Rafters Seek Sweep of Bombers at Witter Field

Wisconsin Rapids looks to start 4-0 against Battle Creek

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – A win on Tuesday secured a 3-0 start for Wisconsin Rapids (32-10) against Battle Creek (24-18) this season as the Rafters attempt to sweep the Bombers on Wednesday from Witter Field. The Rafters look for their 16^th series sweep on the season in 21 tries.

Battle Creek jumped out to an early lead on Tuesday, scoring two runs in the first inning. The Bombers had RBIs from Alex Howard and Nick Walker to open the scoring.

Ryan Stekl did not take very long to get back in the action after three days off on the road trip, homering to left on the first pitch he saw to pull the game within 2-1. Christian Jones led off the fifth with a home-run to left to tie the game. The Rafters scored in the sixth inning to take their first lead of the contest. Stekl singled and came around to score on a wild pitch to put Wisconsin Rapids up 3-2 after six.

The visiting Bombers stormed back to take the lead in the seventh, scoring two runs and taking advantage of a Rafter error to regain the lead. Nick Menken and Alex Howard each scored for Battle Creek with Nick Walker’s second RBI of the night the lone earned run in the frame.

A leadoff double in the bottom of the inning by Josh Rehwaldt brought Scott Kapers up. Kapers bunted to try and move the runner over to third but the throw to first went over the head of Tom Stoffel, scoring the run from second and advancing Kapers to third. Nick Anderson drove a fly ball deep enough to left field to score the runner Kapers and regain the lead. Bryson Stott finished the scoring in the inning with a home-run to cap off the 6-4 win. Layne Henderson earned his 10^th save.

All-Star Jesse Slinger (5-0) for Rapids is handed the ball for Wednesday night’s game against the Bombers. The right-hander owns the best ERA on the team, standing at 1.48 in five starts. In his last appearance on Independence Day, Slinger dominated on his way to a complete game, allowing one run in the ninth inning while carrying a no-hitter into the sixth. The starter has allowed six walks in 36 and a third innings.

First pitch in Rapids is slated for 7:05 p.m. Ho-Chunk Gaming Nekoosa presents Outdoorsman Night, with the Rafters wearing camo and blaze orange jerseys to be auctioned off to benefit Habitat for Humanity. Coverage of Wednesday’s game starting at 6:50 p.m. on AM 1320 WFHR and WFHR.com, the Rafters Radio Network.

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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, 180 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 www.raftersbaseball.com 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.