Rafters Fall Just Short to Chinooks, 4-3
Schulfer throws four scoreless, but Rats bats cannot get going in 11th loss of 2022
MEQUON, Wis. – Sometimes, there are just not enough outs in the great game of baseball. Even though the Rafters were given 27 outs at the plate, they came up just short in Mequon tonight to the Lakeshore Chinooks, 4-3.
The Rats were held scoreless in the top of the first, but the Chinooks were not. After Ben Amon, Rafters starting pitcher, retired the first two Chinooks he faced, he gave up back-to-back singles. However, induced a pop fly to left field, but dropped in and was ruled an E6. This allowed two Lakeshore runs to score, as the Chinooks took an early 2-0 lead.
Both teams were held scoreless in the second, but the Rats bats came around in the top of the third inning. After a Chris Conniff leadoff single, McKinley Erves and Colin Tuft drew walks to load the bases with no outs. Brendan Bobo grounded out into a double play, but Conniff came home to score to cut the Rafters deficit in half, 2-1.
Amon shut down the Chinooks in the bottom of the third, but Lakeshore struck again in the home half of the fourth inning. Joey Spence launched a two-run homer over the right field fence to give the Chinooks a 4-1 lead. Ben Amon’s night was finished after the fourth. He gave up four runs (two earned) on five hits, one walk, and one strikeout.
Logan Schulfer entered the game to pitch for the Rafters in the bottom of the fifth, as he retired the Chinooks in order. After the Rafters were held scoreless in the top half of the sixth, Schulfer again retired Lakeshore in order, 1-2-3, in the bottom half.
The Rafters finally struck again in the top half of the seven. Chase Call reached via a leadoff walk. Then, the next two Rats were retired. However, McKinley Erves and Colin Tuft were able to reach via back-to-back walks. Brendan Bobo stepped up the dish with the bases loaded and two outs. He delivered with a ground-rule double which brought across two more runs for the Rafters to make it a one-run game, 4-3.
Logan Schulfer held the Chinooks scoreless again in the bottom of the seventh. The Rats two runners on in the top half of the eighth and were held scoreless. Schulfer gave up a one-out triple in the bottom of the eighth. However, Rafters shortstop, Garrett Broussard, threw him out at home during the next at-bat for out number two. Logan Schulfer induced a ground ball for out number three. He threw four scoreless innings while giving up two hits, no walks, and struck out three Chinooks.
In the top of the ninth, McKinley Erves reached to begin the inning via an E5 throwing error. However, Colin Tuft grounded into a double play in the next at-bat. Brendan Bobo struck out to end the ballgame. Ben Amon received the loss for the Rafters, and Tyler Gronert received the win for the Chinooks.
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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]
