Rafters chop down Loggers in 6-3 win
Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – The Rafters final home game before the all-star break was a good one, as they took down La Crosse 6-3 at Witter Field.
The Loggers took the lead early against WR starter Bryson Moore on a Luke Anderson double and a Derrick Mitchell sacrifice fly.
But the Rafters cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the frame as Mason Onate flew home on an RBI groundout by Aidan Teel. Moore would cede one more run in the top of the fourth and would finish with four innings and three runs (one earned) allowed.
In the bottom of the fourth, Wisconsin Rapids took back the lead after a passed ball scored Chris Arroyo and Walker Buchanan delivered a clutch two-run single to make it 4-3.
Kyler McIntosh took the baton from Moore and dominated through four stellar innings. He allowed just four hits and no runs while striking out two, earning the win for his efforts.. As someone who started the season as the full-time shortstop, it was an incredible performance out of the bullpen.
The score stayed 4-3 until the seventh, where both Aidan Teel and Jorge DeGoti scorched two-out RBI knocks to give the Rafters some much needed insurance in the late innings.
Up 6-3 entering the ninth, Nick Perry was called upon to slam the door. And that he did, inducing a game-ending grounder to DeGoti.
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. Having completed its’ 30th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 26 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 245 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 (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and MLB All-Star Jordan Zimmermann (DET). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. 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]
