Rafters lose game two 14-6, get swept in doubleheader against Wausau
Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – Games one and two of Thursday’s doubleheader were eerily similar.
In both games, the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters allowed Wausau to score nine runs in the top of the fifth and coast to victory.
The nightcap started with three innings of elite pitching from WR starter Kenji Pallares and Wausau starter Travis Lutz. But after Pallares allowed Wausau to take a two-run lead in the fourth, the wheels fell off for the Rafters again.
Mack Mabrey entered in the fifth and yielded eight runs (five earned) while recording just two outs. He walked three, gave up four hits, and struck out just one. Nick Perry settled down the pace after that with 1.1 innings of one-run ball.
Kyle Bender would allow three more runs in two innings to make the score 14-6 entering the ninth inning. The Rafters offense mustered five runs in the later three innings, but it wasn’t enough.
“Just as quick as we take the losses, we give them back out, so we just got to build that tough callous and just get back at it tomorrow,” said Rafters’ assistant coach Tom Zieglowsky after the game. “We just started the second half, so no sense to pout around and not go at it the right way… just get back at it tomorrow and play some ball.”
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]
