The Rafters finished 4-2 at Capital Credit Union Park in 2021

Ashwaubenon, WI – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (36-33) put up seven runs before the Booyah had their first at-bat and took the game by a score of 13-4, winning their seventh game of the season against the Green Bay Booyah (25-44).

The first inning saw the most runs in a single inning for Wisconsin Rapids this season. It started on the first pitch, which was hit up the middle by Lance Gardiner (Saddleback). McKinley Erves (LaGrange) tripled to left-center field to score Gardiner.

EJ Exposito (Long Island) stepped up next and blasted a ball over the right-field wall. It was his third home run of the season, the first Rafter to reach that mark.

Ben Swords (Webster) struck an RBI double, Weston Eberly (Columbia) delivered a sacrifice fly to left, Gardiner an RBI single, and Exposito walked with the bases loaded. The Booyah starter Jett Thielke only earned two outs.

The Booyah cut into the deficit, plating one in the second and three in the third which started with four straight hits. Rafters’ starter Billy Black (Columbia) notched two strikeouts to finish the third. The right-hander totaled three innings, earning four strikeouts.

The middle innings saw no score on either side. Dalton Brooks (LaGrange) entered in the fourth, allowing only one hit over that span. A runner reached scoring position each inning but never advanced to third.

Wisconsin Rapids distanced themselves in the seventh, starting with two walks and an HBP. EJ Exposito skied a ball that scored Blake Mann (St. Mary’s). It was Exposito’s fifth RBI of the game, increasing his team lead to 45, and was the first Rafter in 2021 to bring in five runs in a single game. A Booyah error made the score 10-4.

The Rafters once again loaded the bases in the eighth. Mann singled, Gardiner was hit by a pitch and an Erves fielders’ choice, all tacked on a run.

Brooks finished his fifth and final inning in the bottom of the eighth, gaining two strikeouts. The right-hander bested seven hitters over five scoreless innings. Nick Torres (Long Island) threw an 11 pitch 1-2-3 ninth.

Wisconsin Rapids face Green Bay for the final time at Witter Field tomorrow Thursday, August 12th. First pitch is at 6:35 p.m. with coverage 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