Wisconsin Rapids opens a two-game set tonight with the La Crosse, who sits two games ahead of the Rafters in the standings

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – The Rafters have a chance to make up some ground in the Northwoods League South Division when they play the La Crosse Loggers tonight. Wisconsin Rapids (13-14) sits two games behind the La Crosse (16-13) in the standings with six games remaining in the first half of the season. If the Rafters can go 4-2 over the final six games, they will finish the first half of the season above .500.

The Rafters dropped a tight game on Wednesday night, falling 3-0 to the Madison Mallards at Witter Field. After five scoreless innings, the Mallards took control with a two-run home run in the top of the sixth. Madison added an insurance run in the top of the seventh. Jake Johansmeier (Eastern Illinois) took the loss for Wisconsin Rapids, but pitched well in his first start of the season. The righty went 6.1 innings, allowing three runs while scattering 11 hits. Dalton D’Spain got the win for Madison and Mike Kaelin picked up the save.

Tonight’s game begins a two game set against the Loggers with the first game at Witter Field, followed by Friday’s game at Copeland Park in La Crosse, Wis. First pitch on Thursday will be at 7:05 p.m. and gates will open at 6:05 p.m. Duncan Disability Law S.C. is sponsoring the game and present a salute to the 40th Anniversary of Saturday Night Live with a cowbell giveaway for fans in attendance. It’s also a Thirsty Thursday at Witter Field, featuring two-for-one domestic taps from the time the gates open through the fifth inning. 

Jay Peters will make his Rafters debut on the mound tonight. The Randolph, Wis. native was 3-5 in 10 starts at Muscatine Community College, throwing 50.2 innings and striking out 54 batters. Peters will transfer to UW-Milwaukee in the fall.

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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.