Northwoods Wisconsin Rapids Rafters

Montalbano's Three-Run Home Run Not Enough As Rafters Fall To Rox, 13-5

Published on July 28, 2013 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Wisconsin Rapids Rafters News Release


Wisconsin Rapids, WI- The St. Cloud Rox (28-29, 14-8) rode a six-run inning and sent 11 men to the plate in the fifth inning as the Rox downed the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (26-31, 7-15), 13-5, Sunday afternoon at Witter Field. The home loss dropped the Rafters to 11-15 overall at home and the club is now 8-17 in the month of July.

The Rafters out-hit the Rox by a count of 13-12 and Jeremy Montalbano (Texas) launched his fifth home run of the season, but the Rafters couldn't overcome three errors.

Derek Kawlewski (Indian Hills) started the game for the Rafters and tossed 4 2/3 innings pitched but danced around trouble all afternoon. Clay Williamson led off the game the game by reaching on a walk, and Luke Weber roped a line drive to center field that Rafters outfielder Taylor Stell just missed. The ball rolled all the way from Stell and reached the wall, which allowed Williamson to score and allowed Weber to go to third. Weber would eventually score on a passed ball and give the Rox an early lead, 2-0.

Stell was two-for-four on the day in his first game back from a hamstring injury that occurred on July 15, and collected two base hits, including a double off the center field wall in the fourth. Stell reached on a single in the first and then went first-to-third on a base hit by Donnie Dewees. The two would come around to score the first double of the day by Jackson Slaid to even the score, 2-2.

St. Cloud's offense would take off from there as the club combined to score nine runs before the sixth inning, including the six in the fifth. The Rafters had a chance to get out of a big inning in the fourth inning, but a throwing error by Riley Spetz, sailed just wide of the first baseman Zack Belanger, resulting in the Rafters first error of the game. Two runs would come around to score in the inning to extend the lead, 5-2.

The Rafters would only score once more throughout the ballgame when the club responded St. Cloud's big inning with a three-run inning that included a base-hit by Dewees and a double by Slaid his second of the game. Slaid now has a team-high 12 extra base hits on the season. Both runners would come around to score on Montalbano's three-run home run. The home run by Montalbano snapped a 27 homerless streak for the Rafters, their longest of the season.

Vito Lorenzini (St. Edwards) relieved Kawlewski with two outs in the fifth inning and allowed just three base hits in 4 1/3 innings pitched. The only runs allowed by Lorenzini occurred in the ninth inning when Chris Paul ripped a double and Blake Headley ripped his second home run of the day to extend the Rox's lead, 13-5.

The Rafters will continue an eight-game home stand on Tuesday night at Witter Field when Wisconsin Rapids and St. Cloud wrap up a two-game series. Tuesday's game will mark the second meeting of the season for the Rafters against a north division opponent with first pitch coming at 7:05 p.m. The eight-game home stand is the longest of the season and includes six games against clubs with winning records. Rafters fans can listen to tomorrow night's ballgame by tuning into 1320 AM WFHR or by tuning into the leagues YouTube channel.

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.

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Northwoods League Stories from July 28, 2013


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