Rafters Swept In Kenosha; Fall 7-1

Kenosha, Wis.- The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters dropped their second straight game against Kenosha this season. While the first game was filled with late inning drama, the game Saturday night was all Kenosha for most of the evening. Kenosha scored seven runs in the first four innings, with three runs in the 2^nd, one run in the 3^rd, and another three runs in the bottom of the 4th inning.

The Rafters starter Derek Kawlewski (Rhode Island) got hit around a little this evening for the Rafters, as Kenosha got out to a 7-0 nothing lead after four innings and never looked back. Back-to-back RBI singles by Mitch Gasbarro (Eastern Illinois) and Jack Sundberg (UConn) started the scoring in the third for the Kingfish, as they just squeaked up the middle into centerfield for base-hits. The Rafters lone run came in the top of the eighth inning as a bases loaded groundout allowed Tyler Johnson (Navarro CC) to score from third.

Shining on the mound for the Rafters was relief pitcher Dmitry Shtykher (Moscow). The Russian-born right-hander threw four scoreless innings in relief for Wisconsin Rapids, retiring the last ten batters in a row for Kenosha. Dmitry did a great job of hitting his spots and pitching to contact, getting an abundance of fly-ball outs with the wind blowing in from left-field at Simmons Field.

The Rafters will return home to Historic Witter Field tomorrow, as they begin a six game home-stand starting with a two game set against the Kalamazoo Growlers.

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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.