Streaking Rafters look for seventh win in eight games

Mequon, WI – The first-place Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (15-8) continue their road trip Saturday as they venture to Mequon to meet the Lakeshore Chinooks (10-16) for the second time this week. The Rafters, fresh off a road sweep of the Rockford Rivets, continue their six-game road trip with their first visit of the season to Kapco Park, the home of the Chinooks.

Entering the evening’s action, the Rafters have won seven of their last eight contests, including four in a row, to take over sole possession of first place in the South Division. The group’s current four-game winning streak marks the second occasion in 2016 in which the Rafters have reeled of four consecutive victories, tied for the second-longest streak in franchise history. Saturday’s ballgame offers the Rafters a chance to either maintain or build upon their 1 1/2 game lead in the South Division race. 

On the hill for the Rafters will be right-hander Enrique Zamora (Calumet College of St. Joseph), making his return to the Rafters after a brief absence. Zamora, who last pitched in the Rafters’ 2-1 rain-shortened loss to Madison on June 10, looks to offer relief to the Rafter bullpen that was forced to throw 10 innings on Friday night. The start will represent Zamora’s third appearance of the summer and his second start. Entering play, the Indiana native owns an 0-1 record with a 2.89 ERA in 9.1 innings on the mound. It will be be the first time Zamora has faced any team other than the offensively-minded Madison Mallards, as he meets the Lakeshore Chinooks—owners of the circuit’s worst collective batting average (.218) and the fewest runs scored in the entire Northwoods League (92)

Zamora will be countered by right-hander Alex Rogers (North Dakota State) in the opening half of the Rafters’ two-game set with the Chinooks. Rogers, a British Columbia native, has posted an impressive 1.89 ERA in four starts despite his 0-3 record on the season. The North Dakota State product does not profile as an overpowering arm and typically pitches to contact, as indicated by his eight strikeouts and two walks in 19 innings. Despite receiving excellent performances each time Rogers has thrown, they have offered the right-hander virtually no run support, scoring two runs or fewer in all four games.

The matchup between the Rafters and the Chinooks marks the third time the clubs will meet this season, with the Rafters currently leading the series 2-0. Most recently, the Rafters overcame a five-run deficit on Wednesday night at Witter Field to eventually defeat Lakeshore 9-7.

First pitch at Kapco Park is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. with coverage beginning at 6:20 p.m. 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, 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 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 portal. For more information, visit www.raftersbaseball.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store and set the Rafters as your favorite team.