A four-run ninth inning was not enough for Wisconsin Rapids as Lakeshore took the first meeting of 2018

Box Score

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (11-9) could not overcome a nine-run deficit as errors came back to bite the cranberry and gold. The Rafters showed fight with a four-run ninth inning against the Lakeshore Chinooks (9-12). It was not enough as Lakeshore won the first meeting of 2018 by a final of 9-4.

 

The Chinooks scored nine times on twelves hits and seven Rafters errors. The Chinooks did their damage in bunches scoring twice in the first, third, fourth and sixth innings. Dallas Beaver scored the lone run in the seventh with a solo home run to right field.

 

The cranberry and gold fought till the end. After Alex Stevenson of the Chinooks walked the bases loaded, Ethan Stringer (Louisville) hit a bases-clearing, three-run double. Jake Dunham (Northern Illinois) then followed with an RBI single. The Chinooks forced a game-ending groundout to hold onto a lead and their ninth win.

 

Kevin Tibor (2-2, 1.33 ERA) earned the win with seven scoreless innings and four strikeouts. Brecken Lewis (1-1, 3.44) was given the loss allowing six runs, three of them earned, on seven hits. He struck out two.

 

The Rafters conclude the home and home series with the Lakeshore Chinooks tomorrow at Witter Field. Austin Jones (0-2, 8.48 ERA) will get the nod for Lakeshore. Charlie Ruegger (0-2, 2.81 ERA) will take the hill for the Rafters. First pitch is set for 7:05 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.