Seasoned Canisius Products Lumley And Shepley Set To Join Rafters

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – Adding experienced collegiate players can provide a great benefit to a Northwoods League roster, and the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters have done just that with the addition of two newcomers hailing from north of the border. Infielder Jake Lumley (Canisius) and right-handed pitcher Josh Shepley (Canisius) are slated to suit up for the Rafters in 2016. Both players are originally from Ontario, Canada.

“Adding Jake and Josh is exciting for us because of their experience, above all else,” said Rafters general manager John Fanta, “Jake’s advanced bat is a great addition to our roster and Josh’s versatility will give Craig a mature right handed option either in the rotation or out of the bullpen.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

IF – Jake Lumley, 6’0” 175 (L/R) Junior, Canisius College
Lumley enjoyed a breakout season in 2015 as a sophomore for the Griffins, playing in 63 games including 61 starts. The infielder mustered a .419 on-base percentage and posted a .331 batting average while mashing 16 extra-base hits (3 home runs) and pushing across 39 RBI. Lumley proved himself to be a threat on the base paths as well, notching 10 stolen bases and scoring 48 runs. With his breakout 2015 season in the rearview mirror, Lumley will look to continue his ascent and assert himself as a one of the nationally elite hitters in Division 1 baseball. He is a native of Windsor, Ontario.

 

 

 

 

 

 

RHP – Josh Shepley, 6’3” 208 (R/R) Junior, Canisius College
The right-handed Shepley is set to join the Rafters for the 2016 season. Splitting time between the rotation and the bullpen as a sophomore in 2015, Shepley compiled a 3-2 record for the Griffins across 17 appearances including 7 starts. Over 47 innings, Shepley piled up 29 strikeouts and limited opposing hitters to a .259 batting average while posting a 5.82 ERA. If Shepley’s experience in wood bat baseball is any indicator of what to expect in 2016, Josh will make fast friends in Wisconsin Rapids. As a member of the Front Royal Cardinals of the Valley Baseball League last summer, Shepley posted a 0.64 ERA in 28.1 innings of work and struck out 16 hitters. He will look to build on his breakout summer this spring as he takes the hill for his junior year at Canisius. He is a native of Belle River, Ontario.

(Headshot photographs provided by Canisius Athletics)

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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 23rd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2016, 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 140 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 (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website.  For more information, visit www.raftersbaseball.com.