Wisconsin Rapids earned 11 strikeouts and their eighth win over Green Bay
Wisconsin Rapids, WI – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (37-33) sweep the Green Bay Booyah (25-45) in a 3-2 pitchers’ duel on a gorgeous Thursday evening at Witter Field.
Wisconsin Rapids for the tenth time in the 12 games played in August, scored in the first inning. Lance Gardiner (Saddleback) led off with a single. He stole second, advanced to third on a flyout, and scored on a sacrifice fly from EJ Exposito (Long Island).
Colin Kiernan (Kean) took the ball for the Rafters and began his start with a strikeout. The right-hander struck out six Booyah in the first three innings, including all three batters faced in the top of the third.
The Booyah earned two runs in the fourth inning off two doubles. Green Bay got runners on base in the fifth and sixth, all were stranded. Kiernan finished with nine strikeouts through six innings, his longest outing of the season and most strikeouts in an appearance.
“I focused on getting first-pitch strikes, to help extend myself later into the game,” said Kiernan “Finishing off my summer strong was great, and excited to work off this start.”
In the bottom of the sixth, the Rafters tied up the game. McKinley Erves (LaGrange) notched his second hit of the game, stole second, and was driven in by fellow Panther Cael Chatham (LaGrange) via a double.
The Booyah bullpen entered for the first time in the eighth. Gardiner once again began an inning with a single. He moved to second on a wild pitch and third with a groundout. Exposito skied a ball into left field to score Gardiner, who tagged from third to bring the score to 3-2. Exposito now has 47 RBI and finished with seven in the two games against Green Bay.
Tanner Chafin (LaGrange) worked a scoreless seventh and eighth, earning the win in his third appearance in four days. Nick Torres (Long Island) worked a 1-2-3 ninth for the second consecutive night and now has two saves as a Rafter.
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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]
