Road trip continues in Green Bay

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – One game into a five-game road trip, the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (27-12, 3-0) will again take the field Saturday night at Joannes Stadium to square off with the Green Bay Bullfrogs (15-24, 0-3) for the back half of a two-game set. A 10-run outburst from the Rafter lineup on Friday paced the visitors to a 10-5 win and pushed the Rafters record against the Bullfrogs to 4-1 this season.

The Rafters will offer a second left-hander in as many nights against the Bullfrogs on Satruday, tabbing Jake Repavich (Grand Canyon) as their starter. To this point in the season, Repavich has personified the meaning of “hard luck” across his first three starts and four overall outings. In 20 innings on the hill, the southpaw has posted a sharp 1.80 ERA despite holding an 0-1 record. While Repavich has been excellent at keeping earned runs to a minimum, opponents have developed a curious trend of amassing unearned runs against the Arizona native. Of the 13 runs Repavich has allowed, nine have been unearned, including eight of the last nine. In Repavich’s three starts, the Rafters have committed a total of 10 errors behind him, more than 30% of the club’s total errors this season. Repavich will look to build upon his most recent start in which he held the Kalamazoo Growlers to three runs (all unearned) in six innings, scattering five hits and two walks in a no-decision.

Opposing Repavich for the Bullfrogs will be right-hander Chad Mabini of Western Carolina University. Mabini, a Georgia native, is slated to start for the fifth time this season, entering play with a 1-2 record and an ERA of 7.40 in 20 2/3 innings of work. With the exception of his quality start on June 27 against the Eau Claire Express, the season has been an uphill battle for Mabini. The right-hander has allowed at least five runs on three separate occasions and has surrendered a minimum of six hits in each of his first four outings. Opponents own a robust .352 batting average against Mabini this season, a mark that ranks as the highest on the Bullfrog pitching staff among pitchers owning at least 20 innings of work.

First pitch between the Rafters and Bullfrogs is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at Joannes Stadium. Coverage will begin on WFHR 1320 AM 15 minutes prior to first pitch at 6:20.

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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.