Northwoods Wisconsin Rapids Rafters

Late Home Run Lifts Alexandria Past Wisconsin Rapids, 8-7

August 10, 2013 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Wisconsin Rapids Rafters News Release


Alexandria, MN- The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (30-38, 11-22) scored four unanswered runs to tie the game 7-7 to send the game to extra-innings, but Kyle Larson gave up a solo home run in the 10th inning to Kris Goodman to earn the walk-off win for the Alexandria Blue Anchors (23-45, 13-21) Friday night at Knute Nelson Stadium. The win earned the series sweep of the Rafters for Alexandria and concluded their four-game road trip with a record of just 1-3.

Donnie Dewees (North Florida) helped the Rafters get their first run of the inning after Derek Peake (UW-Milwaukee) began the first with a four-pitch walk. Dewees would follow with a single to give the Rafters the lead, 1-0. After Dewees stole second and third base, Jackson Slaid (Montevallo), collected RBI number 54 on the season when he laced in a ground ball into the whole between third and shortstop to extend the inning and push the Rafters lead, 2-0.

Alexandria responded with a big inning of their own in the second frame after the Blue Anchors sent nine men to the plate against right-handed pitcher, Derek Kawlewski (Indian Hills CC). Tim Cusick (Dakota Wesleyen) reached on a four-pitch walk before the flood gates opened and Alexandria added four-base hits against Kawlewski to make the score, 4-2.

Michael Jurgella (St. Cloud State) helped the Rafters pull within one after the hometown catcher added his second home run of the season on a solo shot to deep centerfield in the fourth inning to make the score, 4-3.

Tyler Curtis (Triton) led the fourth inning off with a single against Kewlewski. The base hit marked the third-straight inning the Blue Anchors managed to get the lead runner on base. After a sacrifice by Allen, Curtis would come around to score on an error by Riley Spetz (UW-Stevens Point) to extend the Blue Anchor lead, 5-3.

Kawlewski lasted just 4 2/3 innings and exited in the fifth inning after walking Barash on four-straight pitchers. Barash would advance to second on a wild pitch before moving to third on and ground ball to Spetz. Another run would come around after a base hit by Jake Begren scored Allen for his second run of the game, 7-5.

The Rafters would get two more back in the sixth inning after Slaid reached on a four-pitch walk and Belanger blasted an infield hit to give the Rafters runners at first and second with nobody out. Jurgella would follow with a slow roller third base side, but Tyler Curtis, rushing in on the infield grass, underthrew the baseball to first base, allowing Slaid to score on the play for the first run of the inning. Wisconsin Rapids added another run on a sacrafice bunt by Cort Brinson (Northwester State) to bring the score to a manageable two-run deficit, 7-5.

After Belanger reached on a base hit to open the eighth inning, Jurgella would follow with a perfectly placed bunt down the third base line that Blue Anchors pitcher, Eldon Evans, could not get to in time, effectively giving the Rafters runners at first and second with nobody out. Marcus Wheeler (Kansas) added a sacrafice bunt to move the runners to second and third. Robbie Coman (Virginia) pinch-hit in the eighth inning and brought the Rafters to within one run when the freshman bounced a ball Curtis, whose only play was at first base to score the run, 7-6.

Wisconsin Rapids then tied the game in the ninth inning after Derek Peake (UW-Milwaukee) led the ninth inning off with a four-pitch walk against Dominc Reed. George Ragsdale (Virginia) then dropped a sacrifice bunt down the first base line, moving Peake up to second base and putting the tying run in scoring position with just one-out. Slaid tied the game on an RBI double off the center wall to cap a four-run comeback to even the score, 7-7.

Kyle Larson (Dakota Wesleyan) tossed five shutout innings in relief of Kewlewski, but made one major mistake when Kris Goodman homered over the centerfield wall to give the Blue Anchors the win over the Rafters, 8-7.

The Rafters will return home to conclude their season when they begin a two-game set with the Battle Creek Bombers. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. at Witter Field and fans can listen to tomorrow's broadcast by tuning into 1320 AM WFHR or the leagues YouTube channel.

The Rafters will conclude a four-game road trip Friday night when the teams finishes a two-game series with the Alexandria Blue Anchors. Fans can listen to tomorrow nights ballgame by tuning into WFHR 1320 AM.



Northwoods League Stories from August 10, 2013


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central