Monday’s game was the fourth game shortened or ended because of rain for the Rafters in 2015

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – Mother nature continues to be a burden for the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters as another game at Witter Field was ended early because of rain. The Rafters trailed the Kalamazoo Growlers 5-1 in the top of the sixth inning when the downpour started. Shortly after the rain stopped, the field was deemed unplayable and the game was called.

Adam Hall (Xavier) took the loss for the Rafters, throwing 5.1 innings and allowing four runs. Hall, now 1-1 on the season, was replaced by Michael Austin with one out in a 2-1 game in the top of the sixth. On Austin’s first pitch, Growler catcher Max Schuman hit a three-run home run to right field, putting the Growlers ahead 5-1. Austin got the next hitter to line out before the teams were removed from the field due to the rain.

The Rafters were held to just two hits in the game by Kalamazoo pitcher Shane Bryant, who went five innings in a winning effort. The lone Wisconsin Rapids run was scored by Zack Domingues (Long Beach State) on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Cleveland (Georgia Southern).

The loss drops the Rafters back to .500 at 6-6, while with the win, the Growlers end a two-game skid and move to 4-10 on the year. Wisconsin Rapids is back in action at Witter Field on Tuesday when they host the La Crosse Loggers. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. It will be Skyward Educators Appreciation Night, with fans receiving customized bobble heads of Mr. Bill Oswald and Mrs. Jessica Fischer, the winners of the Skyward 2014 Teachers of the Year awards.

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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.