Wausau, Wis. – The season finale for the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (9-27) didn’t go their way, dropping the game with the Wausau Woodchucks (25-9-1) 5-3 at Athletic Park. The win clinched the Woodchucks a spot in the playoffs on the final day, deciding the only spot left for grabs in the Northwoods League. After an hour delay, the Woodchucks took an early lead, but it remained close to the end. The Rafters bullpen didn’t allow a run in 3.1 innings while Payton Bryant went 2-4, but it wasn’t enough as the Rafters left the tying runner at the plate in the ninth.
The Woodchucks offense opened the scoring, tacking on two runs in the bottom of the first on an error and sac fly off Rafters starter Seth Spencer (2-7) to grab a 2-0 lead.
A response was immediate from the Rafters, cutting the lead to 2-1 in the top of the second on Mike Maanum’s RBI single off Woodchucks starter Tyler Fredrick (1-1).
Wausau was the next to score, building their lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the third on Max Soliz’s RBI grounder off Wisconsin Rapids’ Spencer.
The lead grew to 5-1 in the bottom of the fifth as Wausau saw Dom Rodriguez launch a no-doubt two-run homer over the left field wall off Wisconsin Rapids’ Spencer, forcing him from the game.
It remained 5-1 for a while, but the Rafters finally got to Wausau’s Fredrick in the top of the eighth. He was pulled him from the game and Landon Gaz laced a two-RBI single off Wausau reliever Kade Douglas to cut the deficit to 5-3.
After Ashton Poole’s shutout eighth, the Rafters offense saw Bryant pick up a one-out single, but he was stranded at first as Wausau’s Douglas locked it down to earn the save (2) and send the Woodchucks to the playoffs.
With the Woodchucks advancing, it officially eliminated the Madison Mallards from playoff contention. The Rafters season also concluded with the loss, although they can hang their heads high after competing to the last strike against one of the Northwoods League’s best. The Rafters head into the offseason after finishing with an overall record of 22-49.