Rafters Suffer First Road Loss of 2022 Against Chinooks
Bats cannot get started, Chinooks defeat Rafters 5-0
MEQUON, Wis. – As the old saying goes, “You can’t win ‘em all.” Well, the Rafters now have their first road loss of the 2022 season. After starting 11-0 on the road, the Rafters lost to the Lakeshore Chinooks tonight, 5-0.
The first three frames were much the same as it was in game one of the series: scoreless. Rafters starter, Jake Dahle, retired one through nine in order of the Chinooks lineup through the first three innings. However, danger struck in the bottom of the fourth. After a Tony Livermore leadoff single for the Chinooks and advanced to third on an E!, Matt Deprey hit an RBI groundout to drive in Livermore to make it 1-0. Two batters later, Garrett Martin came home to score via an E3 to put Lakeshore up 2-0. Dahle exited the game for the Rafters threw four innings of giving up three hits, two runs allowed (none earned), one walk, and four strikeouts.
Cam Nolet came in the game to pitch for the Rafters in the fifth and the Chinooks started to pour it on. A pair of RBI singles by Mathias Haas and Garrett Martin extended the Lakeshore lead out to 4-0. An Aidan Longwell RBI triple in the bottom of the sixth gave the Chinooks their final run of the night, making it a 5-0 game.
Nolet’s night ended after a scoreless seventh inning. He threw three innings while giving up three runs on five hits, three walks, and four strikeouts. Ben Adams threw a scoreless bottom half of the eighth against the Chinooks. Hayden Birdsong received the win for the Chinooks and Cam Nolet received the loss for Wisconsin Rapids.
The Rafters (22-3) play host to the Green Bay Rockers (8-18) tomorrow night at Witter Field at 6:35 pm. Carter Gledhill will have all the action on the Northwoods League Baseball Network and Brett Loftis will be on the call on WFHR 1320 AM/97.5 FM.
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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.
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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]
