
Rafters Overpower Woodchucks, in Final Away Game
August 13, 2021 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Wisconsin Rapids Rafters News Release
Wausau, WI - The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (38-33) put up double digits runs for the second time in three games, besting the Wisconsin Woodchucks (43-28) 10-3 in the final game away from Witter Field of the season.
In the first three innings, both teams struck out a combined nine times. Rafters' starter Nathan Hemmerling (Lakeland) produced three.
The Woodchucks started the scoring with a solo home run, in the fourth inning. The Rafters more than just responded in the fifth, they scored six runs on four hits.
After a single and Woodchuck error, Blake Mann (St. Mary's) worked a 10-pitch walk, that loaded the bases. Lance Gardiner (Saddleback) ripped a two-run double, followed by back-to-back RBI singles from McKinley Erves (LaGrange) and EJ Exposito (Long Island).
Erves would come around to score on a throwing error, and Exposito crossed the plate after a single up the middle from Jake Schulz (Dixie State).
Wisconsin Rapids put up more than six runs in an inning for the third time this week. On August 9th, the Rafters scored six in the seventh inning against the Woodchucks, and on August 11th facing the Green Bay Booyah, Wisconsin Rapids totaled seven runs in the first inning.
The Rafters tacked on an additional run in the sixth, with an Erves fielders' choice that plated Mann. Erves now has 39 RBI as a Rafter and 10 in August.
Wisconsin Rapids tacked on a run in the eighth, and two in the ninth. Exposito delivered his fourth home run of the season over the left-field wall in the ninth. He leads the Rafters in long balls and has a team-best 49 RBI. Reeve Holley (Cal Baptist) had a four-hit day and generated the 13th and final Rafter hit.
Tanner Chafin (LaGrange) finished the game for the Wisconsin Rapids on the mound. After allowing a two-run homer in the sixth, the right-hander struck out three Woodchucks, and only two more base runners reached. Chafin earned the save, in his fourth appearance in the last five games.
Wisconsin Rapids' final game of the 2021 season is tomorrow Saturday, August 14th, at Witter Field. First pitch is at 6:35 p.m., with fireworks after the final out. Coverage is on WFHR AM 1320 and the Northwoods League Baseball Network.
Northwoods League Stories from August 13, 2021
- Offensive Explosion Blasts Lakeshore over the Booyah - Lakeshore Chinooks
- Stingers End Express' Playoff Hopes with 17-2 Win - Willmar Stingers
- Honkers Fall in Opener in Final Series of the Summer - Rochester Honkers
- Huskies Nearly Comeback against the Larks; Clinch Playoffs with Express Loss - Duluth Huskies
- Rafters Overpower Woodchucks, in Final Away Game - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Rox Shut out Mud Puppies, Win 50 Games for First Time in Franchise History - St. Cloud Rox
- Booyah Fall to Chinooks at Home - Green Bay Rockers
- Rivets Knock Around Kingfish for 15-5 Win - Rockford Rivets
- Pender Deals in Final Outing, MoonDogs Upend Honkers 6-4 at ISG Field - Mankato MoonDogs
- Mallards Dominate Fondy 11-1, Set up Elimination Game Tomorrow - Madison Mallards
- Woodchucks Fall in Regular Season Home Finale - Wausau Woodchucks
- Patterson, Defense, Lead to 7-4 Win over Traverse City - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
- Pit Spitters Lose to Bombers, Will Host Game 1 of Playoffs - Traverse City Pit Spitters
- Logan Lee Named to Postseason All-Star Team - Green Bay Rockers
- Higgins Named Named Co-MVP, Reilly Brothers Garner Postseason All-Star Honors - Mankato MoonDogs
- Mallards Host Fond du Lac to Start Must-Win Series - Madison Mallards
- Three Bucks Named to NWL Postseason All-Star Team - Waterloo Bucks
- Booyah Open Final Series of Season - Green Bay Rockers
- Former Thunder Bay Border Cat Jacob Robson Debuts with the Tigers - Northwoods
- Northwoods League Announces 2021 Postseason All-Star Team. Adam Wheaton Makes Team - Kalamazoo Growlers
- Simpson Named NWL Co-MVP, Loftin Selected to Postseason All-Star Team - Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
- Northwoods League Announces 2021 Postseason All-Star Team - Northwoods
- Former Thunder Bay Border Cat Debuts with Detroit Tigers - Thunder Bay Border Cats
- Long Ball Pushes Huskies to Sweep - Duluth Huskies
- Woodchucks Lose Extra-Inning Thriller - Wausau Woodchucks
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.
Other Recent Wisconsin Rapids Rafters Stories
- The Scrappy Rats Erupt Late, Defeat Green Bay 8-6 at Home
- Rafters Drop Midweek Clash with Dock Spiders on Account of Two Big Innings
- Rafters Finish Regular Season Slate in Wausau with 9-4 Victory
- Rafters Outlast Madison in 3-1 Win
- Witter Field Set to be the Place Where Community Comes Together to Celebrate Heroes

