The Rafters are one win away from tying the single-season team record and will play in front of the largest crowd in franchise history on August 6.

Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin – The Rafters have a chance to make a mark in Wisconsin Rapids baseball history when they host the Thunder Bay Border Cats on Thursday, August 6. Witter Field is expected to be at rated capacity as 2,500 tickets have been sold for Water Works and Lighting Commission Night. It is projected to be the largest crowd in Rafters history and breaking the record of 2,415 set on August 16, 2010. The Rafters also have a chance to tie the team record for wins in a season with 31 on Thursday, matching the mark set by the 2013 Wisconsin Rapids team.

Earlier this season, the Rafters fell in a pair of games against the Border Cats when the two teams met in Thunder Bay, Ontario following the All-Star break on July 23-24. Wisconsin Rapids is seeking its first win against a North Division opponent after also dropping three games against Eau Claire this year.

Yesterday, the Rafters wrapped up their road schedule for the 2015 season with a 7-4 loss to the Wisconsin Woodchucks at Athletic Park in Wausau, Wisconsin. The Rafters went 6-2 against their rivals from the north this year, but lost yesterday as the Woodchucks score five runs in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead and never looked back.

Taking the hill for the Rafters tonight will be UW-Milwaukee commit, Jay Peters. The right-hander is 3-2 on the summer with a 4.26 ERA in five starts. Coming into his last start, the Randolph, Wisconsin native held a 2.05 ERA, but was roughed up a bit in a 13-8 loss to Lakeshore on July 31. In his previous four starts, however, Peters had pitched at least five innings, while surrendering less than 2 runs in each. 

For tonight’s game, additional auxiliary bleachers have been placed down the third base line to accommodate the capacity crowd, as well as additional tables and chairs throughout the Witter Field concourse. Fans will not be allowed to bring in personal chairs. A fan favorite act, the ZOOperstars!, will be on hand to provide in-game entertainment. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m., gates open at 6:05.  Everyone who received tickets through the Water Works and Lighting Commission promotion is welcome to join the pre-game picnic, which begins at 5:00 p.m., and will enter through the back gate of the park.

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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 22nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2015, 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 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (KC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website.  For more information, visit www.raftersbaseball.com.