Rafters Handle Rivets in First Meeting of the Year
Woodcock’s four RBIs pace Rafters in home win against Rockford
Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – After dropping the doubleheader to Fond du Lac on Sunday, Wisconsin Rapids (26-9) bounced back to defeat Rockford (17-16) 6-3 in the first meeting of the year between the two teams. Dustin Woodcock finished the night a triple shy of the cycle with four RBIs. Charlie McConnell added a home run, his first of the year in the win.
Wisconsin Rapids jumped on the board in the first when Woodcock drove in a run on a single to right field. McConnell singled to lead off the inning and came around to score to put the Rafters up 1-0.
McConnell had not hit a home run for the Rafters in 59 at-bats this season, but that would change in the second inning Monday evening at Witter Field. The lefty took Rivets starter Cole Belair (3-2) deep over the wall in right to join the home run party for Wisconsin Rapids, who as a team has tallied 31 long balls on the season. Woodcock doubled to deep center to add another run, plating Bryson Stott.
Rockford scored a run in the fourth inning on a two-out RBI bunt single from Neal Tyrell. With runners on the corners Tyrell laid a bunt down the third baseline and surprised the Rafters defense playing back with two outs. Zack Thomas scored to pull the Rivets within two runs, 3-1.
The Rafters tagged on three more runs in the fifth to extend the lead to 6-1. Ryan Stekl singled to right field to plate the first run and Woodcock unloaded on fastball from Bellair for a two-run home run.
The Rivets threatened in the seventh, but Rafters reliever Alex Jackson worked out of a jam, allowing one run in the inning. The bases were loaded with two outs when Jackson struck out Hunter Feduccia to end the threat and the Rafters entered the seventh inning stretch leading Rockford 6-2.
Rockford added one more run in the eighth, when Neal Tyrell doubled and scored to pull within three but Layne Henderson came in the game in the ninth and sat down the side to lead Wisconsin Rapids to victory and earn his sixth save on the year. Isaiah Carranza (3-0) earned the win, tossing six innings of one-run baseball and striking out six.
The two teams square off again tomorrow, with a 3:05 p.m. first pitch on Independence Day. Fans who bring in non-perishable food items will receive 2 for 1 reserved bleacher seats, presented by Incourage. In addition, a special ‘Merica Meal Deal ticket package including a reserved bleacher seat, bratwurst and slice of apple pie will be available for all fans for $10.
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The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The 23-year-old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 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 170 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champion Ben Zobrist (CHC) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM) and Lucas Duda (NYM). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit http://northwoodsleague.com/wisconsin-rapids-rafters/ or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Rafters as your favorite team.
