Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – It was a big-time win for the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (9-18) Sunday afternoon as they crushed the Lakeshore Chinooks (10-18) behind great pitching, winning 10-1. The win was the Rafters’ second in the last three games and was an all-around performance. Jeremy Jones and Tristin Crusenberry combined for all nine innings pitched while JJ Garcia had two hits and Pat Costin smashed his first home run.

Costin’s home run for the Rafters sent home the first runs of the game in the bottom of the second, bringing in Madden Ocko on the opposite field shot off Chinooks starter Logan Schulfer (1-3).

Schulfer, the former Rafter who made his first appearance back at Witter Field in a Lakeshore jersey, pitched three innings and allowed just the two runs.

In the top of the fifth, the Chinooks finally got to see a new pitcher as Jeremy Jones was pulled to begin the inning, allowing no runs in his four frames of work. With Tristin Crusenberry on mound, Lakeshore didn’t find any more success though, with the game remaining 2-0 into the bottom of the fifth.

In the bottom of the inning, the Rafters added two more runs thanks to an RBI double from JJ Garcia and a sac fly from Mason Onate off Chinooks reliever Aaron Robinson, extending the lead to 4-0.

The lead grew to 6-0 in the seventh inning when the Chinooks once again changed pitchers after Aaron Robinson allowed two runs in his three innings. With Jackson Bahn on the mound, the Rafters saw a two-RBI single from Noah Ruiz, extending his Northwoods League lead in RBIs to 32.

Logan Grubb relieved Bahn to start the eighth for the Chinooks, but didn’t fare any better than him, allowing four runs in his one inning of work. The Rafters took the 10-0 lead behind Garcia’s RBI single, a wild pitch, and Jack Guerrero’s two-RBI double.

In the top of the ninth, the Chinooks were able to avoid the shutout as Tristin Crusenberry (1-2) came back out and allowed a bases-loaded walk, but he induced a double play to end the game and notch the win 10-1.

The Rafters now sit just half a game behind the Chinooks in the Great Lakes West standings after the win. They hit the road for six straight games Monday by heading to Rockford for a two-game set in the evening. First pitch on Monday is scheduled for 6:05 P.M. and will be broadcast for video on NWL+ and for radio on WFHR 97.5 FM/1320 AM.