Northwoods Wisconsin Rapids Rafters

Rafters Head North of the Border

Published on July 31, 2014 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Wisconsin Rapids Rafters News Release


Wisconsin Rapids, Wis - The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (22-39, 10-16) take on the Thunder Bay Border Cats (19-41, 5-20) at Port Arthur Stadium tonight in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. The teams will play two different games today, with the first being a completion of a rain out that occurred at Witter Field on July 7th. The second game of the night will be a full nine inning game with first pitch scheduled for 7:05pm EST, which means a 6:05pm start time in Wisconsin Rapids. The Rafters won the first game ever played between these two teams by a score of 7-6 earlier this season.

On the bump for the Rafters tonight will be right handed pitcher Nick Blackburn (Illinois). In his last start for the Rafters Blackburn got roughed up by the Lakeshore Chinooks in which he went just 1.1 innings, giving up six earned runs. Blackburn's last outing came from the bullpen where he went 1.0 innings and only gave up 2 hits while striking out one.

Yesterday's games against Eau Claire proved that Rafters hitting was back. In the first game of the double header the Rafters battled back in the bottom of the ninth from a four run deficit. The rally started with two singles and walk making it bases loaded with only one out. After a single by Michael Jurgella (St. Cloud State) scored the first run of the inning, Clark Eagan (Arkansas) stepped up to the plate and cleared the bases with a 3 RBI double to tie the game. After a substitution on the base paths Andre Moore (Norfolk State) would eventually score on a passed ball to win the game.

In the second game of the double header the Rafters pulled out another win behind a strong pitching performance from Derek Kawlewski who went seven innings giving up no earned runs and striking out three. The Rafters offense carried the momentum over from the first game of the day with Zack Domingues (Long Beach State) going 2-4 with a walk, and Keelin Rasch (Louisiana Monroe) going 2-4 with an RBI. Domingues is coming into the game with a hot bat against the Border Cats with a .500 batting average against them.

The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters return home to Witter Field this coming Saturday August 2nd for the Marshfield Clinic Cancer Awareness Night. Rafters will wear purple uniforms which will be available for silent auction during the game. The game is scheduled to start at 6:05pm with the gates opening at 5:05pm.

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Northwoods League Stories from July 31, 2014


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