Wisconsin Rapids’ first multi-home run game of the year powers them past Kenosha

 

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters put up eleven hits on the Kenosha Kingfish at Simmons Field scoring eight times to win by a final of 8-1. The Rafters started the scoring in the third as Matt Schmidt (Michigan) led off the inning with a base hit, advanced to second on a walk to Jarrod Watkins (Indiana State) and reached third on a bunt single from Steven Rivas (Long Beach State). With the bases loaded and no outs in the third, Schmidt scored on a 6-3 double play and Watkins moved to third. Jack-Thomas Wold (UNLV) scored Watkins via a base hit to center field for a 2-0 lead after two and a half innings.

 

Wisconsin Rapids hit pay dirt again in the sixth. After Wold snagged his second base hit of the night, Brody Wofford (UCF) nailed a home run to right field to give the cranberry and gold a 4-0 advantage. Ethan Stringer (Louisville) scored a run for Wisconsin Rapids in the seventh frame after a pinch-hit single. Stringer reached home off an RBI fielder’s choice from Steven Rivas. Two more runs crossed in the eighth as Wofford scored on an error committed by Kenosha and Jordan Wiley (Kalamazoo College) plated Mitch Mallek (St. Cloud State) with an RBI single. Jack-Thomas Wold added the eighth and final run to the board in the ninth as he went yard with a solo shot to right field to make it 8-1.

 

Kenosha scored their only run in the bottom of the seventh as Devin Ortiz hit an inside-the-park home run on a ball that got lost in centerfield and went to the wall.

 

Brecken Lewis (1-0, 2.53 ERA) earned the win in his first start with the Rafters. Lewis put in a quality start throwing six innings of scoreless ball, allowing four hits and fanning four. Kaleb Schmidt (0-1, 2.70 ERA) earned the loss giving up two runs in five innings. He struck out four as well.

 

 

The Rafters conclude the two-game series with Kenosha tomorrow evening at Simmons Field. Ryan Byrd (1-0, 1.80 ERA) will start for the Rafters. Denson Hull (1-0, 1.58 ERA) will take to the mound for the Kingfish. First pitch is at 6:35 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. Now in its 25th anniversary season, the Northwoods 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, 190 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (TOR).  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.