Northwoods Wisconsin Rapids Rafters

Rafters Pound out 18 Hits to Earn Season Split with Bullfrogs

Published on July 17, 2013 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Wisconsin Rapids Rafters News Release


Wisconsin Rapids, WI- For the second straight evening the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (24-24, 5-8) and the Green Bay Bullfrogs (20-27, 4-9) played a marathon game that lasted three hours and 20 minutes in a 16-11 slugfest win at Witter Field. The game was the longest of the season for the Rafters and came one night after the two teams played to a three hour and 20 minutes affair Monday evening at Joannes Stadium. The win effectively gives the Rafters a season series split against the Bullfrogs at an even 4-4.

Michael Jurgella became the first Rafter player this season to record five base hits on the night, and Marcus Wheeler added his first multi-hit game of the season as the two paced an 18-hit Rafter attack Tuesday evening. The 18 base hits and 16 runs scored by the Rafters were the most of the season respectively in both categories.

Heading into the second inning the Rafters trailed 7-2 after Rafters starter, Greg Maisto, labored through the games first two innings. Maisto faced 15 batters in the first two frames and needed 66 pitches as the Texas A&M Aggie yielded way to seven runs in the first two innings.

Maisto's team would pick him up as Jeremy Montalbano led the second inning off with a single to right first. Cort Brinson reached on a walk and Charlie Curl loaded the bases on a well-struck single up the middle to give the Rafters a runner at every bag with nobody out. Jurgella would bring the first run of the inning as he laced a line drive to left field to score Montalbano, drawing to score to 7-3. The Rafters would send five more men to the plate in the seconding, adding six runs throughout the frame and totaling four base hits to give Wisconsin Rapids their first lead of the game, 8-7. The six run inning matched a season high for runs scored in an inning for the Rafters and was the just second time this season with the last coming June 30 against the La Crosse Loggers.

The lead continued to swell after Maisto worked a perfect one-two-three inning in the third as the Rafters responded with three more runs in the bottom of the third. Wheeler reached on a double down the left field line for his second of the season and Jurgella, Donnie Dewees and Jackson Slaid each followed with base hits. The top three batters in the Rafters attack combined to slug nine hits, while scoring six of the games 16 runs.

The Rafters would combine to send 55 men to the plate on Tuesday and collected six extra base hits to earn the win.

Trevor Koehn gave the Rafters a chance as the middle reliever, after tossing two scoreless innings on Monday night, relieved Nick Kolarik in fourth inning and twirled 2 2/3 scoreless frames to earn the win, his second of the season.

The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters will continue a three-game home stand Wednesday night at Witter Field when the Rafters host the Wisconsin Woodchucks for the first of a three-game series. The Rafters have claimed the first seven meetings this season between the two clubs with the last coming in the form of an 8-7 June 20 at Athletic Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Witter Field and fans can listen to Wednesday night's broadcast by tuning into the leagues YouTube channel or to the radio broadcast on WFHR AM 1320.

The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are members of the 16-team summer collegiate Northwoods League. The Rafters will play a 70 game schedule with 35 home games in 2013. Available quantities of all promotional giveaways will vary from event to event and will be available on a first come, first serve basis.  The best way to guarantee giveaway items is to purchase a 9-Game Package.  The offseason office hours are Monday through Friday from 9am-5pm.  For more information, visit www.raftersbaseball.com.

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Northwoods League Stories from July 17, 2013


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