Streaking Rivets travel to Witter Field for series opener

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – With the Northwoods League All-Star Game now behind them, the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (32-16, 8-4) return to play on Thursday night against the upstart Rockford Rivets (26-22, 9-3). The Rivets, following an unspectacular first half, have awoken in the second half of the season and enter play in the midst of a five-game winning streak and leading the South Division second-half standings.

Riding a four-game winning streak of their own, the Rafters will send right-hander Eric Ligda (Millersvile) to the mound hoping to match the club’s longest streak of the season and seeking to cool the streaking Rivets. The Pennsylvania native enters Thursday 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 redshirt freshman has worked through 18 2/3 innings, posting a 1.92 ERA and 15 strikeouts compared to just five walks. Ligda battled through a seven-inning outing his last time on the mound, 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.

For the visiting Rivets, right-handed tosser Tyler Kaminski will meet Ligda in search of his first win of the summer. Kaminski, who plays collegiately at Indian Hills Community College, enters play owning an 0-2 record and a 5.74 ERA. In 15 2/3 innings, Kaminski has struck out 18, walked 13, and surrendered 12 base hits. Originally a component of the Rivet bullpen, Kaminski is tasked with starting for only the third time this season, having experienced mixed results in his first two starting outings. In nine innings as a member of the Rockford rotation Kaminski has allowed 11 runs (six earned), while scattering six hits and posting a balanced line of 10 walks and 10 strikeouts. In his most recent outing, Kaminski battled his ability to locate the strike zone in the process of issuing six walks in a season-long, five-inning performance. Despite striking out six hitters and allowing just a single base hit, the Minnesota native did not receive a decision.

After extending his on-base streak with a pinch-hit bunt single on Sunday, infielder Jake Lumley (Canisius) has now reached safely in 32 consecutive games and 45 of the 46 games in which he has seen action. As a club, the Rafters have dominated at home, posting a record of 16-6 at home, including 11 wins in their last 12 home games. Two of their six home losses, however, have come to the Rockford Rivets, who swept the Rafters at Witter Field on June 12 and 13.

First pitch between the Rafters and Rivets is scheduled for 7:05PM with gates opening to the general public at 6:05PM.

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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.