Written By: Khalin Kapoor, TV Broadcaster

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – It took an extra three minutes for Aidan Teel to get credited for his grand slam in the seventh inning because it was initially ruled foul. But after the umpires called it fair, it was pandemonium nonetheless at Witter Field.

The call on the field was a foul ball past the right field foul pole, but after a long conversation the ruling was overturned and the game was broken wide open. 

“I was just hoping it was fair, the home plate umpire looked at me and he was like ‘yeah it’s fair it’s probably going to be overturned,’” said Teel after the game. “Grand slam, it was pretty cool, taking a lot of stress off the pitchers and helping the team.”

Teel’s slam made it 10-4 in favor of Wisconsin Rapids, and that was the final score of the ballgame as well. It was also his second homer of the contest, as he hit a solo homer to give the Rafters a 4-3 lead in the fourth inning. 

Tristin Crusenberry got the start for Wisconsin Rapids and spun three scoreless innings with just two hits allowed and three strikeouts. He didn’t have his best stuff early on as he walked three, but he gutted through for another strong outing.

“He labored a little bit in the first inning… we want to keep the pitch count down a little bit more,” said Rafters field manager Kirk Shrider after the game. “Ultimately, Tristin is going to go ahead and compete for you every time he goes to the mound.”

The Rafters got on the board first in the first inning with a Walker Buchanan RBI single, and he would add on to the lead again in the second with a two-run knock.  He drove in two more runs in the sixth, finishing the night 4-5 with 5 RBI.

While the ballgame was close in the middle innings, it was Aidan Teel’s grand slam that was the finishing blow. His two homer game brings him to 11 round trippers on the season in just 36 games, and he is tied for fourth in the Northwoods league in home runs while playing more than 15 less games than the rest.

“It’s simple, I’m just seeing the ball really well right now,” said Teel. “That’s how baseball is sometimes, sometimes you see it well, sometimes you don’t.”

Josh Opiola nailed things down in the late innings, earning the save with his three frames of one-run ball. The final out cemented the fifth series sweep of the season for Wisconsin Rapids, and the first at home since early July.

While Madison clinched the second half playoff spot with their win on Tuesday, officially eliminating the Rafters from contention this season, there are still four games of competition left.

“You come out here to compete, there’s a scoreboard that’s got a score and they keep track of who’s winning and who’s losing. If you’re not playing to win I don’t know what the purpose is,” said Shrider. “That’s what we try and push from day one until the last day.”

Wisconsin Rapids will next host Fond du Lac on Wednesday at Witter Field. Khalin Kapoor will have the call on the Northwoods League Sports Network and Andy Jachim will have the call on WHFR Rafters Radio at 6:35.