(Pictured: 1B Ben Fisher of Eastern Kentucky University)

First Baseman Fisher And Pitcher Dunn To Join Wisconsin Rapids

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are delighted to announce the additions of a pair of Eastern Kentucky University teammates, first baseman Ben Fisher and right-handed pitcher Hunter Dunn. Fisher and Dunn, a junior and sophomore respectively, have each played substantial roles for the Colonels this spring and will get their first taste of Northwoods League baseball this summer.

“We are excited to partner with Eastern Kentucky for the first time in our history this season,” said Rafters general manager John Fanta. “Ben Fisher will bring tremendous defense at first base and can also do some damage swinging the bat, while Hunter Dunn is a versatile right-handed option that can pitch in either a starting or relief capacity.”

 

1B – Ben Fisher, 6’1” 215, (L/L), Junior, Eastern Kentucky University
At the conclusion of his junior season, Fisher will trade in one shade of red for another as the first baseman will venture to Wisconsin Rapids to suit up for the Rafters. Following his graduation from Madison Central High School, Ben opted to remain in his home state of Kentucky and signed with the Colonels. Wasting no time, Fisher exploded onto the scene and earned Freshman All-American honors his first year on campus by logging 55 starts and swinging the bat at a .286 clip. Fisher followed his strong debut with another successful campaign a year ago as a sophomore, in which he continued his strong performance at the plate in the form of a remarkable 28-game on-base streak and cemented himself as a defensive mainstay with a near-perfect fielding percentage of .991 at first base. Now in his third season occupying the starting first baseman job for Eastern Kentucky, Fisher is a career .277 hitter, with nine home runs, and 76 runs batted in. Fisher is a native of Richmond, Kentucky.

 

P – Hunter Dunn, 6’3” 200, (R/R), Sophomore, Eastern Kentucky University
Accompanying Fisher to join the Rafters will be pitcher Hunter Dunn, a right-hander who is currently competing in his second collegiate season at Eastern Kentucky. Dunn, a fellow Kentucky product, endured a difficult transition to the college game last spring as a freshman when he managed mixed results in 18 relief appearances. This season, however, has presented a different set of circumstances for Dunn as the sophomore has operated exclusively in a starting capacity and has nearly cut his ERA in half while also more than doubling his strikeouts. A graduate of Cooper High School, Hunter enjoyed a decorated high school career that concluded with a number of team MVP honors and an All-District selection. Dunn hails from Florence, Kentucky.

 

The home opener for the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters is June 1st at 7:05 against the Green Bay Bullfrogs. Solarus Founders Club, bleacher 9-Game ticket packages, and group outing packages are on sale now. Call 715-424-5400 or stop by the Rafters Front Office Monday-Friday from 9-5 to purchase a ticket package or book a group outing.

Photographs provided courtesy EKU Sports Communications.

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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.