By Luc Carter

The Wausau Woodchucks, (4-1) shutout the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (0-3), 10-0 on Friday

night. Rafters starter Spencer Lanz and Woodchucks starter Sam George we’re locked in a
pitchers duel through 4 innings, keeping the game scoreless. After 2 walks to start the bottom of
the 5th inning Wausau broke through first scoring a run on a throw to third by catcher Josiah
Palomino rolled into left field when Nico DeFazio slipped on third base and Anthony Cole was
able to score. An Andrew Ramos single would bring home a second run in the 5th.

The game was blown open in the 6th inning when University of South Carolina infielder Dawson
Harman would crush a pitch over the left field wall for a 2 run home run to make it a 4-0 ball
game.

The Woodchucks did more damage in the 6th when Left Fielder Brayden Mazzacano singled to
bring in 2 more runs making it a 6-0 ball game.

Harman was not satisfied with just one home run. He came up to bat an inning later in the 7th
with 2 runners on and would once again leave the yard for his second home run and 5th RBI of
the game to make the score 9-0 Woodchucks. He would finish his night with an RBI single in the
8th making it 6 on the night and pushing the score up 10-0.

The Woodchucks got 5 scoreless from George, 3 scoreless from Logan Medsker and Jase
Schuller would come in to get the final 3 outs in the 9th to complete the shutout for the
Woodchucks.

In a night that did not contain many highlights for the Rafters, one bright spot was the play
behind the plate from catcher Josiah Palomino. Josiah’s primary position is middle infield but he
grew up playing catcher. He had not caught in a competitive game since he was 14 years old
but during his Freshman year in which he redshirted at the University of Nevada he would
practice catching. He was called upon tonight to catch and he held it down and even caught the
Northwoods league leader in stolen bases Joey Mclaughlin stealing at second in the 5th inning.

The Rafters will be back at Athletic Park in Wausau tomorrow to try and salvage a series split
and pick up their first win of the season against the Woodchucks. The probable starting pitcher
is Sam Neal. Neal is a sophomore from Young Harris College who will be making his
Northwoods league debut tomorrow. First pitch is at 5:05 PM tomorrow.