Magic number down to two in search of division title

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – The final weekend of the first half takes the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (22-10) to the state of Michigan for a four-game road trip beginning Saturday night against the Kalamazoo Growlers (18-14). Currently leading the South Division by two games over the Madison Mallards, the “Magic Number” for the Rafters to clinch has been reduced to two.

Saturday’s meeting will be the fifth time this season that the Rafters and Growlers meet, with the Rafters presently enjoying a 3-1 advantage in the season series. After visiting Homer Stryker Field in June and managing a split with the Growlers, this weekend’s trip to Kalamazoo is the Rafters’ second and final visit of the season. Since the Rafters returned from their first trip to Kalamazoo and enjoyed a day off on June 20, they are 9-2 and have won 13 of the last 16 overall.

Taking the ball for the first-place Rafters will be left-hander Jake Repavich (Grand Canyon), who is in line to make his third start of the summer and fourth overall appearance. Repavich has been the victim of defensive lapses in his first two starts of the season, reflected in the fact that only three of the nine runs he has allowed as a starter have been earned. Overall, the southpaw from Arizona owns an 0-1 record and a 2.57 ERA with six strikeouts to five walks in 14 innings on the mound. The start will be his second of the season against Kalamazoo, as Repavich absorbed the loss agains the Growlers in a June 19 road game at Home Stryker Field. In the losing effort, Repavich threw five innings, allowed three runs (two earned), and struck out one while walking two.

Repavich will be countered by Growler right-hander Devin Pellien, who will start for the fifth time and will pitch for the seventh time this season. Pellien, a product of Nova Southeastern, owns a record of 3-0 and a 1.55 ERA coupled with 29 strikeouts to six walks in 29 innings. Pellien has not faced the Rafters this season and will look to avoid becoming the latest Rafter opponent to be chased in the early innings. Four times in the past week the Rafters have been the beneficiaries of opposing starters exceeding the Northwoods League’s 35-pitch limit for a single inning.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. local time in Kalamazoo and 6:05 p.m. CT with coverage beginning at 5:50 p.m. on WFHR 1320 AM, the Rafters’ flagship station.

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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.