Wisconsin Rapids total only four hits

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (6-7) were held to four total hits and drop the first of two home games against the Lakeshore Chinooks (5-7).

The Rafters in the first inning got two runners on base, in EJ Exposito (Long Island) and Hank Zeisler (Chapman) via walks, who were left on. Wisconsin Rapids would only gain three more runners over the next six innings. Chinooks’ starter Jack Kartsoras completed seven innings of scoreless work.

Rafters’ starter Matt Osterberg (St. Cloud State), totaled four innings, striking out six, but issued three walks. Reliever Ben Vespi (Central Florida) entered in the fifth and allowed a single, walk and hit by pitch. The lone run for Lakeshore scored on a fielder’s choice to third with the bases loaded.

Wisconsin Rapids relievers Andrew Duran (New Orleans) and Donovan Brandl (Wisconsin-Whitewater) held the 1-0 deficit behind two strikeouts from both pitchers.

The bottom of the seventh ended with a 4-6-3 double play and the eighth with a strikeout. The last chance for the Rafters saw Couper Cornblum (Wichita St.) reach on a bunt single, he had three of the four Rafters hit, and Angelo D’Acunto (Holy Cross) work a walk. Cornblum, after straying from the bag was tagged out after a rundown, and then a flyout ended the game.

The Chinooks got a total of two hits, the Rafters left a total of seven runners on base.

The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters’ third game of their four-game homestand is tomorrow as they face the Lakeshore Chinooks tomorrow Sunday, June 12th, at Witter Field. The first pitch is slated for 5:05 PM. The game can be heard on WFHR 1320 AM and seen 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’ 27^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 250 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 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 Gold Glove finalist and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TOR). 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.