Chinooks Squeak by Rafters to Open Series in Mequon

The Rafters struck first in the top of the second inning. Andrew Duran (New Orleans) led off the inning with a line drive base hit into center field. Marco Castillo (Claremont-McKenna) followed with a base hit and advanced Duran to third. Duran then scored the lone Rafter run of the game on a fielder’s choice.

Ben Schoneman (Colorado School of Mines) was terrific for Wisconsin Rapids. The righty starter twirled five innings of one run baseball striking out four.

The Chinooks scratched across a run in the fifth to tie the ballgame at one. The home squad took a 3-1 lead in the sixth after back-to-back walks and a bases clearing triple off the Rafter bullpen.

Hunter Waldis (Seton Hall) and Nick Torres (Long Island) kept the Chinooks scoreless over the final two and a third innings. EJ Exposito (Long Island) led Rafters hitting efforts with a base hit and two walks. Wisconsin Rapids finished with five hits and had just one hit and three baserunners overall in the final five innings.

The teams conclude their two game series at Kapco Park Friday evening, June 9th at 6:35 PM in Mequon. Probable pitchers are Caden Favors (Wichita State, 4.74 ERA) for the Rafters and Dorsey Chatham (4.26 ERA) of Xavier for the Chinooks. The game can be heard on WFHR AM 1320.

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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