Rafters Defeat Growlers to Win Fifth Straight

Wisconsin Rapids now 5-0 against Kalamazoo this season

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. –  In game three of a four game Michigan road trip, Wisconsin Rapids (22-4) defeated Kalamazoo (7-19) 7-4 from Homer Stryker Field on Sunday afternoon.

The early portion of the games runs came on errors as the Rafters tagged on two runs in the first inning on two Growler errors. Nick Anderson led off the game with a single while Bryson Stott walked to put two runners on. Ryan Stekl hit a hard groundball to third that was field by the third-basemen, but the throw sailed over second base, allowing a run to score. The Growlers throw home went over the catcher, providing another run to give the Rafters a 2-0 lead after one.

In the second inning, Nick Owens and Anderson walked with two outs before Stott floated a pitch to left field that Jeff Riedel had trouble catching, scoring another run for the Rafters.

Enjoying the long ball at Homer Stryker Field, Scott Kapers drilled a two-run homer in the fifth to give the Rafters a 5-0 lead behind starter Quinn DiPasquale (3-1). It was Kapers’ second home-run in Kalamazoo this year in three games.

The biggest inning of the day for Kalamazoo came in the fifth when Connor Hollis led off with a single. Hollis stole second, and Riedel walked. Ivan Estrella dropped a ball into center to score Hollis and put the Growlers on the board. Stephen Dubb drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, and Estrella scored on a passed ball to pull the Growlers within 6-3.

Chet Joslyn entered for Kalamazoo on the mound in the sixth inning, giving up a double to Stott and an RBI single to Woodcock. Walter Talcott finished the inning on the hill without allowing another run.

Wisconsin Rapids padded the lead with a run in the eighth as Stott and Woodcock led off with consecutive singles. Stekl bounced into a fielder’s choice to score Stott and give the Rafters a 7-3 lead.

With the Growlers down by four, their offense drew two walks to begin the bottom of the ninth. Hollis singled to left to score a run off Keaton Graf to make it a three-run game. Layne Henderson entered for the Rafters and closed the game out, working the final two outs for his fifth save. DiPasquale picks up his third win on the year, while Kalamazoo starter Blaine Fisher (0-3) is given the loss.

First pitch from Kalamazoo is slated for 6:05 pm CT on Monday. 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 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. 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.