Northwoods Wisconsin Rapids Rafters

Express Silence Rafters Attack, Take First Game of Series, 7-5

Published on June 27, 2013 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Wisconsin Rapids Rafters News Release


Wisconsin Rapids, WI- Charlie White was two-for-three and recorded three walks to pace an Eau Claire Express (11-17) offensive attacked that combined to out-hit the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (15-14), 12-3, as seven of the nine Express hitters added a base hit Thursday evening to down the Rafters 7-5 at Witter Field.

The was loss snapped a two-game winning streak and dropped the club to 3 ½ games back of the south division co-leaders, La Crosse Loggers and Lakeshore Chinooks, with just six games to play in the first half of the Northwoods League schedule.

Rafters ace, John Kravetz, labored throughout the day allowing a season-high nine hits and lasted 5 2/3 innings. Kravtez earned his first loss of the season, dropping the Illinois products record to 3-1.

Kravetz struggled early as the sophomore allowed his first home run of the season in the second inning as Tim Wise took a 2-1 pitch over the left-center wall. The run was the first time a team has scored in the first five innings against Kravetz.

Erik Payne and Cort Brinson responded in the second by drawing one-out walks to give the Rafters runners at first and second with one out. Erik Payne brought the Rafters first two runs across with an RBI base hit to right field. Express outfielder, Daniel Kihle, bobbled the ball in right, allowing the second Rafter run of the inning to score, giving the Rafters the lead, 2-1.

The advantage was short-lived as Eau Claire responded with a two-run fourth inning that included a single by Greg Hairisis, an error by Payne, and a double to centerfield by Blake Schmidt to give the Express the lead, 3-2.

Wisconsin Rapids never regained the lead as Eau Claire rode a three-run sixth inning to push the lead to 6-4. All three Express runs in the sixth came with two-outs after Kravetz retired the first two batters in one-two fashion. Schmidt added his second hit of the game with a single to center, Charlie White, after reaching on three walks, clubbed his first hit of the night on an RBI double that went over Rafters' centerfielder, Donnie Dewees's head. Kihle the slugged his first home run of the season and second home run of the night off Kravetz to extend the three-run inning.

Jackson Slaid added his team-leading seventh home run of the season in the bottom of the sixth to draw the club to within one-run, but the next 13 Rafter hitters would be retired in order to end the ballgame.

Eau Claire scratched across their final run of the game on back-to-back base knocks in the seventh off Rafters relief pitcher, Brandon Schmidt. The Rafters would combine to finish the game by using three different arms out of the bullpen.

The Rafters will continue their six-game home stand on Friday evening when they host the Eau Claire Express for the last of a two game series against. Right-handed pitcher, Justin Peters, will toe the rubber as the Texas Longhorn looks for his second win of the season. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Fans can listen to tomorrow nights game by tuning into WFHR AM 1320. will be available on a first come, first serve basis.  The best way to guarantee giveaway items is to purchase a 9-Game Package.  The offseason office hours are Monday through Friday from 9am-5pm.  For more information, visit www.raftersbaseball.com.

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Northwoods League Stories from June 27, 2013


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