Ligda, Rats look to stay unbeaten against Woodchucks

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – With only one game remaining before the three-day all-star break, the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (31-16, 7-4) will return to action against the Wisconsin Woodchucks (19-27, 6-5) for their final meeting at Athletic Park. Already having clinched a winning record in the season series with their Central Wisconsin rivals, the Rafters look to maintain their unblemished mark and move to 6-0 against the ‘Chucks.

One night removed from receiving a well-executed pitching performance from left-hander Jake Repavich (Grand Canyon) and bullpen arms Cameron Busby (Georgia College) and Reggie Johnson (Alcorn State), the Rafters turn to Eric Ligda (Millersville) looking to win their fourth straight entering the break. Ligda enters Sunday expecting to make his fourth start of the season and seventh overall appearance, currently owning a 1-2 record and a 1.95 ERA. Across his first three outings as a starter, the right-hander from Pennsylvania has worked through 18 2/3 innings, posting a 1.92 ERA and 15 strikeouts to just five walks. Ligda battled through a seven-inning outing his last time out, scattering two runs on five hits and a walk against the Kenosha Kingfish, striking out four batters in the loss. Despite Ligda's formidable performance as a starter, the Rafters have gone just 1-2 in games that he starts, partially attributed to a lack of run support—just an average of two runs per game.

Robert Zeigler (Kent State) will oppose Ligda, looking to recapture his form from 2015 that earned him Northwoods League All-Star honors. Zeigler, a right-hander, will start for the eighth time in 2016, entering play with a 3-2 record and an ERA of 4.98 in 34 1/3 innings of work. The Ohio native has shown a tendency to strike hitters out and has compiled 42 punch outs compared to 24 walks. Formerly a reliever, Zeigler has offered inconsistent production to the Woodchucks this summer, most recently dominating the Thunder Bay Border Cats in a win on July 11. In the victory, Zeigler fired seven scoreless innings, scattered five hits, issued two walks, and notched a season-high nine strikeouts. Over Zeigler’s last two starts, he has managed a 1.38 ERA and 15 strikeouts spanning 13 innings on the bump.

First pitch between the Rafters and the Woodchucks is scheduled for 5:05 PM with coverage beginning at 4:50 PM on WFHR AM 1320.

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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.