Slinger Leads Rafters to Shutout Win in Battle Creek  

Wisconsin Rapids starter goes into the seventh without giving up a run

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. –  On the first day of a four game Michigan road trip, Jesse Slinger led Wisconsin Rapids (20-4) to a 4-0 victory against Battle Creek (14-10) on Friday from C.O. Brown Stadium. The Rafters are the first team in the Northwoods League this season to win 20 games.

In a pitcher’s duel through the first three innings, Slinger (4-0) and Bombers starter Thomas Parsons (3-1) went frame for frame without giving up a run. The first run of the game came in the top of the fourth inning when Ryan Stekl led off with a double. Jake Guenther, after a three-hit game last night, drove a single to score Stekl and put the first run on the board in favor of the Rafters.

Slinger continued to shutout the Bombers through the fifth, and got more run support in the sixth inning. Dustin Woodcock led off the inning with his third double in as many days, setting the stage for another Rafters run. Woodcock advanced to third on a pop-out, and came in to score on a Josh Rehwaldt groundout to give the Rafters a 2-0 lead.

With Slingers day done after six and a third, the Rafters bullpen shut down the Bombers. Alex Jackson ended the seventh inning, leaving the bases loaded. In the top of the ninth, two more runs came in for the Rafters. Nick Anderson was hit by a pitch and Bryson Stott reached on an error. Stekl drove a sacrifice fly to score one, and Rehwaldt drove a single to left to bring in another. Wisconsin Rapids owned a 4-0 lead after eight.

With three outs to go Layne Henderson, who entered the game with two outs in the eighth, struck out the side to finish the game. Henderson struck out all four batters he faced, bringing his season total to 17 in eight innings pitched.

Guenther drove three singles and walked for another three-hit day, finishing 3-3 with an RBI. Slinger picks up a league-tying fourth win on the year. The loss is given to Parsons.

First pitch at C.O Brown Stadium is slated for 6:05 pm CT. Coverage of the game can be found on WFHR 1320 AM or WFHR.com, the Rafters Radio Network. Pregame coverage begins 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. The 23-year-old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 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 170 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champion Ben Zobrist (CHC) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM) and Lucas Duda (NYM).  All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit http://northwoodsleague.com/wisconsin-rapids-rafters/ or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Rafters as your favorite team.