Rafters walked off in first loss to Loggers in 2020.

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters and La Crosse Loggers took turns scoring runs in innings six through nine on Thursday night, but the Loggers had the last crack at bat and won on a walk-off single in the ninth, 8-7.

The Rafters offense was potent, scoring seven runs on eight hits and three home runs. Ryan Walstad was the player of the game for the Rafters, homering twice to lead off innings seven and nine. Billy Cook led off the eighth inning with a solo shot to center for his second home run of the year.

Thursday’s game was a pitcher’s duel through five innings, with the Rafters scoring two runs on an RBI single from Kyle Teel to go up 2-1 in the fourth. Starting pitcher Travis Adams held the Loggers to just one run in 3.1 innings on the mound.

The Rafters offense scored one in the sixth on a Billy Cook sacrifice fly, the seventh on Ryan Walstad’s first home run of the night, and the eighth on Billy Cook’s home run. In the ninth, down by two runs, the Rafters led off with Ryan Walstad’s second home run, then tied the game on a Kyle Teel sacrifice fly. The Loggers responded by scoring one in the ninth to win it.

The Rafters fell to 11-5 with the loss, still first in the Northwoods League Wisconsin-Illinois Pod. The Loggers improved to 7-9, winning for the first time against the Rafters in 2020.

The Rafters return to Witter Field to face the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders tomorrow night. Coverage of tomorrow’s game starts at 6:20pm on AM 1320 WFHR and on television at 6:30pm on the Northwoods League Baseball Network.

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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 proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 26^th season, 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 230 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and MLB All-Star Jordan Zimmermann (DET). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. 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.