Quick and Painful: Rafters walk off on Woodchucks, 3-2

In a game that lasted a season-low two hours and six minutes, Wisconsin Rapids used a walk-off sacrifice fly from first baseman Cullen Gassaway to edge the Woodchucks, 3-2, Saturday night at Witter Field.

Wisconsin (18-13) utilized an excellent starting pitching performance from southpaw Kaylor Chafin, in his first start of the year, to keep the game close throughout. Chafin went a season-high six innings, giving up just two runs (one earned) on five hits, while striking out five and walking none.

Left-handed reliever Jared Skolnicki then fired perfect seventh and eighth innings out of the Woodchucks bullpen, before handing the ball to fellow lefty Sam Mahar for the ninth.

Rafters’ third baseman Keelin Rasch quickly greeted Mahar with a deep double to right center field, before right fielder Clark Eagan executed a sacrifice bunt, and Gassaway the sac fly to bring home the winning run.

Woodchucks’ two threats of the day occurred in the second and fifth innings. In the second, first baseman Jake Scudder led off and doubled. After center fielder Connor Beck walked, catcher Kevin Abraham loaded the bases with no outs with a single to left field.

The Chucks cracked the scoreboard when right fielder Kevin Connolly rolled into a fielder’s choice to drive home Scudder, but shortstop Eric Garza rolled into a 3-6-1 double play to end the threat at one.

In the fifth inning, Abraham led off with a walk and tried to score when Connolly blasted a double to right center. However, Abraham was toast at the plate on Eagan’s assist. Connolly did score the second run of the day for the Woodchucks on Garza’s RBI groundout, but the Chucks would not score for the remainder of the game.

Jon Malmin went eight strong innings for the Rafters, while Antonio Gonzales picked up the victory after firing a scoreless ninth.

The Woodchucks are back in action Sunday as they host the Rafters at Athletic Park in the second of this home-and-home series. First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 P.M.

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The Wisconsin Woodchucks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwood’s League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwood’s 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 Northwood’s 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 Northwood’s League YouTube channel. For more information, visit woodchucks.com.