Wisconsin Rapids split with La Crosse on May 28/29 at Copeland Park

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – The Rafters will try to take the season-series lead over the La Crosse Loggers tonight as the two teams square off at 7:05 p.m. at Witter Field. Wisconsin Rapids played the Loggers in La Crosse on May 28 and 29, dropping the first game, 10-5, before winning game two 14-7 in eight innings.

Last night, the Rafters fell back to 6-6 overall with a loss to the Kalamazoo Growlers in a rain-shortened game. Wisconsin Rapids trailed Kalamazoo 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. It was the fourth game this season that was shortened due to rain, including the May 29 game at La Crosse.

Brian Russell (College of Staten Island) will take the ball for the Rafters tonight. The right-hander has taken a pair of no-decisions in his two starts, compiling a 3.85 ERA over 11.2 innings. Russell started in the May 28 loss to the Loggers, throwing 5.2 innings and allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits.

Tonight’s game is the first bobblehead game of the season as the Rafters host Skyward Educators Appreciation Night, with the bobblehead featuring the Skyward Central Wisconsin Teachers of the Year, Mr. Bill Oswald (Wisconsin Rapids Area Middle School) and Mrs. Jessica Fischer (Ben Franklin Junior High School in Stevens Point). Gates open at 6:05 p.m.

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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.