Rafters Look To Rebound From Loss

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – In the wake of a narrow 3-2 loss on Saturday night in Green Bay, the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (27-13, 3-1) return to action Sunday for a late afternoon date with the Kenosha Kingfish (17-23, 1-3) at Simmons Field. The matchup marks the opening half of a two-game series with the Kingfish and the third part of a five-game road trip for the Rafters.

The Rafters will hand the ball to right-hander Eric Ligda (Millersville), who is in line to start for the third time and pitch for the sixth time this summer. A native of West Grove, Pennsylvania, Ligda enters play with a 1-1 record and an ERA of 1.74 in 20 2/3 innings of work. Ligda, who has walked only six batters and posted an opponent batting average of .160, is second on the team with 24 strikeouts. He will look to return to the form that he demonstrated in his first start of the season on June 27 in which he tossed six scoreless innings against the Wisconsin Woodchucks and struck out a season-high seven batters on his way to earning the victory.

Countering Ligda for Kenosha will be fellow right-hander Brendon Allen, who will make his eighth start of the season. Allen, who plays collegiately at Eastern Illinois, has a balanced record at 2-2, but has been masterful to the tune of a 2.57 ERA in 42 innings pitched. Allen returns to the mound after a strong start on the Fourth of July against the Green Bay Bullfrogs in which he tossed 6 2/3 innings and allowed three runs (two earned) to pick up the victory.

Entering play tonight, the Rafters are 2-0 against the Kenosha Kingfish and have an opportunity to beat the Kingfish for a third time in a single season for the first time in series history. All-time, the Rafters have a 4-14 record against Kenosha, but have won back-to-back meetings this season.

First pitch from Simmons Field is scheduled for 4:05 PM with pre-game beginning on WFHR 1320 AM approximately 15 minutes prior at 3:50 PM.

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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.