Wisconsin Rapids drops tough 7-3 loss to Rockford

The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (6-4) scored first, but ended up dropping game two against the Rockford Rivets (3-7) 7-3 to split the series.

The Rafters opened the scoring with an RBI single in the bottom of the first, but Rockford took the lead on a three-RBI double in the third inning. The Rivets scored one run over the next two innings to take a 5-1 lead.

The Rafters cut into the deficit with another RBI by Davion Downey on a double in the sixth. Rockford extended its lead with another run in the eighth and the Rafters executed a double steal to pull within three runs again. However, Rapids could not complete the comeback.

Starter Matt Osterberg is credited with the loss in 3.1 innings of work. Izzy Fuentes had a strong outing with five strikeouts in four innings. Jarret Olson gets the win as the starter for Rockford.

Wisconsin Rapids heads to Madison for a two-game series with the Mallards to springboard into the all-star break. The Rafters have four players representing the Cranberry and Gold at the Northwoods League All-Star Game in Waterloo, Iowa. Outfielder Richie Schiekofer and catcher Jake Dunham, along with pitchers Neil Abbatiello and Osterberg were selected.

When the team returns to Historic Witter Field on July 18, there will be a special guest appearance by former Packer and Super Bowl champion Nick Collins, presented by Solarus, as the Rafters take on the Kenosha Kingfish.

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.