Late single sinks Rafters north of the border

Box Score

Thunder Bay, Ont. – Just one night after a 15-run performance, the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (33-18) watched as their lineup scuffled in route to an extra-inning 2-1 loss to the Thunder Bay Border Cats (12-37) at Tbaytel Park. The evening’s story centered around a pair of outstanding performances by each starting pitcher.

The Rafters’ only offensive resistance came in the form of a solo home run from Ben Fisher (Eastern Kentucky) in the top of the seventh inning. At the time, the blast offered the Rafters a 1-0 lead, but unfortunately for the Rafters it would last only briefly. Jake Repavich (Grand Canyon), a left-hander, did not allow a run until the seventh inning, when an RBI single from Gui Gingras tied the game at 1-1. After a series of scoreless frames, the decisive run would come across in the bottom of the tenth inning on a run-scoring single by Michael Papierski.

In the loss, Repavich turned in his most dominant performance of the season, working seven innings and allowing just one run (unearned) on four hits and two walks, while striking out a season-high five batters. Despite pitching excellently and lowering his ERA to 1.59, Repavich did not factor into the decision. Cameron Busby (Georgia College) relieved Repavich for two innings and was charged with the game-ending run when Garrett Schilling (Xavier) surrendered a single to Papierski.

Former Rafter Vinny Santarsiero earned the win for the Border Cats, lifting his record to 2-1 since departing from Wisconsin Rapids. The loss was the Rafters’ first in an extra-inning game this summer.

The Rafters will return to action Sunday evening at 5:05 PM local time (4:05 PM CT).

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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.