
Rafters Rout Dock Spiders in 17-4 Win
July 12, 2022 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Wisconsin Rapids Rafters News Release
WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. - When a predator is out in the wild, they usually attack. Well, when the Rafters have seen the Dock Spiders, they have attacked them all 2022. Wisconsin Rapids beat the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders for the sixth time this season in a blowout score of 17-4.
The Dock Spiders took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. After a two-out E3 made by the Rafters, Grant Hussey launched a two-run homer to give Fond du Lac the lead. However, the Rats bats awoke in the home half of the first, as Jacob Igawa hit an RBI single to make it a 2-1 game. Rafters starter, Nick Torres, threw a scoreless top half of the second.
In the home half of the second, Nate Nankil launched a solo shot, his second of the season, to tie it up 2-2. The Rafters would go on to score three more in the innings off RBI singles from Ben Ross, McKinley Erves, and Jacob Igawa to take a 5-2 lead. Nick Torres allowed one more run in the top of the third via an E5. Torres threw three innings tonight, as he allowed three runs, all unearned, allowed four walks, and struck out four.
Josh Howitt entered the game to pitch for the Rafters in the top half of the fourth. He threw a scoreless fourth, and then the Rafters put more runs on the board in the home half. An RBI single from Jacob Igawa, his third of the night, gave the Rats a 6-2. McKinley Erves scored on a fielder's choice, and Brendan Bobo stole home on a first and third play to make it a 8-2 Rafters lead.
Howitt threw another scoreless top half of the fifth, as the Rafters added two more in the bottom half. Colin Tuft scored on a wild pitch, and then Ben Ross scored on an RBI groundout from Brendan Bobo to make it a 10-2 game. Howitt threw his third straight scoreless inning in the sixth. However, the Dock Spiders finally got to Howitt with a solo homer off the bat off Andrew Sojka to make it a 10-3 game. However, the Rafters answered with three in the bottom half. McKinley Erves had an RBI sacrifice fly, Brendan Bobo had an RBI single, and then Ben Ross scored on a wild pitch to make it a 13-3 game.
Josh Howitt threw his fifth and final inning in the eighth, as he held the Dock Spiders scoreless. He threw the longest any reliever has this season for the Rafters. Howitt threw five innings of one run baseball, while also setting a new season high in strikeouts with nine strikeouts. The Rafters scored four more in the home half of the eight. Seth Stroh scored on an RBI sacrifice fly from Aidan Brewer, Brady Jurgella scored on a bases-loaded hit by pitch, and then Jacob Igawa hit a two-run double to make it a 17-3 game.
Preston Howey entered the game for the Rafters in the ninth. He gave up another homer to Sojka, as the Dock Spiders made it a 17-4 game. However, Howey still got the final three outs for the Rafters. Josh Howitt earned his fifth win in 2022 after his five-inning performance. Ross, Erves, Igawa, Bobo, and Tuft all had multi-hit nights, with Ross and Erves with four hit performances. Igawa had a five-RBI night as well.
The Rafters (35-7) will play host to the Lakeshore Chinooks (22-20) tomorrow night at Witter Field at 6:35 pm. Catch all the action with Carter Gledhill on the Northwoods Baseball Network or with Brett Loftis on 1320 AM/97.5 FM WFHR.
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![]() Wisconsin Rapids Rafters infielder Ben Ross |
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Northwoods League Stories from July 12, 2022
- Kingfish Shut Out Kalamazoo in Series Opener - Kenosha Kingfish
- Stingers Shut Out Bucks in Fifth Straight Victory - Willmar Stingers
- Dock Spiders Break Franchise Record for Runs - Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
- Wisconsin Rapids Recovers Late to Defeat Lakeshore - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Onto the Next One - Duluth Huskies
- MoonDogs Shut Out by Bismarck in Series Opener - Mankato MoonDogs
- Larks' Pitching Shut Outs MoonDogs - Bismarck Larks
- Rox Escape with Seventh Straight Win, Stay Unbeaten in the Second Half - St. Cloud Rox
- Woodchucks Take Series Opener in Green Bay - Green Bay Rockers
- Wenninger Blanks Rockers in Win - Wausau Woodchucks
- Chinooks Lose to Rafters, 6-4 - Lakeshore Chinooks
- Five-Run Eighth by Pit Spitters Dooms Battle Jacks - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
- Five-Run Eighth Inning Propels Spitters to Victory - Traverse City Pit Spitters
- Andrew Bullock Appreciation Week Set for July 24-30 - Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
- Rockers Look to Take Opener against Woodchucks - Green Bay Rockers
- Former Eau Claire Express Outfielder Alex Call Debuts with the Guardians - Northwoods
- Chinooks Bounce Back with Big Win - Lakeshore Chinooks
- Kingfish Rattle Battle Jacks 11-2 - Kenosha Kingfish
- Loggers Walk Off Honkers; Win, 10-9 - La Crosse Loggers
- Rafters Rout Dock Spiders in 17-4 Win - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Dock Spiders Fall to Rafters on the Road - Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
- Honkers Drop Heartbreaker in La Crosse - Rochester Honkers
- Stingers Sweep the MoonDogs, 5-2 - Willmar Stingers
- Mallards Fall Behind Early, Split Series with Chinooks - Madison Mallards
- MoonDogs Lose to Stingers in Series Finale - Mankato MoonDogs
- Rockers Earn Sweep against Rivets - Green Bay Rockers
- Rox Finish Perfect Five-Game Road Trip, Only Undefeated Team Left in Second Half - St. Cloud Rox
- Battle Jacks Split Series with Kenosha After 11-2 Loss - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
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- The Scrappy Rats Erupt Late, Defeat Green Bay 8-6 at Home
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