Rafters Split Series with Chinooks in 7-1 Loss
Rats bats fall cold in loss to Lakeshore
WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. – After a game one victory over the Chinooks on Tuesday, the Rafters could not repeat the same magic tonight in game two. Wisconsin Rapids lost to Lakeshore tonight, 7-1.
Rafters starter, Grant Manning, shut down the Chinooks 1-2-3 in the top half of the first inning. However, the Chinooks starter, Eric Chalus, also shut down the Rafters 1-2-3 in the home half of the first. Manning shut down the Chinooks against 1-2-3 in the top half of the second inning. The Rafters left two stranded in the bottom half of the second, and it was still a scoreless game at the end of two frames.
Manning threw another scoreless frame in the top of the third to end his outing. He finished his scoreless three innings while only allowing one hit, one walk, and struck out three. The Rafters were held scoreless in the bottom of the third. However, Michael Lindsey entered the game in the top of the fourth for the Rafters, but the Chinooks struck first. A two-run homer from Jack Firestone gave Lakeshore a 2-0 lead.
Lindsey threw a scoreless top half of the fifth, as he left two Chinooks stranded on baseball. The Rafters were held scoreless again in the bottom of the fifth. Lindsey retired the Rafters 1-2-3 in the top half of the sixth to end his night. He gave up two runs on two hits, three walks, and he struck out three. Ben Adams gave up three Lakeshore runs in the top half of the seventh to make it a 5-0 lead. However, the Rafters got their first run in the home half of the seventh via a bases loaded walk from McKinley Erves to make it 5-1.
A two-run single in the top of the eighth off the bat of Josh Johnson gave the Chinooks a 7-1 lead. The Rafters were held scoreless in the bottom of the eighth. Tanner Chafin threw a scoreless top half of the ninth, as he also struck out two Chinooks along the way. The Rafters were shut down in the ninth, as they lost 7-1. Eric Chalus received his fourth win for the Chinooks, as Micahel Lindsey lost the game.
###
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’ 28th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 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 280 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. 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.
*************************************************
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]
