WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters have been flirting with history all season long here in 2022. However, tonight the Rafters have finally made their way into Northwoods League history. With their 28th win of the first half in the 9-6 victory over the Green Bay Rockers, the Rafters are now tied with the 2012 Mankato Moondogs and the 2018 Madison Mallards with the most wins ever in a Northwoods League first half.
One of the many Rafters aces on the 2022 staff, Xavier Rivas, held the Rockers scoreless in the top half of the first, but the Rats bats were also held scoreless in the bottom half. However, after another scoreless Rockers top half of the second, a Harry Owen RBI double gave the Rafters a 1-0 lead. Wisconsin Rapids was 16-1, now 17-1, when scoring first so far in 2022.
Green Bay tied it up in the top of the third with a solo homer off the bat of Griffin Stevens to make the score, 1-1. However, just as they have all season, the Rats bats answered back in a big way. Garrett Broussard and Harry Owen drew back-to-back bases loaded walks to make it a 3-1 Rafters lead. Then, Colin Tuft hit an RBI single to make it 4-1. Two batters later, Stone Miyao lined a two-run two-out single into the outfield to make a 6-1 Wisconsin Rapids lead. Xavier Rivas threw a scoreless top half of the fourth inning, including striking out the last two batters he faced, to end his night. He gave up one run on four hits, while giving up one walk, and striking out four.
Logan Schulfer entered the game to pitch for Wisconsin Rapids in the top half of the fifth, as he gave up one run in each of the fifth and sixth innings to make it a 6-3 game. However, Stone Miyao rang the Rockers’ bell in the bottom half of the sixth, as he launched a solo homer, his first of the year, to make it a 7-3 Rafters lead. Schulfer gave up one more run in the seventh, and then his night was complete. He gave up three runs on three Rocker hits, allowed four walks, and struck out two.
Tanner Chafin entered the game to pitch for the Rats in the eighth, and the Rockers started to bop. Two runs came across for the Rockers in the top half of the eighth to bring them within one, 7-6. However, the Rafters got both runs back off a pair of RBI from Brady Jurgella and Brendan Bobo put the Rafters back up by three, 9-6. Alec Burnett came into to close game for the Rockers. He struck out the first two Rockers he faced, and then caught a popup for out number three. Burnett earned his second save of 2022, and Logan Schulfer his fourth win.
The Rafters (28-6) look to break the Northwoods League first-half wins record tomorrow on America’s birthday in Green Bay against the Rockers (10-25) at 12:05 pm. Catch all the action with Brett Loftis on the home of Rafters Baseball, 1320 AM/97.5 FM WFHR.
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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.
