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Shutout loss is the club’s second in three games
Mequon, Wis. – For the second time in three games, the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (39-21, 15-9) succumbed to a shutout, dropping their series opener against the Lakeshore Chinooks (28-33, 13-12) by a final score of 4-0 The offensive highlights were minimal for the Rafters, as they mustered only two base hits and three walks in the defeat.
Absorbing the loss for the Rafters was right-hander Nick Belzer (Des Moines Area CC), who watched his record fall to 0-1 on the year. In the losing effort, Belzer worked 4 2/3 innings and allowed four runs (all earned) on four hits, striking out four without a walk. Upon Belzer’s exit, right-handed bullpen arm Reed Stumpf (Dubuque) offered an excellent relief appearance spanning the game’s final 3 1/3 innings, holding the Chinooks scoreless on two hits and notching his first two strikeouts of the season.
Lakeshore opened the night’s scoring with an RBI single from Kevin Riley in the bottom of the first inning. They then added an additional run on a sacrifice fly from James Bleming to extend their lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning. The game’s final two runs scored in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI double by Joe Duncan and a run-scoring wild pitch, setting the final margin of 4-0.
The Rafters’ resistance was not nearly enough, as they notched just six base runners in the game, leaving five on base. In the loss, the lineup was struck out 13 times, the second-highest total in a single game this year.
First pitch at Kapco Park is slated for 6:35 PM with coverage beginning on WFHR 1320 AM at 6:20 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.