Sunday matinee offers chance for fourth straight win

Kalamazoo, Mich. – With a trio of victories over the Kalamazoo Growlers (10-9) already secure, the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (11-7) conclude their four-game set with the Growlers on Sunday afternoon. For the second consecutive ballgame, the Rafters turn to a left-handed starting pitcher in an effort to quiet the Growler lineup. After Cal Giese (St. Cloud State) carved up Kalamazoo for five shutout innings last night, the Rafters will hand the ball to Jake Repavich (Grand Canyon) for his first start of the summer.

The Rafters, winners in four of their last five games, look to sweep the Growlers in a split four-game series for the first time in franchise history. Repavich will be met by fellow left-hander Jacob Piechota, making his first start for the Growlers. The Rafters look to continue their success against left-handed starting pitchers, as they enter the afternoon with an unblemished 4-0 record against left-handed starters. 

After a 75 inning home run drought for the Rafters that stretched from June 8 to June 17, the Rafters flashed their power last night in a 6-3 victory over the Growlers. Joey Morgan (Washington) and Ben Fisher (Eastern Kentucky) each unloaded home runs, pacing the Rafter lineup in Saturday night’s action. Sunday afternoon offers them another opportunity to rekindle their early-season power surge.

Through three games, the Rafters have limited Kalamazoo base runners to just two stolen bases, which is a tremendous feat, considering that the Growlers had stolen a league-best 35 bases in their previous 16 games. 

First pitch from Homer Stryker Field is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. CT and will be broadcast live on WFHR 1320 AM.

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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 150 former 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.northwoodsleague.com. For more information, visit www.raftersbaseball.com.