Wisconsin Rapids retakes lead late, hangs on against Lakeshore

The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (12-9) took an early lead and hung on late to pick up a 3-2 win over the Lakeshore Chinooks (7-16) Tuesday night.

CJ Willis launched a two-out pitch over the wall in right-center for a two-run home run in the first inning. Lakeshore came back with one run in both the fifth and sixth innings to tie the game 2-2. In the bottom of the seventh, Harry Fullerton scored on a wild pitch and the Rafters retook the lead for good 3-2.

Rafters starter Nate Barnes pitched 5.2 innings, striking out five batters and giving up two runs on four hits. Cal Djuraskovic pitched a clean inning and a third in relief to get the win. Jimmy Borzone did not give up a hit over the final two innings and earned the save. Lakeshore’s Trevor Tietz got the loss as the starter.

The Rafters and Chinooks face off again Wednesday night at Historic Witter Field for the series finale, featuring a Kwik Trip coffee tumbler giveaway.

Want to attend a Rafters game this season? Single-game tickets are on sale now. For more information on all Rafters ticket offerings visit Raftersbaseball.com, call the Rafthouse at 715-424-5400, or come visit us over at historic Witter Field. The Rafters ticket office is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday at Witter Field, 521 Lincoln Street in Wisconsin Rapids.

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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 Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 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, over 200 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.