Rafters Ride Ross to 5-2 Win in Rockford
Ben Ross comes up clutch for Rats’ 32nd win of 2022
ROCKFORD, IL – Sometimes at night, there will be a shooting star that shoots across the sky. For just a second or two, it can be seen jetting off the horizon. Well, on a day when the 2022 Northwoods League 2022 All-Stars were announced, perhaps the brightest star, Ben Ross, outshined the competition again. He carried the Rafters to a 5-2 win over the Rockford Rivets.
The Rats bats were held silent in the top half of the first inning. However, the Rivets came ready to play in the bottom half. Rockford put two on the board on Rafters All-Star starting pitcher, Grant Manning, to put them ahead, 2-0. However, Rafters All-Star Garrett Broussard had an RBI single in the top half of the second to cut the deficit in half, 2-1. Manning threw a 1-2-3 bottom half of the second to retire the Rivets.
The Rafters had a major scoring opportunity to begin the third. After singles from Chris Conniff, Ben Ross, and McKinley Erves to lead off the inning, the bases were loaded with none out. However, Rivets starter, Ross Thompson, pitched out of the jam without allowing a run. Grant Manning threw a scoreless bottom half of the third to end his night. He gave up two runs on two hits, allowed three walks, and struck out two. Michael Lindsey entered the game for the Rafters in the fourth, as he threw two innings of scoreless baseball in the fourth and fifth.
In the top half of the sixth, the Rats bats finally came to life. After a leadoff double from Jacob Igawa and a single from Garrett Broussard, Nate Nankil hit an RBI single to tie the game up at 2-2. After a Rockford pitching change, Harry Owen and Seth Stroh were retired for outs one and two. Chris Conniff drew a two-out walk, which brought up Ben Ross with the bases loaded and two outs. Ross doubled on the left field wall, which cleared the bases and gave the Rats a 5-2 lead.
Connor Kurki and Tanner Chafin each threw a scoreless inning in the seventh and eighth. Alec Burnett struck out the side in order in the bottom of the ninth to earn his third save of the season. Michael Lindsey earned his second win of the season to move him to 2-0. Ben Ross finished 3-for-5 with three RBI.
*************************************************
Where are they Now? We feature athletes and difference makers from the past, standouts in sports who excelled over the years and have moved on. Know of a former athlete, coach or difference maker we should feature? Know of a former standout competitor whose journey beyond central Wisconsin sports is one we should share? Send us information on athletes and difference makers of the past with our simple form HERE
Baked or Fried! We also feature difference makers throughout central Wisconsin: coaches, booster club leaders, adminstration, volunteers, you name it. Send us your nominations for who you’d like us to interview HERE
We welcome your stories! Contact us at [email protected]!
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]
