Northwoods Wisconsin Rapids Rafters

Downes Homer Difference in Madison, 5-4

Published on July 28, 2012 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Wisconsin Rapids Rafters News Release


Madison, WI - The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (7-13, 23-31 overall) took down the Madison Mallards (14-5, 30-24 overall) Friday, guaranteeing their first season-series win of the summer. With a 5-4 win in Madison, the Rafters improved to 6-3 against the Mallards with the final game of the series coming up Saturday night at Warner Park.

Both starters struggled mightily early on. The Rafters fired off five hits off Kurt Giller in his first outing against Wisconsin Rapids. The Rafters put a four-spot on the board in the top of the first. The right-hander had given up four runs only once this season before Friday, and never had a start shorter than four innings. In fact, only once had he not thrown five innings in his eight starts. Friday though, the Rafters bounced him after just one inning. The Oral Roberts sophomore threw 38 pitches and was forced out of the game by NWL pitch count rule.

Rafters' starting pitcher Ben Heller (JR, Olivet Nazarene) hit two batters and walked two in the first. All four of those runners scored although it was only on one hit. Throwing 34 pitches, one away from the single-inning limit, Heller escaped to allow him to continue. The game, however, was tied after one inning.

After the eight first inning runs, only one more run scored in the game. In the fifth, off of Trevor Foss, the third of five relievers used by Madison, Brandon Downes blasted his sixth home run of the year on a 1-2 pitch to make it 5-4, just before Heller's final inning.

Heller would dance out of a jam again in the fifth to put himself on-line for his fourth victory. The Whitewater, WI native went five innings, allowing the four runs on three hits and five walks. Heller also fanned four Mallards hitters. He stranded six of the eight runners the Mallard left on base in the contest.

The combination of Kenny Towns (FR, Univ. of Virginia), Skyler Debilzen (JR, UW-La Crosse), and Seth Fuller (FR, Black Hawk College) shut down Madison. The three relievers put up four zeros on the board: the bullpen allowed only one hit and one walk; they struck out five.

Heller took the win after back-to-back losses (4-3) and Foss, in his first relief appearance took the loss (3-6). Fuller, in his fist outing since the All-Star Game when he picked up the save for the South Division All-Stars, collected his ninth save of the campaign with a perfect ninth, including a strikeout of Tyler Marincov, one of the division's best hitters. His nine saves tie him for second most in the South.

With the win, the Rafters also ended their four game losing streak while ending Madison's season-best five game winning streak.

The Rafters and Mallards tussle one final time Saturday. Kyle Wormington (2-3, 5.65 ERA), coming off of extra rest will try to win the weekend series for the Rafters. Opposing him will be Matt LaMothe (4-3, 3.29 ERA), making his second start against Wisconsin Rapids; he lost his first. First pitch Saturday from the Duck Pond is scheduled for 6:35 pm.

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Northwoods League Stories from July 28, 2012


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