Wisconsin Rapids seeks 200th win in franchise history
Post-game Interview w/ Dustin Woodcock (7/29)
Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (37-18, 13-6) will take to the road on Saturday as they travel to Kenosha for the first of a two-game weekend series with the last-place Kingfish (21-35, 5-15). The meeting marks the fifth match up between the two teams and offers the Rafters a chance to collect the 200th victory in franchise history.
As they look to join the Northwoods League double century club, the Rafters will offer the ball to left-handed starter Jake Repavich (Grand Canyon) for his seventh start of the season. To this point in 2016, Repavich has enjoyed a productive summer despite succumbing to regular defensive lapses and sparse run support. At least one unearned run has scored against Repavich in five of his six starts, while the Rafter lineup has backed the Arizona native with three runs or fewer in four of his outings. Entering Saturday, the southpaw owns a 1-2 record and an ERA of 1.58 in 39 2/3 innings of labor. A contact pitcher by trade, Repavich has recorded just 16 strikeouts and has issued only 13 walks, while surrendering 38 total base hits. In his most recent outing, Repavich flirted with a no-hitter through the first five innings against the Thunder Bay Border Cats at Port Arthur Stadium. After seven innings on the hill, Repavich exited with the game tied at one, having allowed only a single unearned run on four hits and two walks. Additionally, Repavich piled up a season-high five strikeouts in Thunder Bay.
The Rafter lineup will be tasked with providing Repavich with more run support than he has come to expect, as they face left-hander Grant Spranger for the second time this summer. Sporting a 2.84 ERA in 12 2/3 innings on the mound, Spranger has struck out eight batters, while walking seven and scattering 15 base hits. A product of Southeastern Community College, Spranger is in line to start for the fourth time, marking his second head-to-head with the Rafters. In his Kingfish debut on July 6, Spranger turned in 3 2/3 innings of scoreless work in which he surrendered three hits and three walks, while punching out a trio. Spranger’s durability has been a persistent question mark for field manager Duffy Dyer and the Kingfish this season, as the southpaw has pitched four innings or more only one time in his three prior turns. The Iowa native last pitched on July 21 in a 7-6 win over the Battle Creek Bombers, authoring his least impressive start to date. Spranger left the action after a season-low 3 1/3 innings and allowed a season-high four runs (three earned) on eight hits and a walk, notching only one strikeout.
First pitch at Simmons Field is scheduled for 6:05 PM with coverage beginning on WFHR 1320 AM at 5:50 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.
