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Published On: August 19th, 2020

Possible championship preview between Rafters and Dock Spiders closes out the season.

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (33-11) are winners of nine of their last ten, embarking on a two-game home-and-home series with the second-place Fond du Lac Dock Spiders (31-15) to close the 2020 Northwoods League regular season. Game one of the series is Wednesday night at Herr-Baker Field in Fond du Lac at 6:35pm.

The Rafters are on pace for one of the best seasons in Northwoods League history. With just two games remaining, the Rafters’ .750 win percentage is ahead of the Northwoods League record of .746, set in 2006 by the Rochester Honkers. The Rafters have the most home runs in team history on a per-game basis, averaging just under one home run per game with 41 on the season The Rafters are averaging seven runs per game, ahead of the Northwoods League record of 6.6, set by the 2017 Rafters.

The Rafters also have the best pitching staff throughout the Northwoods League, outside of the Michigan Pod, with a team ERA of 2.87 and 469 team strikeouts in 44 games. Tonight, the Rafters start Nathan Hemmerling. Hemmerling has 3.26 ERA for the Rafters in seven appearances for Wisconsin Rapids this summer.

The Rafters round out the regular-season with a home-and-home series with second-place Fond du Lac, starting at Herr-Baker Field on Wednesday. First pitch between the Rafters and the Dock Spiders 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.