Rafters Rally Early in Win over Woodchucks

July 6, 2022 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Wisconsin Rapids Rafters News Release

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. - As the age-old quote goes, "It is not about how you start, but rather how you finish." Well, as the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters began the second half of the 2022 season against the Wausau Woodchucks, this quote may hold true for the rest of the season. However, it did not tonight. After two first inning runs, the Rafters were held scoreless over the final eight frames, but still came out victorious, 2-1.

Rafters starter, Nick Torres, retired the Woodchucks in order 1-2-3 in the top half of the first. The Rats bats came alive early in the bottom half of the first. Ben Ross led off the bottom of the first with a single. After he advanced to second on a wild pitch, 2021 Northwoods League All-Star, McKinley Erves, lined an RBI single into left center field to put the Rats up 1-0. After a pair of errors from the Woodchucks, Garrett Broussard hit an RBI fielder's choice to put Wisconsin Rapids up 2-0.

Nick Torres retired the Woodchucks 1-2-3 in the second, third, and fourth innings. He finished his night after four scoreless innings of one hit baseball while facing the minimum of 12 batters and struck out two Woodchucks. Josh Howitt came in the game for the Rafters in the fifth. He gave up the first and only run of the night to the Woodchucks via a Kevin Kilpatrick RBI single to make it a 2-1 game.

Howitt pitched into some danger in the top half of the sixth. With runners on second and third with two outs, Howitt hit the Woodchucks right fielder, Mark Shallenberger, to load the bases. With the bases loaded and two outs, Howitt induced a groundout to strand the bases loaded. Howitt threw scoreless seventh and eighth innings to end his outing. He gave up one run on four hits, gave up two walks, and struck out five.

Preston Howey came into the game in the ninth to close the door. He gave up a one-out single but stranded the runner on second to end the game. Howey earned his eighth save of the season. Josh Howitt earned the win and moved to 4-0 on the year.

The Rafters (30-6) will travel to Wausau tomorrow to face the Woodchucks (17-20) at 6:35 pm. Catch all the action with Brett Loftis on the Home of Rafters Baseball, 1320 AM/97.5 FM WFHR.

Wisconsin Rapids Rafters in action

Northwoods League Stories from July 6, 2022

• MoonDogs Drop Second-Half Opener in Eau Claire - Mankato MoonDogs
• Stingers Fall in Second Half Opener against Rox - Willmar Stingers
• Huskies Drop Series Opener to Larks - Duluth Huskies
• Pit Spitters Open Second Half with Win over First Half Champs - Traverse City Pit Spitters
• Rox Dominate Stingers, Start Second Half with Shutout Victory - St. Cloud Rox
• Mallards Take Second Half Opener - Green Bay Rockers
• Dock Spiders Start Second Half with a Win, Defeat Kokomo 10-6 - Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
• Rafters Rally Early in Win over Woodchucks - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
• Growlers Drop Tough Second Half Opener - Kalamazoo Growlers
• Mallards Impress in First Game of Second Half - Madison Mallards
• Woodchucks Drop Second-Half Opener in Rapids - Wausau Woodchucks
• Pitching Dominates in Win Over Battle Creek - Lakeshore Chinooks
• Brett Sanchez Fantastic But Battle Jacks Shut Out, 2-0 - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
• Carico's Dream 2022 - Rochester Honkers
• Growlers End Historic First Half of Season - Kalamazoo Growlers

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