
Rafters Look to Clinch Home-Field Advantage in Playoffs with Win on Monday
August 17, 2020 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Wisconsin Rapids Rafters News Release
Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. - The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters embark on the final four days of the regular season on Monday, hosting the last-place Wisconsin Woodchucks. The Cranberry and White are on pace to set the team record for winning percentage, coming into the final series with Wisconsin at 31-11, three games ahead of the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders in the Wisconsin-Illinois Pod standings. With a win on Monday night, the Rafters clinch the regular-season championship and home-field advantage for the playoffs.
Pitching has been the name of the game for the Rafters all season long. After setting the record for team ERA in 2019, the Rafters are on pace to shatter the ERA record, entering the series with Wisconsin with a 2.91 ERA, one of the lowest marks in team history.
Another Rafters record that may fall is the player ERA record of 1.61 by Gareth Stroh last season. Chris McElvain and Travis Adams are on pace to break the record, with five more innings. Adams has a 1.45 ERA and McElvain has an ERA of 0.57, the best ERA from a starter in the Northwoods League.
Chris McElvain, in search of the ERA record, gets the nod for the Rafters. McElvain is third on the Rafters with 38 strikeouts on the season. McElvain has allowed just one run over his last ten innings on the mound, as he starts versus the Woodchucks for the first time in 2020.
McElvain is opposed by Nate Madej, who has a 2.50 ERA and 45 strikeouts in nine games this year for the Woodchucks. Madej's 45 strikeouts are fourth in the league. The South Alabama lefty has pitched four times against the Rafters this year, striking out eighteen and allowing only three runs.
First pitch for the Rafters and the Woodchucks is tonight at 6:35pm and coverage begins at 6:20pm on AM 1320 WFHR.
Northwoods League Stories from August 17, 2020
- Rox Win, Magic Number to Clinch Is Three - St. Cloud Rox
- Martinez, Rox Rock MoonDogs to Complete Series Sweep in Final MatchupÃâà- Mankato MoonDogs
- Honkers Ambushed by Early Offense in Waterloo - Rochester Honkers
- Miller's Strong Start Lifts Moose to Win - Bismarck Bull Moose
- Green Bay Blanked at Fond du Lac - Green Bay Rockers
- Bombers Dominate on Both Sides, Sweep Doubleheader against Mac Daddies - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
- Green Bay Heads to Fondy for Final Road Series - Green Bay Rockers
- Rafters Look to Clinch Home-Field Advantage in Playoffs with Win on Monday - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Dock Spiders Leave Rockford with Two-Game Split - Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
- Duluth Huskies Sliding into 2021 Season - Duluth Huskies
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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