(Pictured: Zack Domingues at-bat against the Loggers)

Sommerfeld Makes Rafters Debut

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – After dropping the first game of a two game series with La Crosse by a score of 10-5, the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (1-1) look to earn a split on Friday night as they return to face the Loggers (2-1) at Copeland Park. First pitch for the game is set for 7:05 pm.

Taking the ball for the Rafters will be Wisconsin native Luke Sommerfeld (St. Louis), who will be making his first start in a Wisconsin Rapids uniform. Hailing from Elm Grove, WI, Sommerfeld is coming off a solid freshman season for the Billikins in which he made 21 appearances including one start, and finished with a 2-0 record and twenty-eight strikeouts in 31.1 innings of work. Standing 6’6” tall, Sommerfeld provides a big presence on the mound and will look to keep the Loggers’ bats quiet.

Opposing Sommerfeld will be right-hander Jake Fromson (Missouri State). Fromson has already made one appearance this season throwing 2.0 innings against Green Bay on May 26th. He allowed two hits and tallied one strikeout in the short stint. Fromson will have to deal with a strong top of the order for the Rafters that saw Zack Domingues (Long Beach St.), Jake Sandlin (Georgia College) and Mitch McGeein (Eastern Michigan) combine for six of the teams eight hits and three RBIs in last nights ballgame.

The Rafters will continue their road trip with a game against the Madison Mallards on Saturday night at Warner Park before returning home on Sunday May 31st to face those same Mallards in the back half of a home and home series. The first pitch for Sunday’s game is scheduled for 5:05pm with the gates opening at 4:05 and will feature an Incourage Community Foundation “Summer’s Here” Kite giveaway for all kids in attendance.

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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 22nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2015, 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 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website.  For more information, visit www.raftersbaseball.com.