Boilermakers Opening Day Starter And Storm Ace To Join Rafters

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – On the heels of college baseball’s opening weekend, the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are pleased to announce their latest pair of signings. Infielder Jacson McGowan (Purdue) and right-handed pitcher Dylan File (Dixie State) will each don Rafters uniforms in 2016 as they debut in the Northwoods League.

“We really feel like both guys add something unique to our roster,” said Rafters general manager John Fanta. “Jacson is a talented young player with a lot of size and raw ability, while Dylan has consistently demonstrated his natural feel for pitching and a knack for getting outs.”

INF – Jacson McGowan, 6’3” 200, (R/R), Purdue University
Just beginning his true freshman campaign, Jacson has already cracked the starting lineup for the Boilermakers and become their regular third baseman. Occupying the hot corner, McGowan started all three games opening weekend and reached base six times in 13 plate appearances while also driving in a run and piling up four base hits. Last spring the Indiana native concluded a sparkling high school career that saw him finish with an eye-popping career batting average of .532 and 11 home runs. In his three varsity seasons, McGowan never hit below .500 and earned multiple team MVP honors. The right-hander moonlighted as a pitcher during his senior season and tallied an impressive 32 strikeouts in just 14 innings of work. Jacson is a native of Brownsburg, Indiana.

P – Dylan File, 6’1” 180, (R/R), Sophomore, Dixie State University
Just a year removed from being selected the PacWest Conference Freshman of the Year, File is slated to become the newest addition to Rafters pitching staff. Dylan wasted no time in establishing himself as a premier young arm last spring as he raced to a team-best 6-1 record while recording a minuscule 2.63 ERA. File made 12 appearances, 10 as a starter, on his way to racking up 44 punch outs in 61.2 innings on the mound. The highlight of his freshman campaign came in the final week of March when File went the distance in a two-hitter against the Academy of Art. The Utah native didn’t skip a beat entering 2016 as he exploded into his sophomore year by firing 15.1 consecutive scoreless frames before finally surrendering his first run of the season. With three starts under his belt, File has paired his 1-0 record with a 3.31 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 16.1 innings pitched. Dylan hails from St. George, Utah.

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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.

Photographs provided courtesy Purdue University and Dixie State University