Rafters Look to Start Home Stand with a Bang

Published on June 14, 2014 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Wisconsin Rapids Rafters News Release

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. - The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (4-14) look to start a new winning streak tonight as they square off with the Battle Creek Bombers (8-10). The Rafters winning streak was broken last night in Madison with a tough 4-2 loss and they will be aiming to get back on track tonight at Witter Field. The Bombers are coming off of a 6-1 loss at the hands of the La Crosse Loggers, snapping a three game winning streak of their own.

Jake Johansmeier (0-2) will be on the hill for the Rafters tonight to make his third start of the season, and second against the Bombers. In his last outing against the Battle Creek Johansmeier went six innings giving up four runs on ten hits while only walking one and striking out five. On the season Johansmeier has posted an era of 4.90 in his four appearances with the Rafters and has only issued six walks in 18.1 innings of work.

The Bombers pitching staff will have to deal with a revamped Rafters lineup that over the past seven days has a combined batting average of .292. One big reason for the improved offense in the past week has to be from the emergence of Erik Payne and Zack Domingues. Payne is batting .360 with a couple home runs in the last week while Domingues is hitting .357 and has driven in five runs. Both Payne and Domingues seem to be warming up with the summer weather and are not looking to cool down anytime soon. Cullen Gassaway is also starting to see the ball better as he has recorded three hits in each of his past two games and has scored a run in each.

It is a 6:05pm start to the game tonight which means the gates to Witter Field will open at 5:05pm. Be sure to stay and stick around after the game as Budweiser will be presenting postgame fireworks.

Northwoods League Stories from June 14, 2014

• Big sixth inning, strong pitching propel Growlers to victory - Kalamazoo Growlers
• Alonso, Mallards Roll over Woodchucks - Madison Mallards
• Woodchucks' Streak Snapped - Wausau Woodchucks
• Strong Pitching Propels Growlers to 5-3 Victory over Bullfrogs - Green Bay Rockers
• Rox and Kingfish Postponed in the Fourth - St. Cloud Rox
• Saturday's Game against Eau Claire Postponed, Doubleheader to be Played Sunday - Willmar Stingers
• Honkers Home Stand Begins Tonight - Rochester Honkers
• Rafters Look to Start Home Stand with a Bang - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
• Mallards Call on McDonnell to Begin Series against Woodchucks - Madison Mallards
• Rox and Border Cats Split Friday Doubleheader in Thunder Bay - St. Cloud Rox
• Kingfish Reel In Chinooks, Extend Winning Streak to Four - Kenosha Kingfish
• Lucky Seven: Stingers Sweep Express, Extend Winning Streak - Willmar Stingers
• Mallards Trap Rats - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
• Mallards Roll Past Rafters 4-2 - Madison Mallards
• Huskies complete doubleheader sweep of Blue Anchors - Alexandria Blue Anchors

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