Rafters Fall Behind Early, Drop Road Contest in Wausau
WAUSAU, Wis. – The Rafters were unable to recover Sunday afternoon in Wausau after the Woodchucks put up a six spot in the home half of the first inning.
Following a strong start in the first, Wausau added two runs per frame throughout the rest of the ballgame. The 20 runs for the Woodchucks were the most scored by the team in a game this season.
Max Soliz Jr. was the offensive hero for the host in this one. The Auburn product homered twice in the seventh and eighth innings. It was the first multi-homer effort from a Woodchuck this season, and Soliz Jr. reached in all six of his plate appearances.
First baseman Colin Bruggeman also sent a long ball over the fence for Wausau, his second of the season in just four games.
The Rafters scored their first of three runs in the contest in the fifth. Greyson Shafer’s no-doubt solo shot to left field made it 12-1 at the time. The homer was Shafer’s third on the season.
Wisconsin Rapids tacked on their final two runs in the sixth. An RBI base knock from Jack Mathey and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Aidan Teel wrapped up the scoring on the day for the Rafters.
Matthew Heard made his first start in a Rafter uniform, but it didn’t last long. The right-hander from North Georgia left the contest after facing just two hitters after showing discomfort in his hand.
Jacob Smoot made his Rafter debut in relief of Heard in the first inning. The southpaw from Burleson, TX threw 42 pitches and gave up four earned runs on two hits.
Juan Berrios and Nick Perry each threw three innings after Smoot, carrying the load for the stable in the defeat. Each pitcher threw 67 pitches, as Berrios surrendered six runs on five hits, and Perry gave up four earned runs (six total) on seven knocks.
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]
