Hawaiian ice cream and a “Cheeseburger in Paradise” eating contest highlight the night’s activities

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters have a chance to pull back within five games of the division-leading Kenosha Kingfish tonight at Witter Field. The Kingfish took game one of the series 6-3 on Wednesday night, pulling away late, scoring two runs in the eighth and another in the ninth to pick up the three-run victory.

The Rafters have the task of trying to slow down the Northwoods League’s hottest team this season in Kenosha. The Kingfish are off to an 18-5 start and have won 13 of their last 14 games. The Rafters are 11-10 and one of five teams between 5.5 and 6.5 games behind the Kingfish.

Taking the ball tonight for Wisconsin Rapids is Jon Malmin. The Texas lefty will look to improve on his first start for the Rafters this summer when he went three innings and allowed four runs against Battle Creek on June 12. Last season with Wisconsin Rapids, Malmin was 1-1 with a 2.01 ERA over eight games. This spring with the Longhorns, Malmin made 18 appearances in relief with a 3.79 ERA and earned a pair of saves, while holding opponents to a .230 batting average.

Fans who had tickets to the Incourage Community Foundation Pre-Game Picnic that was originally scheduled for June 11th, can bring those unused tickets to the Rafters ticket office to exchange them for tickets to tonight's rescheduled Picnic which will run from 5:30-6:30 this evening.

First pitch will be at 7:05 p.m., with gates opening at 6:05 p.m. Tickets for the game are still available. Visit www.rafterbaseball.com or call 715-424-5400 to purchase tickets.

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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.