Northwoods Wisconsin Rapids Rafters

Rafters Lose Command in Duck Pond

Published on July 15, 2012 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Wisconsin Rapids Rafters News Release


Madison, WI - It was the Mallard's night tonight against the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters. On a night in which the Mallards drew their 2,000,000th fan, the home team beat the Rafters for the first time at home by a score of 13-8. The Rafters fell behind 12-0, and although fought hard to come back, didn't have enough to climb out of the huge hole.

Ben Heller (JR, Olivet Nazarene), coming off a bounce back start against Eau Claire, put forth his worst outing of the season. The right-hander had pitched more than five innings in every start; Saturday night, Heller didn't get out of the fourth. Three innings and two batters later, Heller got just nine outs, allowed only three hits, but walked seven. After the two inherited runners scored off of Nestor Bautista (SO, Ball State Univ.), the book was closed on Heller. He allowed five runs, all earned, in total. For the first time this season, Heller did not strike out a batter.

When the fourth came to a close, the Rafters trailed 8-0. After five, it was 12-0. Every Mallard in the order reached base at least once, and all but one picked up a hit. Tyler Marincov scored four times; he now leads the league with 40 runs. Jeff Zimmerman and Taylor Gushue both knocked in four.

Sean Godfrey (SO, Ball State Univ.) knocked his third homer, and first one the road. The three-run blast came in a four-run Rafters' seventh inning to cut the lead to 12-5. That was the closest it would get, as Madison scored again in the seventh, and Danny Sullivan shut down the Rafters in the eighth and ninth innings. Pat Kelly (FR, Univ. of Nebraska) went 1-for-3, picking up an RBI and a single. The base hit extended his hitting streak to eleven and his on-base streak to 17both team-bests for the season.

Heller (3-3) took the loss. Madison starter Justin Topa (2-1), in his first start, was perfect through 3.2 innings, allowing his first runner in the four and first hit in the fifth en route to his second victory.

The Rafters are still 4-2 against Madison, and the two clubs return to action tomorrow at Witter Field, a 1:05 pm scheduled first pitch. Kyle Wormington (1-3) is slated to pitch for Wisconsin Rapids (4-6, 20-24 overall) for Marshfield Clinic Cancer Awareness Day. The Rafters will wear pink uniforms and hats that will be auctioned off at RaftersBaseball.com and at the ballpark during the game. Madison (7-2, 22-22 overall) opposes with Trevor Foss (2-4).

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Northwoods League Stories from July 15, 2012


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