Rafters Drown Mallards in Madison
Rafters are led by Ben Ross’s perfect night, 12-4 win over Madison
MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters have had a historic start to the 2022 season. That continued to last night, as the Rafters drowned the Mallards tonight in Madison by a score of 12-4.
The key to Rafter wins this season has been to jump on the opposing team early and often. The Rafters strategy did not change tonight, as they hung three runs on the Mallards in the top of the first. Rafters shortstop continued his miraculous season, as he hit a two-run bomb in the second at-bat of the game to give the Rafters a 2-0 lead. Ross’s homer was his sixth of the season, which tied him with teammate Brendan Bobo for the most homers in the Northwoods League. Garrett Broussard joined the home run party, as he left the yard with a solo shot, his second of the year, to make a 3-0 lead.
Rafters starter Michael Lindsey threw a scoreless bottom of the first, and then the Rats bats got back to it. Ben Ross added another RBI with a single that drove in Chase Call to make a 4-0 Wisconsin Rapids lead. Jacob Igawa added an RBI single to give the Rats a 5-0 lead in the top of the second. After another scoreless bottom half of the second from the Mallards, the Rafters got right back to their scoring ways in the top of the third. Chris Conniff hit an RBI single, and Brendan Bobo drew a bases-loaded walk to give the Rafters a commanding 7-0 lead in the third inning.
The Mallards were able to cut into the Rats lead in the bottom of the third via a three-run homer from first baseman, Christian Rivera, to make it a 7-3 ballgame. Michael Lindsey exited the game after the third after giving up three runs on five hits while allowing three walks and striking out four Mallards. Caden Favors came in the ballgame in the fourth to toss a scoreless fourth. He gave up the Mallards fourth and final run in the fifth off of a Noah Smith RBI single to cut the Rafters lead down to three, 7-4.
Caden Favors left the game after the sixth as he threw three innings while earning the win. He gave up one run on three hits while allowing one walk and striking out three. The Rafters scored two more on the board in the seventh from Brady Jurgella scoring on a wild pitch and an E5 made by the Mallards to give the Rafters a 9-4 lead. Connor Kurki held the Mallards scoreless in the bottom of the seventh, throwing a 1-2-3 inning Ben Ross added to his already outstanding night with an RBI single in the eighth to put the Rafters ahead 10-4. Cal State Fullerton product, Josh Howitt, threw a scoreless eighth while stranding two Mallards. The final two Rafter runs came in the top of the ninth from a Harry Owen RBI single and Levi Jensen scored on a wild pitch to give the Rats a 12-4 lead. Malakai Vetock recorded the final three outs on the mound for the Rafters. Rafters center fielder, Brady Jurgella, went 2-for-4 while reaching base in five of his possible seven plate appearances. Ben Ross had a perfect night, going 3-for-3 with a homer, four RBI, and drew three walks in six plate appearances.
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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]
