Righty Dominant In First Start Of The Season
Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.- In a well- pitched game that lasted only two hours and 25 minutes, the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (16-27, 4-4) took down the Madison Mallards (24-19, 6-4) by a score of 3-1. Wisconsin Rapids got a great starting effort from Jake Cage (Azusa Pacific) who was making his first start of the season.
It was a great pitcher’s duel between Cage and his Madison counterpart Rob McDonnell (Illinois). Both pitchers lasted 6 innings but McDonnell threw just one bad pitch. On a 1-0 count McDonnell left a fastball up to the red hot Keelin Rasch (Louiisana Monroe) who lined his fourth home run of the season to right center field to drive in the only 3 runs that would be needed by the Rafters. It was Rasch’s third home run in as many nights as he extended his hit streak to seven games.
Cage ran into a couple jams in his six- inning outing, but his ability to change speeds kept the Mallards off balance all night and helped him escape with no damage done. As the game got late, Wisconsin Rapids turned to their new weapon in the bullpen, Jason Freeman (Texas A&M). Freeman was brought in for his second relief outing of the season. He entered in the top of the 8th to record the five out save and shut down the door on the Mallards.
With the win, the Rafters finished their eight game home stand with a winning record and now lead the season series versus the Mallards with the scene shifting to Madison for the final three games of the year between the two teams. First pitch is at 7:05 pm.
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The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 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, more than 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit www.raftersbaseball.com.
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