearly as soon as he arrived in Wisconsin Rapids as well. Taking up residence in the heart of the Rafters’ lineup, Rasch displayed a strong power stroke with the bat on his way to leading the Rafters in home runs (8), RBIs (57) and doubles (19), and finishing second on the team in hitting (.340). Rasch etched his name into the Rafters’ team record books setting new high marks in hits (84) and doubles.

Domingues and Rasch join Jackson Slaid and Donnie Dewees (2013), Pat Kelly (2012), Nestor Bautista (2011), and Cody Koback (2010) as winners of the award. Domingues will be a junior, and Rasch a senior next spring.

Domenic Mazza (UC Santa Barbara) has been named the 2014 Rafters Pitcher of the Year. Despite not arriving in Wisconsin Rapids until a month into the season, Mazza quickly became an integral part of the Rafters rotation. In seven starts he finished with a 2-2 record and tallied 50 strikeouts in 44.0 innings pitched. His ERA of 1.43 not only would have set a new single season team record (2.98 by Brad Stroik in 2013), but would have placed him among the league leaders in the Northwoods League had he thrown enough innings to qualify. The highlight of the season came on July 15th, when Mazza dazzled on the mound against the Lakeshore Chinooks and threw the first no-hitter in franchise history, striking out 10 along the way. Mazza will be a junior for the Gauchos next spring.

Center fielder Kirby McGuire (New Mexico) has been named the 2014 Rafters Defensive Player of the Year. McGuire was asked to cover a lot of ground in the outfield for the Rafters this season and displayed his tremendous talents on numerous occasions. Playing in 64 games for Wisconsin Rapids McGuire finished with a .985 fielding percentage, making only two errors. Opposing coaches quickly learned not to test the rocket right arm of McGuire as he tallied seven outfield assists. McGuire will be a sophomore for the Lobos next spring.
 

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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.