GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters have been by far the best team in the Northwoods League this season.  However, after winning streaks of 14 and 8 to start the season, the Rafters have been on a two-game losing streak.  The Rats were able to find fire again this afternoon though, as they defeated the Green Bay Rockers, 7-2. 

The Rafters and Rockers started out very sluggish at the plate, with not a single run being scored in the first six innings.  Rafters starter, Grant Manning, threw three scoreless innings to begin the game for Wisconsin Rapids while just allowing one hit, no walks, and striking out three. Nathan Hemmerling threw the next innings for the Rafters allowing no runs, one hit, one walk, and striking out three.  Rockers starter, Logan Berrier, had also thrown six scoreless innings as well. 

In the seventh, Berrier went back out on the bump and Rafters center fielder Brady Jurgella led off the inning with a single.  After a Brendan Bobo walk and a strikeout, Garrett Broussard hit an RBI groundout to make it a 1-0 game, Rafters lead.  Colin Tuft hit what should have been an end-inning 5-3 putout, but an E3 on the receiving end by the Rockers first baseman allowed another run to score making it a 2-0 game.  Berrier exited after 6.2 innings while giving up two runs, but only one earned.  Alec Burnett threw a scoreless bottom of the seventh for Wisconsin Rapids. 

In the top of the eighth, the Rafters offense really came alive.  A Ben Ross RBI sacrifice fly and a Brendan Bobo RBI single put the Rafters up 4-0. Later in the inning, Colin Tuft, Joe Osborn, and Levi Jensen drew back-to-back-to-back bases loaded walks to push the Rafters lead to 7-0.  Jacob James struck out the side in order for the Rafters in the bottom of the eight.  Rats bats were held scoreless in the top of the ninth, and Connor Kurki was called upon to pitch in the bottom of the ninth.  He gave up a pair of RBI singles that brought Green Bay within five runs, 7-2, but Kurki would still strike out the side and leave the bases loaded.  Nathan Hemmerling received the win for the Rafters and Berrier received the loss for Green Bay. 

The Rafters (23-4) will travel to play the Kenosha Kingfish (14-13) tomorrow night at 6:35 pm.  Catch all the action on WFHR 1320 AM/97.5 FM with Brett Loftis 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.