The night will feature a Home Run Challenge and All-Star Game

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – The best players from the Northwoods League will descend on Wisconsin Rapids and Historic Witter Field today as the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters plays host to the 2015 Marshfield Clinic Northwoods League All-Star Game.

The festivities begin at 4:30 p.m., as the gates open and fans have an opportunity to get autographs from the All-Stars. The 2015 Marshfield Clinic Home Run Challenge is slated to begin at 5:05 p.m. and will feature nine of the best power hitters from each division in an individual and team challenge. Each hitter will have one half inning consisting of six outs to hit as many home runs as possible. The North Division will occupy the top half of each inning, while the South Division will bat in the bottom half. The player with the most home runs will be declared the individual winner and the team (North or South) with the most total home runs will be declared the team champion. Wisconsin Rapids infielder Mitchell McGeein (Eastern Michigan) will represent the Rafters in the challenge. McGeein has seven home runs on the season.

First pitch for the main event of the night, the 2015 Marshfield Clinic Northwoods League All-Star Game, will be at 7:05 p.m. The North Division will be managed by Drew Saberhagen and the Willmar Stingers staff, while Duffy Dyer and the Kenosha Kingfish coaching staff will managed the South Division. Representing the Rafters will be infielder Brock Carpenter (Seattle) and left-handed pitcher Jack Riley (UConn). The Kingfish led all teams with seven all-star selections, while the Madison Mallards and Duluth Huskies had five selections each.

Fans in attendance will be entertained by a performance from the XPOGO Stunt Team, an international, award-winning extreme pogo group that holds 13 current Guiness World Records. At the conclusion of the game, all fans will be treated to the Rafters fourth fireworks display of the season. Limited tickets remain available for the all-star festivities and can be purchased by calling 715-424-5400 or visiting RaftersBaseball.com.

###

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.