WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. – When a predator is out in the wild, they usually attack.  Well, when the Rafters have seen the Dock Spiders, they have attacked them all 2022.  Wisconsin Rapids beat the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders for the sixth time this season in a blowout score of 17-5.  

The Dock Spiders took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning.  After a two-out E3 made by the Rafters, Grant Hussey launched a two-run homer to give Fond du Lac the lead.  However, the Rats bats awoke in the home half of the first, as Jacob Igawa hit an RBI single to make it a 2-1 game.  Rafters starter, Nick Torres, threw a scoreless top half of the second. 

In the home half of the second, Nate Nankil launched a solo shot, his second of the season, to tie it up 2-2.  The Rafters would go on to score three more in the innings off RBI singles from Ben Ross, McKinley Erves, and Jacob Igawa to take a 5-2 lead.  Nick Torres allowed one more run in the top of the third via an E5.  Torres threw three innings tonight, as he allowed three runs, all unearned, allowed four walks, and struck out four. 

Josh Howitt entered the game to pitch for the Rafters in the top half of the fourth.  He threw a scoreless fourth, and then the Rafters put more runs on the board in the home half.  An RBI single from Jacob Igawa, his third of the night, gave the Rats a 6-3.  McKinley Erves scored on a fielder’s choice, and Brendan Bobo stole home on a first and third play to make it a 8-3 Rafters lead. 

Howitt threw another scoreless top half of the fifth, as the Rafters added two more in the bottom half.  Colin Tuft scored on a wild pitch, and then Ben Ross scored on an RBI groundout from Brendan Bobo to make it a 10-2 game.  Howitt threw his third straight scoreless inning in the sixth.  However, the Dock Spiders finally got to Howitt with a solo homer off the bat off Andrew Sojka to make it a 10-4 game.  However, the Rafters answered with three in the bottom half.  McKinley Erves had an RBI sacrifice fly, Brendan Bobo had an RBI single, and then Ben Ross scored on a wild pitch to make it a 13-4 game. 

Josh Howitt threw his fifth and final inning in the eighth, as he held the Dock Spiders scoreless.  He threw the longest any reliever has this season for the Rafters.  Howitt threw five innings of one run baseball, while also setting a new season high in strikeouts with nine strikeouts.  The Rafters scored four more in the home half of the eight.  Seth Stroh scored on an RBI sacrifice fly from Aidan Brewer, Brady Jurgella scored on a bases-loaded hit by pitch, and then Jacob Igawa hit a two-run double to make it a 17-4 game. 

Preston Howey entered the game for the Rafters in the ninth.  He gave up another homer to Sojka, as the Dock Spiders made it a 17-5 game.  However, Howey still got the final three outs for the Rafters.  Josh Howitt earned his fifth win in 2022 after his five-inning performance.  Ross, Erves, Igawa, Bobo, and Tuft all had multi-hit nights, with Ross and Erves with four hit performances. Igawa had a five-RBI night as well. 

The Rafters (35-7) will play host to the Lakeshore Chinooks (22-20) tomorrow night at Witter Field at 6:35 pm.  Catch all the action with Carter Gledhill on the Northwoods Baseball Network or with Brett Loftis on 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.