Wisconsin Rapids, WI— It was not the night for the Rafters as they were slashed by the Mallards 11-3. They couldn’t seem to find their pitching and were out hit 16-5.
Contrary to yesterday, it was the Mallards who got in front first. The Florida Gulf Coast pitcher, Will Haberstock, struggled on the mound and gave up a walk to Jackson Tucker. Hamilton then lined a ball into right field to bring home Tucker. There was a questionable call at the plate and Tucker was initially out. The umpires got together and then deemed Tucker as safe. The red hot bat of Alex Harrell continued as he doubled into center field and Hamilton scored. Fisher brought in Harrell on a sac fly and the Rafters found themselves in a 3-0 hole only in the bottom of the 1st.
It was a quick response in the top of the 3rd for Wisconsin Rapids as there were 2 outs and James Bornick was up. He nuked a ball into right field for a solo home run for back to back night with at least a homer. It was his second homer of the season and he put the Rafters on the board. Madison immediately followed in the bottom half of the inning with another RBI from Alex Harrell to send in Hamilton. Madison answered any momentum the Rafters had as they jumped back up to 3.
With 2 outs in the bottom of the 5th, the Campbellsville product, Chad McCann, ripped a hit into left field and another run scored. Wisconsin Rapids would not go away easily as Ty Johnson walked and the 2 hole batter, Alec Castillo, was up. Castillo had a great day at the plate as he smashed a hit into deep center field and Johnson came racing home. The Rafters cut the deficit to 3, but the Mallards would respond in a big way. Nick Paulsen stepped on the mound and was unable to find his rhythm as he gave up a single from Taylor and Fisher. There were 2 outs, but Canyon Brown read a 2-1 pitch perfectly and roped a 3 run homer into left field and the lead ballooned to 6. At that point, the Rats were seeing the same slip away in a hurry.
Another 2 runs in the bottom of the 7th as Jackson Tucker smoked a ball into deep left center field for a 2 run RBI double. The Rafters pitching struggled the entire night and Madison was able to read everything and grab a ton of hits. The Rafters just were not able to find any momentum defensively and Madison kept their foot on the gas pedal. Wisconsin Rapids was able to get another run in the 8th as Alec Castillo acquired his second RBI double of the night to send Johnson in. The Mallards would not stop scoring and tallied one final run of the night in the bottom of the 8th.
A rough effort on both sides of the ball as the Rafters couldn’t string together consecutive innings. Giving up many hits on the defensive side and offensively they weren’t able to keep themselves in the game.
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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]
