Rafters Head to Wausau for Final Time in 2020

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are a pod-best 32-11, entering the final three games of the regular season, and are in pursuit of the best winning percentage in Northwoods League history. Tuesday’s matchup is the last of the season against the Wisconsin Woodchucks at Athletic Park at 6:35pm.

On Monday, the Rafters unleashed their offense once more versus the Woodchucks, with a six-run third inning leading the Rafters to victory, 10-3. In his final game with the Rafters, Christian Sepulveda hit a double and a three-run home run to left field, his fifth of the season. The Rafters have hit 41 home runs in the 2020 season, the most since 2017.

Rafters pitching struck out eleven Woodchucks, raising their season total to 461, 57 more than the second-place Fond du Lac Dock Spiders. The Rafters have the best ERA outside of the Michigan Pod at 2.89, which would set a new franchise record. Starting pitcher Chris McElvain is just 3.1 innings away from qualifying for the Rafters ERA record. McElvain has allowed just three earned runs all season and has a 0.81 ERA.

With the win, the Rafters locked up home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, clinching the regular season championship with a .744 winning percentage. The NWL record is .746, set by the 2006 Rochester Honkers. The Rafters would set the record if they win their final three games of the regular season. The Rafters will start the playoffs with a divisional round battle with the La Crosse Loggers on Friday night. If the Rafters win on Friday, they would host the Wisconsin-Illinois Pod Championship on Saturday night.

First pitch between the Rafters and the Woodchucks at 6:35pm. Coverage begins at 6:20pm on AM 1320 WFHR.

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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’ 26th 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.