
Rafters Drown Mallards in Madison
June 18, 2022 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Wisconsin Rapids Rafters News Release
MADISON, Wis. - The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters have had a historic start to the 2022 season. That continued to last night, as the Rafters drowned the Mallards tonight in Madison by a score of 12-4.
The key to Rafter wins this season has been to jump on the opposing team early and often. The Rafters strategy did not change tonight, as they hung three runs on the Mallards in the top of the first. Rafters' shortstop continued his miraculous season, as he hit a two-run bomb in the second at-bat of the game to give the Rafters a 2-0 lead. Ross's homer was his sixth of the season, which tied him with teammate Brendan Bobo for the most homers in the Northwoods League. Garrett Broussard joined the home run party, as he left the yard with a solo shot, his second of the year, to make a 3-0 lead.
Rafters starter Michael Lindsey threw a scoreless bottom of the first, and then the Rats bats got back to it. Ben Ross added another RBI with a single that drove in Chase Call to make a 4-0 Wisconsin Rapids lead. Jacob Igawa added an RBI single to give the Rats a 5-0 lead in the top of the second. After another scoreless bottom half of the second from the Mallards, the Rafters got right back to their scoring ways in the top of the third. Chris Conniff hit an RBI single, and Brendan Bobo drew a bases-loaded walk to give the Rafters a commanding 7-0 lead in the third inning.
The Mallards were able to cut into the Rats lead in the bottom of the third via a three-run homer from first baseman, Christian Rivera, to make it a 7-3 ballgame. Michael Lindsey exited the game after the third after giving up three runs on five hits while allowing three walks and striking out four Mallards. Caden Favors came in the ballgame in the fourth to toss a scoreless fourth. He gave up the Mallards fourth and final run in the fifth off of a Noah Smith RBI single to cut the Rafters lead down to three, 7-4.
Caden Favors left the game after the sixth as he threw three innings while earning the win. He gave up one run on three hits while allowing one walk and striking out three. The Rafters scored two more on the board in the seventh from Brady Jurgella scoring on a wild pitch and an E5 made by the Mallards to give the Rafters a 9-4 lead. Connor Kurki held the Mallards scoreless in the bottom of the seventh, throwing a 1-2-3 inning Ben Ross added to his already outstanding night with an RBI single in the eighth to put the Rafters ahead 10-4. Cal State Fullerton product, Josh Howitt, threw a scoreless eighth while stranding two Mallards. The final two Rafter runs came in the top of the ninth from a Harry Owen RBI single and Levi Jensen scored on a wild pitch to give the Rats a 12-4 lead. Malakai Vetock recorded the final three outs on the mound for the Rafters. Rafters center fielder, Brady Jurgella, went 2-for-4 while reaching base in five of his possible seven plate appearances. Ben Ross had a perfect night, going 3-for-3 with a homer, four RBI, and drew three walks in six plate appearances.
The Rafters (16-2) will host the Mallards (9-10) tomorrow night at Witter Field at 6:35 pm. Catch all the action with Carter Gledhill on the Northwoods Baseball Network and with Brett Loftis on WFHR 1320 AM/97.5 FM.
Images from this story
![]() Wisconsin Rapids Rafters infielder Ben Ross |
Northwoods League Stories from June 18, 2022
- Igawa Ignites Another Witter Field Walk-Off - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Hill Twirls Seven Shutout Innings, Dock Spiders Beat Chinooks - Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
- Mallards Endure First Walk-Off Loss of Season - Madison Mallards
- Rockers Drop Second Meeting Versus Rivets - Green Bay Rockers
- Huskies Heartbreak in Narrow Loss to Willmar - Duluth Huskies
- MoonDogs Shut Out by Rox for Third Time in Four Meetings - Mankato MoonDogs
- Battle Jacks Swept for First Time in 2022 - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
- Woodchucks Smash the Pit Spitters - Wausau Woodchucks
- Pit Spitters Go Winless on Road Trip - Traverse City Pit Spitters
- Rox Shutout Mankato in Back-To-Back Games for Third Straight Win - St. Cloud Rox
- Former Lakeshore Chinook Cam Vieaux Debuts with the Pirates - Northwoods
- Rockers Look to Split Series Versus Rivets - Green Bay Rockers
- Honkers Win Behind Rodriguez's Gem - Rochester Honkers
- Terrell Hits Two Bombs in Win against Huskies - Willmar Stingers
- Dock Spiders Fall at Home to Chinooks - Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
- Rafters Drown Mallards in Madison - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- La Crosse Stays Hot; Beats Eau Claire, 7-5. - La Crosse Loggers
- Huskies Drop Series Opener in Willmar - Duluth Huskies
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