Rafters Exterminate Spiders For Franchise-Tying 14th Straight Win
Rats Bats come alive for 17 runs on 23 hits
FOND DU LAC, Wis. – Baseball is a very humbling game and a game of failure that many people become bored with because of the lack of success on the field. However, occasionally, a player or a team catches a hot streak for the ages. Well, the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are in the midst of one of those hot streaks, as they extended their winning streak to 14 games, tying a franchise record, defeating the Fond Du Lac Dock Spiders, 17-2.
As the Rafters have done a lot during their winning streak, they put runs on the board in the first innings. Jacob Igawa, Garrett Broussard, and Harry Owen all had RBI singles in the top of the first to put the Rafters up first, 3-0. This would end up being all the runs Wisconsin Rapids needed on the night, but not all that they would score. After a bottom half of the first in which Rafters starter Collin Kiernan had to exit the game due to injury, newcomer Dalton Renne recorded the final out to hang up the first zero of the night for the Dock Spiders.
The scoring did not stop for the Rafters in the top of the second. Brendan Bobo hit his Northwoods League-leading sixth homer, as it was a three-run bomb to put the Rafters up 6-0. Jacob Igawa went back-to-back with a solo shot to give the Rats a 7-0 lead. The Dock Spiders put up their lone two runs of the night in the bottom of the second via Cole Messina’s solo homer and an RBI groundout to make it 7-2.
The Rafters were held scoreless in the third and fourth innings. However, they took a 9-2 in the top of the first via a Stone Miyao sacrifice fly and a Joe Osborn RBI single. Colin Tuft had an RBI single in the top of the sixth to give the Rafters a 10-2 lead. Dalton Renne finished his debut as a Rafter at the end of the sixth. He threw 5.1 innings, gave up two hits, two runs, one walk, struck out six, and received the win. The Rafters scored three more in the seventh, as Brendan Bobo had a two-run single, and Garrett Broussard hit an RBI single to put the Rats up 13-2. Harry Owen left the yard for his first homer in the Wisconsin Rapids uniform in the eighth to give the Rafters a 14-2 lead. Malakai Vetock threw two scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth for the Rats, only giving up one hit and striking out two Dock Spiders.
Colin Tuft, Harry Owen, and Stone Miyao all had RBI hits in the top of the ninth to put up a Rafters three spot, to give Wisconsin Rapids a 17-2 lead. Connor Kurki made his Rafters debut in the bottom of the ninth, retiring the side in order. The Rafters had 23 hits tonight, including 10 extra-base knocks. Brady Jurgella, Brendan Bobo, Colin Tuft, Harry Owen, and Jacob Igawa all had multi-hit nights. However, maybe none shined brighter than Rafters third baseman Garrett Broussard, who went 5-for-6 with three doubles, two runs scored, and two RBI.
The Rafters look to win their franchise-record 15th straight game in a row tomorrow at Fond Du Lac against the Dock Spiders at 6:35 pm. Catch all the action with Brett Loftis on WFHR 1320 AM/97.5 FM, with the broadcast beginning at 6:20 pm.
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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. 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 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]
