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Wisconsin Rapids had the tying run cut down trying to reach home plate in a one-run loss.
Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (30-37, 15-17 2nd half) fell one run short of the Battle Creek Bombers (35-33, 20-13 2nd half) 4-3. The Rafters trailed by three but came in within one in the later innings. Bret Fehr (SIU Edwardsville) was sent around third and headed home but was out at the plate on a throw from the Bombers’ left fielder Connor Bailey.
Both teams traded runs in the fourth. Battle Creek scored one in the fourth as Jake Wilson avoided a 6-4-3 double play, scoring from third base. Wisconsin Rapids scored a half inning later with an RBI sacrifice fly from Jack-Thomas Wold (UNLV). Battle Creek took the lead in the fifth with two runs on three hits. Zach Gartner pushed the lead to three with a solo home run to left in the sixth.
The Rafters began their comeback attempt in the eighth. Wisconsin Rapids scored twice on two hits. Ty Duvall (Vanderbilt) brought in one on a base hit to shallow center and Dustin Woodcock (SIU Edwardsville) brought the other in on an RBI sac fly to deep right center.
After Cole Waites (West Alabama) struck out the side in the top of the ninth, Bret Fehr started the bottom of the frame with a base hit. Fehr moved into scoring position off a sacrifice from Payton Robertson (Louisiana State Shreveport). With two outs, Ethan Stringer (Louisville) lined one to left field and Fehr was sent around third. Connor Bailey threw towards the plate and Fehr was tagged out trying to score the tying run to end the game.
Tyler Giovinco (3-2, 4.28 ERA) suffered his second loss of the year. Chase Wheatcroft (4-1, 1.70 ERA) earned his fourth win with five innings of one-run ball. The save went to Dillon Sievert (1-1, 3.70 ERA) his second save of the summer.
The Rafters begin a home and home series tomorrow with the Wisconsin Woodchucks. First pitch from Athletic Park is 6:35 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. 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, 200 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 website. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com or download the Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play.
