Wisconsin Rapids, WI— The Rafters came into Warner Park and slaughtered the Mallards by a score of 10-3 on a Friday evening contest. They out hit Madison 11-5.
The Rats got up early in this game and never looked back. It started in the top of the 1st as Basseer walked which put Brendan Bobo up. Bobo swung at the 2-2 pitch and belted a ball to deep left center field for his 5th home run of the season. He now leads the team in home runs.
Josh Howitt made another appearance starting on the mound allowing 1 hit. Creighton pitcher, Malakai Vetock, was impressive on the mound allowing 1 hit, 2 runs, but totaling 4 strikeouts. In total the Rafters bullpen threw 5 pitchers and tallied 5 strikeouts.
Wisconsin Rapids kept the bats rolling in the top of the 2nd. Indiana 3rd baseman Jorge De Goti drove a ball into right field and Johnson then followed it up with a line drive into right. Brendan Bobo was due up and smashed a ball into deep right field for a 2 run RBI double. That was Bobo’s second hit of the day and he already had 4 RBI’s. The Rafters were held scoreless through 4 innings as they gave up a 2 run inning to Madison in the bottom of the 6th. Jake Holcroft recorded a hit while Keenan Taylor walked to put 2 runners on. Ryan Sprock got to 1st off an error from Conniff to allow a run scored. Arizona State outfielder Isiah Jackson hit a sac fly RBI to send another run home. Madison made it a 3 run game in the bottom of the 6th.
The Rats responded right away in the 7th inning and the Rafters blew the game wide open. It started with back to back hits from Johnson and Basseer. Returning Rafter, Garrett Broussard, hit a hard ground ball up the middle which allowed 2 runners to get home. Wisconsin Rapids then got the bases loaded after an error and a walk. Conniff saw 4 straight balls which sent Broussard home. The Catcher, Levi Jensen, then placed a ball into right field to send Gurevitch and Didawick home. Jensen recorded a big hit for his 6th RBI of the season. It was a 5 run inning for the Rats and they put this game out of reach.
Madison got a run back in the 8th, but the game was already over. Wisconsin Rapids played a terrific game of baseball on both sides of the ball. They had 4 players a part of multiple double plays for a .974 fielding percentage today. Their infield played superb and the Rafters are currently a game back of Wausau for first place. They have an 18-14 record with 3 games to decide a playoff berth for the first half.
Rafters ticket offerings visit Raftersbaseball.com, call the Rafthouse at 715-424-5400, or come visit us over at historic Witter Field. The Box Office is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday at Witter Field, 521 Lincoln Street in Wisconsin Rapids.
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. Now in its’ 30th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 24 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 325 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 and on ESPN+. For more information, visit 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]
