WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. – After a 15-1 rout of the Lakeshore Chinooks last night, the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters dropped a close one tonight at home to the Chinooks 7-5. 

Rafters starter, Michael Lindsey, struck out the first two Chinooks he faced in the top of the first and then danger struck.  After a one out walk, Caleb Bartolero put a double into the right center field gap which put runners on second and third.  Left fielder Mathias Haas put Lakeshore ahead with a two-run double 2-0.  The very next batter, Aidan Longwell, hit an RBI triple that put the Chinooks up 3-0.  However, the Rats bats came alive in the bottom half bringing home two runs via an RBI double from Chase Call and an RBI single from Brendan Bobo to make it a 3-2 game. 

Chinooks left fielder, Jack Firestone, hit a solo homer in the top of the second to put Lakeshore back up by two, 4-2.  The Rafters were held scoreless in the bottom halves second and third, while Lindsey held the Chinooks scoreless in the top halves of the third and fourth.  However, in the home half of the fourth, Harry Owen struck gold with a solo homer, his third of the season, to bring the Rafters back within one, 4-3.  Lindsey’s night was done after four innings of giving up four runs on seven hits, one walk, and six strikeouts. 

Jacob James entered the game for the Rafters in the fifth and threw a 1-2-3 inning.  A two-run two-out double from Garrett Broussard gave the Rafters their first lead of the night in the home half, 5-4.  James threw another 1-2-3 sixth, as well as throwing a scoreless top half of the seventh.  He finished his night after three innings while giving up no runs, no hits, one walk, and struck out four. 

The Rafters brought in Connor Kurki to throw the eighth inning, and he retired the Chinooks in order 1-2-3.  However, the Rats bats were held scoreless in the eighth for the third straight inning.  Preston Howey entered the game with a save opportunity in the ninth.  However, the Chinooks were not ready to go down without a fight and they instead took the lead.  After the first five batters reached in the inning and three runs came across to make a 7-5 Lakeshore lead, Howey stranded two runners in scoring position as he got back-to-back strikeouts and a flyout to end the inning.  The Rafters would be retired in order in the bottom of the ninth.  Preston Howey received the loss and blew his first save opportunity of 2022, and Calvin Bickerstaff picked up the win for Lakeshore. 

The Rafters (27-6) will play host to the Green Bay Rockers (10-24) tomorrow night at 6:35 pm at Witter Field.  Catch all the action on the Northwoods League Baseball Network with Carter Gledhill or listen on WFHR 1320 AM/97.5 FM with Brett Loftis. 

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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.