Rafters Sweep Jackrabbits in 6-3 Win
Rafters earn 50th win of the season behind strong bullpen
WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. – Witter Field is usually the home of the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters. However, over the past two games that have been played there, it has been the home of some highly competitive baseball. After an 11-inning 10-9 victory of the Kokomo Jackrabbits on Monday, the Rafters yet again won a close one over Kokomo tonight, 6-3.
Rafters starter, Ethan Peters, would only throw one inning in his Wisconsin Rapids debut. However, it was an efficient one, as he held Kokomo scoreless in the top half of the first. The Rafters had another newcomer make his debut in the second, Dawson Holbrook, as he retired Kokomo 1-2-3 in order on 13 pitches.
The Rats bats awoke in the bottom half of the second, as a pair of RBI singles from Chase Call and Garrett Broussard gave the Rafters a 2-0 lead. In the third, the trend of Rafter debuts continued as Liam Alpern threw a scoreless frame to keep the Rats lead intact. Wisconsin Rapids added on in the bottom half of the inning via an RBI single from Brendan Bobo to put the Rafters up 3-0.
Nick Torres entered the game for the Rafters to pitch in the top of the fourth. He gave up the first Jackrabbits run of the night off of an RBI groundout. However, the Rafters answered right back with a run of their own in the home half, as a Kokomo E3 allowed Chris Conniff to score to put Wisconsin Rapids back up by three, 4-1.
Torres retired the Jackrabbits 1-2-3 in the top of the fifth. However, Kokomo struck for two more in the top of the six to bring the Jackrabbits within one, 4-3. Torres would not be phased, as he again retired Kokomo 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh, and then held them scoreless in the eighth. In his longest outing of the season, Torres threw five innings while allowing three runs on three Kokomo hits, two walks, and five strikeouts.
The Rafters got some insurance in the bottom half of the eighth from shortstop Garrett Broussard. He unloaded on a 2-0 fastball to send a two-run homer over the fence, his fourth of the season, to put Wisconsin Rapids back up again by three, 6-3.
Connor Kurki came into the game to close it in the ninth. After allowing two out of the first three Jackrabbits of the inning to reach, Kurki recorded a strikeout and a groundout to end the ballgame. Nick Torres earned his second win of the season, while Kurki received his second save of 2022.
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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. Now in its’ 29th 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, 300 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 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]
