Rafters Are Swept by Rockers in 10-6 Loss
Wisconsin Rapids swept for the first time at home in 14th loss of 2022
WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. – No matter how high the highs are in sports, there inevitably come some lows. The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters were swept for the first time at Witter Field this season by the Green Bay Rockers in a 10-6 loss.
The Rockers jumped out front in the first inning tonight off Rafters starting pitcher Cooper Robinson. A Jake Mastillo two-run double put Green Bay up 2-0. The Rafters were held off the board in the home of the first as well.
The Green Bay offense stayed hot in the top of the second. They added three more runs via a wild pitch, an RBI groundout, and an RBI single to take a commanding 5-0 lead. However, Cooper Robinson answered back strongly for the Rafters in the top of the third, as he retired the Rockers 1-2-3. Robinson exited the game after three innings of allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits, two walks, and one strikeout.
Alex Dicke entered the game in relief for the Rafters in the top half of the fourth inning, as he retired the side 1-2-3. The Rats bats finally awoke in the bottom half of the inning, as an RBI single from Levi Jensen brought home the first run of the night to make it a 5-1 game. Three batters later with the bases loaded and two outs, McKinley Erves cleared the bases with a three-run double to bring the Rafters within one, 5-4.
Dicke held the Rockers scoreless in the top of the fifth. However, Green Bay struck again in the top of the sixth. After an E4 throwing error to begin the inning, Dicke walked three straight Rockers en route to another Green Bay run, 6-4. Alec Mendoza was called upon in relief in the middle of the inning. A wild pitch allowed another Rocker run to score to make it 7-4. Three more runs scored in the inning via an RBI sacrifice fly, an E2, and an RBI single to make it a 10-4 Green Bay lead.
Despite giving up a five-run top half of the sixth, the Rafters added two more in the bottom half of the inning. An RBI single from Jacob Igawa and an Andrew Semo RBI sacrifice fly made it a 10-6 game. Mendoza threw a scoreless frame in the top of the seventh to end his night. He threw two innings while allowing one run (unearned) on three hits, one walk, and two strikeouts.
Ethan Peters and Preston Howey each threw a scoreless frame in the eighth and ninth innings respectively. With a four-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth, the Rafters were retired 1-2-3 to end the ballgame. Cooper Robinson received his first loss of the season for the Rafters, while Bryce Crabb earned his third win for the Green Bay Rockers.
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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 Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Now in its’ 29th 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, 300 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 and on ESPN+. For more information, visit www.raftersbaseball.com 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
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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]
