Rafters Look For Sweep At Home

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – In the wake of Thursday night’s thrilling walk-off victory, the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (36-18, 12-6) will again meet the Lakeshore Chinooks (23-32, 8-11) for the clubs’ final bout at Witter Field. The Rafters, who have dominated at home, look to sweep the season series in Wisconsin Rapids and guarantee an overall winning record against Lakeshore.

The Rafters will give the ball to left-hander Gareth Stroh (Coffeyville CC) as he looks to parlay the success that he enjoyed in his last start into further production. In his most recent outing, Stroh returned to his dominant early season form, pitching 5 1/3 innings and allowing just two runs (both earned) on five hits and two walks, while matching his season-high with eight strikeouts. Despite owning the most statistically anemic lineup in the Northwoods League, the Chinooks found a way to tag Stroh for five runs (three earned) in just two innings of work on June 22. The outing was Stroh’s shortest of the season and his only to date without a single strikeout. Overall, the southpaw owns a record of 3-2 with a 4.35 ERA in eight appearances (all starts), spanning 41 1/3 innings. With his 36 strikeouts this summer, Stroh currently is second to only Eric Ligda (39) on the Rafters’ pitching staff.

For the second consecutive evening, the Rafters will face a product of the University of Houston, tonight coming in the form of right-hander Nolan Bond. Following a dominant performance from his collegiate teammate, Marshall Kasowski, on Thursday night, Bond will look to quiet a Rafter lineup that was held to just one run in Thursday’s win, despite averaging more than 5.5 runs per game. Originally from the state of Texas, Bond enters play set to make his tenth appearance (fifth start) hoping to improve upon his 0-2 record. Through 27 innings of labor, Bond has notched 13 strikeouts compared to 11 walks, while allowing 32 base hits and posting a 2.66 ERA. In his last turn through the rotation, Bond lasted just two innings in a 3-2 loss to the Kenosha Kingfish, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks, while picking up just one punch out and absorbing the defeat.

First pitch at Witter Field is scheduled for 7:05 PM and gates will open to the general public at 6:05 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.