Rafters Host Mallards for Thursday Double-Header

Teams play two to make up rainout from early June

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. –  After a rainout earlier this season, Wisconsin Rapids (23-5) plays host to Madison (15-13) for two games at Witter Field on Thursday. Both game are scheduled as seven inning games.

This is the second meeting for the Rafters and Mallards at Witter Field this year. Wisconsin Rapids was victorious in a 7-2 game earlier this year in the lone meeting between the two teams.

Wednesday’s game for Wisconsin Rapids against Fond du Lac was postponed due to rain. The Rafters come off a 7-1 win against the Dock Spiders in their last game played. In the victory Tuesday, the Rafters were led by Isaiah Carranza and Ryan Stekl.

Stekl began the scoring in the third inning when he blasted a two-run home-run to give the Rafters a 2-0 lead.

The visiting Dock Spiders got on the board in the sixth, when Thomas Luevano knocked in Luke Mangieri from second base to cut the Rapids lead to 2-1.

In the seventh, Stott knocked in a run on a sacrifice hit with the bases loaded and another would cross on the same play following an error by the shortstop. Nick Anderson scored a run on a wild pitch and the Rafters brought nine to the plate in the frame, but stranded the bases loaded to end the threat. The Rafters took a 5-1 lead into the eighth.

Stott added two more insurance runs in the eighth with a two-RBI single to score Owens and Charlie McConnell, both of whom singled in the inning. Aaron Herr entered to pitch the ninth and struck out the side to secure the 7-1 victory. Carranza tossed six innings of one-run ball, striking out a season-high nine batters while issues no walks.

Starting for the Rafters in game one of the double-header on Thursday is J.P. Stevenson. The lefty owns a record of 3-0 with a 2.54 ERA on the season. In his last start against Green Bay, Stevenson picked up the victory in a 9-1 Rafters win. The left-hander tossed five and a third of one-run baseball. His longest outing of the year came on the road in Kalamazoo, where Stevenson pitched eight innings and did not allow a run. Jesse Slinger is slated to start the second game. The right-hander is 4-0 with a 1.27 ERA this season. Slinger pitched six and a third scoreless innings in his last outing in Battle Creek.

Game one’s first pitch is slated for 5:05 pm in Wisconsin Rapids on Thursday. Gates open at 4:05 pm. The second game of the double-header will begin 30 minutes following completion of the first game. Ticket package holders with food and beverage included with their ticket will have access when the gates open at 4:05 pm through the fifth inning of game two.

Coverage of the game can be found on AM 1320 WFHR and WFHR.com, the Rafters Radio Network. Thursday night is Fey Printing Military Appreciation Night. The Rafters will wear patriotic jerseys to be auctioned off to benefit the Never Forgotten Honor Flight. 

 

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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.