The Rafters have lost a season long four games in a row.
MEQUON, WI – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (22-25) could not hold on to an early lead, losing 3-2 to the Lakeshore Chinooks (22-25). The Rafters were swept by the Chinooks for the second consecutive two-game series.
The Rafters jumped on the Chinooks early. Sterling Hayes (Creighton) led off the ballgame with a double. McKinley Erves (LaGrange) would later line a double down the right field line scoring Hayes. Marco Castillo (Claremont McKenna) added an RBI single up the middle to finish off a two run first inning.
Devin Rivera (Villanova) was excellent in his first career start. He threw four innings of shutout baseball striking out five Chinooks on just two hits. Donavan Brandl (Wisconsin-Whitewater) allowed just one earned run over two innings of relief. However, the Chinooks would cut a 2-0 lead in half with an unearned run scoring on a fielders’ choice in the sixth.
Lakeshore took a 3-2 lead in a two run bottom of the seventh courtesy of two walks, one infield base hit and an error. Zach Bennett (Central Florida) pitched the Rafters out of a bases loaded jam in the seventh before twirling a scoreless eighth inning.
Wisconsin Rapids loaded the bases in the top of the ninth with three consecutive runners reaching with two outs. Weston Eberly (Columbia) and Blake Mann (St. Mary’s) had back-to-back base hits but the Rafters struck out to end the game.
Hayes, Erves and Mann all had two hit days for the Rafters. The team left nine runners on base over the course of the game.
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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]
