Northwoods Wisconsin Rapids Rafters

Rafters' Run Ends in La Crosse

Published on June 23, 2012 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Wisconsin Rapids Rafters News Release


La Crosse, WI - The magic finally ran out Saturday, as the Rafters' winning streak was finally ended at eight. In another one-run game, the 12th of the year, and this time it didn't go the Rafters way.

Once again, the Rafters came from behind. The Loggers scored in the first off Tommy Organ (JR, Univ. of North Florida) who was tagged for eight hits but battled and left with the lead. Organ tossed 5.1 innings, walked only a pair, and struck out seven. Before the sixth, Organ retired nine of ten batters, mixing pitches well, picking up six of seven Ks during that stretch.

The Rafters tied the game in the third. Brandon Hohl (JR, Univ. of Illinois) doubled and the Rafters manufactured a run for the tie; Eric Loxtercamp (FR, St. Cloud State) bunted him over and Sean Godfrey (SO, Ball St. Univ) knocked him in with a ground-out.

Their sole lead came in the sixth, taking a 2-1 lead when Brandon Downes (FR, Univ. of Virgina) singled home Jordan Dreiling (JR, Univ. of Kansas).

The runs were the first two earned runs given up by La Crosse's Bo Henning on the year. The Loggers bullpen would be near perfect though. Jacob Dorris, the league's strikeout leader, added four more to his total, striking out four Rafters in a near-perfect 2.1 innings, walking only one and allowing no hits.

The Loggers found a run in the seventh when the only error of the game, a failed pickoff attempt from Ronnie Muck (SO, Univ. of Illinois) gave the Loggers a runner out a third with no one out. They were able to knock him in on a single. The Loggers got another in the eighth when Kenny Towns (FR, Univ. of Virginia) walked in a run.

Never going away without a fight, the Rafters put two on in the ninth against Loggers' closer Jonathon Van Eaton. Austin Neary (FR, Western Carolina Univ.) and Aaron Gretz (FR, Ohio State Univ.) kept Wisconsin Rapids alive, covering the corners with their two hits. As a pinch hitter, Nick Ammirati (JR, Miss St. Univ.) hit a bloop to shallow left that could have tied it, but Joe Meggs made a diving catch to win it for La Crosse.

The wild ride of eight strait wins came to end Friday for the Rafters. Wisconsin Rapids (13-10) still holds the best mark in team history through 23 games and is only 4.5 games out of first place. The Rafters will head back to La Crosse one more time Saturday to take on the Loggers (18-6) before their three game set against second-place Green Bay on Monday.

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Northwoods League Stories from June 23, 2012


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