Northwoods Wisconsin Rapids Rafters

Loggers Club Two Home Runs to Open Second Half with 12-5 Victory

July 4, 2013 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Wisconsin Rapids Rafters News Release


Wisconsin Rapids, WI- Johnny Bekakis led the way as the La Crosse Loggers (X-X) pummeled the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (19-17, 0-1), 12-5, Monday afternoon at Witter Field. Bekakis led the way combining with three hits, including a double in the sixth innings and three-run home run in the seventh. The three hits by Bekakis were part of a 16-hit attack on the evening by the Loggers offense, the most of the season allowed by the Rafters pitching staff.

Brad Stroik had a 13 scoreless innings streak snapped against the Loggers when Connor Teykl laced a two-RBI single up the middle to ignite the Loggers offensive attack and give La Crosse an early lead, 2-0. The Loggers added another run in the second when Troy Taxler brought Teykl around on a base hit to left field. La Crosse finished the frame by knocking in the third run after Chris Keck reached on an error and Max McDowell added the second of six extra base hits for La Crosse.

The afternoon was a miserable one for the Rafters as their defense struggled throughout the evening, committing five errors during the ballgame, leading to way to two unearned runs.

The first Rafter runs came in the third inning when Jonathan Moroney reached on a single to left field. Jeremy Montalbano followed with a hit by pitch and Erik Payne launched a double to center field to get the Rafters on the board and to draw the score to within one run, 4-3.

The Loggers would push the lead back to four when Michael Katz hit a three-run home run off Stroik to extend the lead to four, 7-3.

The final two Rafter runs came in the fifth inning when Montalbano, batting for the third time this season, hit his first opposite field home run to right field, plating two Rafter runs and making the score, 7-5.

Bekakis busted the game open in the sixth inning when the Long Beach State prospect roped his fifth home run of the season over the left field wall. The two-run home run was part of the three run inning that successful pushed the lead out of striking distance.

The two teams will wrap their home-and-home series tomorrow after when the Rafters hit the road for the first of a six-game four-city road trip to begin the second half of the season. First pitched is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. and fans can listen to tomorrow's game by tuning into WFHR AM 1320

The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are members of the 16-team summer collegiate Northwoods League. The Rafters will play a 70 game schedule with 35 home games in 2013. Available quantities of all promotional giveaways will vary from event to event and 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.



Northwoods League Stories from July 4, 2013


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