Chinooks Extend Win Streak In 9-0 Victory Over Rafters
June 16, 2024 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Lakeshore Chinooks News Release
Saturday was a dominant 9-0 team victory for the Lakeshore Chinooks (10-8). Six spectacular innings from starter Cohen Achen saw the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (7-11) fall into a five-run hole, and then Lakeshore posted four more runs to knock out its division rival handily.
On the road, the Chinooks started off strong, nearly scoring leadoff man AJ Garcia in the first. Then Achen set down the Rafters in order to keep the chain moving.
And just like the first, Lakeshore threatened in the second, bringing five to plate once again. Yet, two more runners were stranded.
Achen entered Saturday with a 2.57 ERA, and he did his best to lower the already stellar number. Rafters DH Max Mcgwire singled off the righty on the first pitch, but Achen retired the side afterwards to erase the baserunner.
Then, Lakeshore broke through in a big way. In the top of the third, Chinooks RF Joey Nerat worked a full-count walk to put two on with no outs. DH Connor Hennings wanted his share of the fun. The righty pulled a double to left, pounding in two runs in the process.
SS Gabe Roessler, swinging a hot bat lately, took his place at second, matching his double to left and extending the Chinooks' lead to three runs. The speedy UW-Milwaukee product then stole third base and gave 2B Ty Wisdom his turn. Wisdom smacked a sacrifice fly, giving Roessler ample time to scamper home and putting Lakeshore up four.
In the top of the fourth, with one out, 1B Mason Schwalbach earned a bases-load walk to add on.
On the other side of the bump, Achen continued to dominate. He mowed down the Rafters in the third and fourth, needing just 21 pitches to get through six outs.
The Calgary native didn't allow a runner to reach scoring position until the fifth inning, but once he did, he induced a groundout to tally five scoreless.
Then, in the sixth, the 'Nooks showed they can play more than small ball. Nerat, the Dallas Baptist outfielder, smashed a home run by his fielding position, putting Lakeshore up 6-0.
Schwalbach followed with another dinger two batters later. There was nothing small about it. He sent a mistake straight over the center field wall.
Achen came out once again in the sixth and efficiently closed his outing. A double play ball helped his case, and then he finished his day with a 'K'.
The senior needed just 75 pitches to get through six scoreless on the mound. He only faced four batters over the minimum during his superb outing.
Lakeshore returned to plate in the seventh and added insult to injury. The top of the lineup scraped across two more runs and extended the advantage to 9-0.
Reliever Evan Shapiro struggled slightly in his outing. He needed 31 pitches to get through the seventh and couldn't make it through a batter in the eighth.
It was the second straight day the Chinooks got out to a 9-0 lead, but after losing a large lead Friday, Lakeshore locked in and ended it without a doubt behind Gabriel Cook.
The 6'4" lefty tossed two innings to close the game for the 'Nooks, maintaining the nine-run difference.
For Lakeshore, the 9-0 result stamped victories in three straight games and four of the last five. The Rafters also continued their first-half spiral, dropping their fifth in a row.
The Chinooks go for two straight sweeps tomorrow, playing Father's Day baseball Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. (CST) in game 2 at Witter Field in Wisconsin Rapids, WI.
Northwoods League Stories from June 16, 2024
- Rafters Surge Back, Defeat Lakeshore 15-8 - Lakeshore Chinooks
- Kingfish Snap 3-Game Win Streak in 10-6 Loss - Kenosha Kingfish
- Huskies Split Doubleheader with Express, Pull Within 1.5 of Division Lead - Duluth Huskies
- Dock Fall to Madison on Father's Day, 16-4 - Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
- Kenosha Kingfish Fall to Rockford Rivets in a Thrilling Contest - Rockford Rivets
- Perry Powers Two Long Balls as Rox Cruise in Father's Day Win - St. Cloud Rox
- Larks Can't Complete Miraculous Comeback, Swept by Stingers in 15-12 Loss - Bismarck Larks
- Rafters Complete 7-Run Comeback, Cruise to a 15-8 Victory - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Stingers Sweep Larks After 15-12 Win - Willmar Stingers
- Rocker Rally Falls Short against Leprechauns - Green Bay Rockers
- Spitters Shut out; Split Series with Growlers - Traverse City Pit Spitters
- Woodchucks Claim the Frozen North, Sweep Border Cats - Wausau Woodchucks
- Rockers Attempt to Even Series with Leprechauns - Green Bay Rockers
- Express Roll into Town for Back-To-Back Doubleheaders - Duluth Huskies
- Madison Mallards Defeat Fond du Lac Dock Spiders to Complete Perfect Home Stand - Madison Mallards
- Bismarck Pitching Falters Again, Fall 15-9 to Willmar - Bismarck Larks
- Chinooks Extend Win Streak In 9-0 Victory Over Rafters - Lakeshore Chinooks
- Growlers Drop Series Opener to Pit Spitters - Kalamazoo Growlers
- Honkers Beat Waterloo 11-10 in Thriller - Rochester Honkers
- Late Rally for Dock Spiders Falls Short to Madison, 8-6 - Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
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