Wisconsin Rapids had the tying run on second base in the ninth

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (21-21) split their weekend home series against the Green Bay Booyah (17-24), with a 4-3 loss on a sunny Sunday evening.

Both teams in the first three innings had no hits and a combined three base runners.

The Booyah got a leadoff single in the fourth, and their second hit was a two-run home run to right field from Dayson Croes.

Green Bay added two more in the fifth, via a two-run double. It was preceded by a double down the third baseline that was called fair but elicited a conversation between field manager Kirk Shrider and the umpires. Rafters’ starter Wyatt Thompson (Chapman) exited after five innings, and four earned runs.

Wisconsin Rapids responded in the next two innings. The sixth inning saw back-to-back RBI singles from Sterling Hayes (Creighton) and Elijah Dickerson (Claremont McKenna). The seventh saw a sacrifice fly from Josh Nicoloff (Kansas State) to bring it to 4-3. Hayes and Nicoloff both gained their second RBI of the weekend.

The Booyah were kept hitless in the final four innings. Billy Black (Columbia) took the hill and delivered his longest outing of the season.

The Rafters went down 1-2-3 in the eighth. The last chance in the bottom of the ninth began with an Addie Burrow (Virginia) walk. After a flyout, McKinley Erves (La Grange) reached on a fielder’s choice, and Reeve Holley (Cal Baptist) then came in for Erves to run and stole second. With two outs, Nicoloff chopped a ball to third which was fielded, and ended with a rundown with Holley tagged for the final out.

The third game of the Rafters homestand is tomorrow night July 12, as Wisconsin Rapids welcomes the Madison Mallards. Projected starters are Nathan Hemmerling (Lakeland, 1.65 ERA) and Jake Baldino (Virginia, 5.06 ERA). Catch the action on WFHR AM 1320 and 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