MEQUON, Wis. – When the phone rings, it must be answered.  The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters bullpen and center fielder Chase Call answered in a big way tonight in the Rats’ eighth straight win tonight, 6-4 over the Lakeshore Chinooks in Mequon. 

An incredible display of pitching was put on showcase through the first two frames tonight.  Rafters starter, Xavier Rivas, and Chinooks starter, Johnny Czeslawski, threw two scoreless frames, while both pitchers retired the side 1-2-3.  However, in the top of the third inning, the Chinooks struck first to take a 2-0 lead on an E6 and a run scored on a double play.  Xavier Rivas finished his night after the third, allowing two hits, two runs allowed but only one earned, three walks, and three strikeouts. 

Ben Ross continued his 19-game on base streak with a leadoff walk in the top of the fourth, and then Chase Call answered the phone.  He hit a long two-run homer for the Rafters first hit and runs of the night, to tie the game at 2-2.  This was also Call’s first homer as a Rafter.  Logan Schulfer entered the game in the bottom of the fourth for the Rafters and retired the Chinooks 1-2-3. 

Colin Tuft scored on a wild pitch in the top of the fifth to give the Rafters their first lead of the night, 3-2.  Schulfer scored scoreless fifth and sixth innings to end his night.  He threw three scoreless innings while allowing three hits, two walks, and struck out three.  

The Rats bats struck again in the top of the seventh.  With the bases loaded and no outs, Chase Call recorded RBI number three of the night as he was hit by a pitch.  Two batters later, Jacob Igawa lined a two-run single into right field to put the Rafters ahead 6-2.  Jacob James came into pitch for Wisconsin Rapids in the seventh, as he struck out Stephen Hrustich to strand the bases loaded for the third out.  After a scoreless top of the eighth, the Rafters called on Alec Burnett to pitch for the bottom half.  Again, the Rafters stranded the bases loaded for the Chinooks. 

The Rafters were held scoreless in the top of the ninth.  Preston Howey came in the game to record the final three outs for the Rafters.  With one out and the bases loaded, Lakeshore scored a run on a wild pitch to make it 6-3.  Two batters later, a bases loaded walk resulted in another run to make it 6-4.  However, Preston Howey shut the door and stranded the Chinooks with bases loaded to end the game.  Logan Schulfer received his second win of the year. 

The Rafters (22-2) will face the Lakeshore Chinooks (11-14) again tomorrow in Mequon, Wisconsin at 6:35 pm.  Brett Loftis will be calling all the action on WFHR 1320 AM/97.5 FM beginning at 6:20 pm.

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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’ 28th 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 280 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 (NYM), 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 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2021 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. League games are viewable live at watchnwl.com. 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.