Three playmakers from the D3 powerhouse sign to the Rafters. 

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. – Former pitching coach for the Rafters now Assistant Coach at Salisbury University, Austin Heenan is sending two pitchers and one infielder to Wisconsin Rapids this summer. 

Danny Sheeler is the first eagle to join the Rafters and he is a junior out of Townson, Maryland. Sheeler started his collegiate career at Washington College in Maryland, where in his freshman year, hit two home runs and drove in 13 runs, and posted a .986 fielding percentage mainly at first base. In 2022 at Washington College, Sheeler earned team MVP after starting all 39 games, while hitting

13 home runs and earning 44 RBIs. In his first season with the Eagles, Sheeler has five home runs in 13 games played, while batting.383. 

The first pitcher joining the Rafters staff this season is Benji Thalheimer, from Columbia, Maryland. Thalheimer is a junior and earned NCAA Division III College World Series All-Tournament Team honors in 2021. He also earned All-C2C Honorable Mention in 2022, posting a 7-1 record with 15 appearances.

So far during his 2023 college season, he is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA with 12 innings pitched.

Joining Thalheimer on the pitching staff is teammate Mitchel Wittkamp, a sophomore from Bel Air, Maryland. Wittkamp made 11 appearances in his freshman year, giving up eight runs over 22.2 innings pitched. He has taken the mound three times so far in 2023 for the Eagles, and has posted a 3.60 ERA in his five innings pitched, with one start.

###

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. Now in its’ 29th 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, 300 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 and on ESPN+. 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 Rockers as your favorite team.