Northwoods Wisconsin Rapids Rafters

Offense Explodes for 14 Runs as Rafters Drop Anchors, 14-2

Published on July 31, 2013 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Wisconsin Rapids Rafters News Release


Wisconsin Rapids, WI- In his final game with the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (27-32, 8-16), Jeremy Montalbano (Texas), added his fifth home run of the season and the Rafters pounded out 14 runs and slugged 12 hits Wednesday night at Witter Field in route to a 14-2 thumping of the Alexandria Blue Anchors (19-38, 9-15). The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Rafters while also giving the club their first win of the season against a team from the north division. Wisconsin Rapids will finish out the month of July with a disappointing 9-18.

Three different Rafters had multiple hits and Rafters outfielder, Donnie Dewees (North Florida), led the way with a three-RBI night as the Rafters sent 47 men to the plate against three different Blue Anchor pitchers. The Rafters had three different innings in the ballgame where the club sent nine or more men to the plate, including 18 batters total in the sixth and seventh inning, totaling in nine runs scored. In all, nine Rafters in the batting lineup reached base, while eight collected base hits through out 2:55 minute affair.

The flood gates opened in the fourth inning as the Rafters broke through for five runs against Blue Anchor starter, Tyler Beck (Fairmont), after Jackson Slaid (Montevallo) reached on a single to left and Robbie Coman (Virginia) followed with an RBI double to right-center to score the games first run. Charlie Curl (Texas A&M) and Cort Brinson (Northwestern State) would follow by reaching on back-to-back errors by the short stop, Tyler Curtis (Triton College) to load the bases. From there, Beck walked in a run and Taylor Stell brought around two more on an RBI base hit to left field to extend the lead to a commanding 4-0. The final run of the inning came on a Dewees single to right field to score Stell, 5-0. Only one run in the five run inning against Beck was an earned run after the back-to-back errors.

Alexandria responded with two runs off Rafters starter, Brad Stroik (UW-Stevens Point), 4-3, after Stroik retired the first two batters of the inning, but Kristopher Goodman (Iowa) and George Salem (Alabama) each reached with two outs in the inning before coming around to score to draw the game close, 5-2.

From there, though, the Rafters pitching staff held down the fort and the offense ignited for seven hits throughout the final three innings of the ballgame.

Brinson led things off for the Rafters in the sixth inning after reaching on a single to right, Riley Spetz (UW-Stevens Point) then followed with a walk before Stell sacrificed both runners to second and third to give the Rafters runners at first and second. It wouldn't matter, as Wisconsin Rapids would combine to send six more men to the plate, adding six runs on three hits, capped off by a two-run home run off the bat of Montalbano. Montalbano was later pulled from the game, thus ending his Rafter career the same way it began, with a home run at Witter Field.

Stroik, for the third-straight outing, gave the Rafters six or more innings of work and lowered his ERA to a sparkling 3.03. Stroik now leads the Northwoods League in innings pitched with 70 on the season. Stroik went 6 2/3, striking out six batters and issuing three walks before leaving in favor of Trevor Koehn (Edgewood) in the seventh.

The Rafters will continue an eight-game home stand on Thursday night at Witter Field when Wisconsin Rapids and Alexandria Blue Anchors conclude a two-game series. Thursday's game will mark the second meeting all-time for the Rafters against a against Alexandria with first pitch commencing 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 31, 2013


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