Chucks Split Series with Rafters
Wausau, Wisc. – The Wausau Woodchucks (24-22 overall, 7-3 second half) took on the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (37-9 overall, 8-3 second half) with a vengeance on a beautiful Friday night, claiming a massive victory with a final score of 12-3 to split the series and regain their momentum.
Stellar pitching combined with unmatched batting drove the Chucks to victory over the Rafters, with thirteen hits (five of which were home runs), and nine total strikeouts by Chucks pitchers Nate Madej (Florida Southern), Cade Denton (Oral Robers), and Christian Orr (Columbia International).
Key Highlights:
Woodchucks pitcher Madej struck out the very first Rafters batter in just three pitches to get the game started off strong. At bat, Hunter Dorraugh (San Jose State) launched a home run into left field to score the first two runs of the game for the Chucks.
In the bottom of the third, Ryan Sepede (BYU) slammed a home run over the center field fence to plate Dorraugh and Zach Levenson (Miami), bringing in three more runs for the Woodchucks. Immediately following Sepede’s homer, Chase Hug (Evansville) also caught the home run fever, hitting a home run to center field to score another run, bringing the Chucks to a lead of 6-3 over the Rafters.
In an apparent home run derby amongst themselves, Levenson hammered a one-run home run to left field in the bottom of the 4th inning to give the Woodchucks another run.
During the bottom of the fifth, Dwight Allen (Georgia), Ben Abernathy (UAB), and Dorraugh each hit singles to load the bases. The Rafters pitcher then walked Levenson, giving the Chucks another run. Abernathy plated a run on a sac fly by Sepede. Hug then hit his second home run of the night, hitting a three run bomb to center field, extending the Chucks lead to a whopping 12-3, which it would remain at through the end of the game, leaving the Chucks victorious.
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The Wausau Woodchucks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 28th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 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, over 280 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (NYM), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2021 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. League games are viewable live at watchnwl.com. For more information, visit woodchucks.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Woodchucks as your favorite team.
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
