KOKOMO, IN – In what was perhaps one of the more competitive games of the Rafters dominant 2022 season, it was not a favorable outcome.  Wisconsin Rapids dropped their fifth game of the season to the Kokomo Jackrabbits, 4-2.  

Jackrabbits starter, Richard Kiel, began his dominant night in the top of the first retiring the Rafters in order, 1-2-3. Rafters starter, Jake Dahle, threw a scoreless bottom half of the first against the Jackrabbits.  Rats were again retired 1-2-3 in the second, but the Jackrabbits were able to strike first in the home half via an RBI groundout making it a 1-0 Kokomo lead.  Jake Dahle threw a scoreless third inning to finish his night.  He gave up one run on three hits, two walks, and two strikeouts. 

Cam Nolet entered the game to pitch for the Rafters in the fourth and gave up a two-run single to Kyan Lodice to put the Jackrabbits up 3-0.  Nolet would go on to throw a scoreless fifth and sixth innings. He gave up two runs on four Kokomo hits, three walks, and two strikeouts. 

After six scoreless innings, Richard Kiel finally gave up his first runs of the night.  Aidan Brewer came in for the Rafters as a pinch hitter in the seventh and hit a two-run homer, his first as a Rafters, which brought Wisconsin Rapids within one, 3-2.  The Hoosier native, Alec Burnett, threw a scoreless bottom half of the seventh for the Rafters in his home state. 

The Rafters had a chance to take the lead in the top of the eighth with two outs and two runners in scoring position.  Garrett Broussard hit a high chopper back up the middle that would have brought home two runs, but instead was robbed by Kokomo’s shortstop Riley Garcynski for out number three. Garcynski then extended the Jackrabbit lead in the bottom half after an RBI single, 4-2.  In the top of the ninth, Seth Stroh hit a one-out ground rule double to put a runner in scoring position.  Colin Tuft walked to put the tying run on first.  Kokomo reliever, Hector Garcia, retired the final two batters to end the game.  Garcia earned the same, Kiel earned the win, and Dahle earned the loss. 

The Rafters (25-5) will be back in action tomorrow night against the Jackrabbits (9-21) in Kokomo at 5:35 pm CT/6:35 pm ET.  Catch all the action with the Rafters radio broadcaster, Brett Loftis, on WFHR 1320 AM/97.5 FM. 

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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.