Northwoods Wisconsin Rapids Rafters

Rafters Walk It Off

Published on June 15, 2012 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Wisconsin Rapids Rafters News Release


Wisconsin Rapids, WI - For the fourth time in six games the Wisconsin Woodchucks and Wisconsin Rapids Rafters played a one-run game. For the second time, the Rafters were victors. For the second time in six games, it took a walk-off hit to decide the winner. For the first time, the Rafters were on the right side. Winning their third straight overall, the Rafters completed the sweep of the Woodchucks, winning in style in the tenth with a 6-5 victory in front of 1,201 at Witter Field Friday night.

For the third time in three nights, the Rafters allowed the first runs. Tommy Organ (JR, Univ. of North Florida) battled through four but the `Chucks roughed him up. Organ allowed four runs on eight hits in four inning, walking three. It was the first time in his four starts that he has not struck out a batter. After his four innings, the Rafters trailed 4-1.

In the bottom of the fourth, however, the Rafters scored two from the bottom of the order. Nick Ammirati (JR, Mississippi State Univ.) and Jordan Dreiling (JR, Univ. of Kansas) scored on a two-run double by Sean Godfrey (SO, Ball State University) to make it 4-3. Dreiling knocked in a run in the fifth, and it was 4-4 after five.

The two teams traded runs in the seventh. And the bullpens went to work. Combined, the two pens threw 10.2 innings allowing just three runs. The Rafters put three different relievers out there, while the Woodchucks Mason Pingel went the distance in relief of Jordan Jess.

Scoreless eighths and ninths sent us to free baseball for the second time of the year. A scoreless inning from Seth Fuller (FR, Western Illinois Univ.), which included the first strikeout recorded by a Rafters pitcher, sent us to the last half.

Dreiling led off with a walk. Alex Bacon (SO, Univ. of North Florida) bunted him over. Godfrey lined out to right, but then Pat Kelly, who had collected two hits already, came up to face Pingel for a third time. He lined a 2-1 pitch to center and Brooks Braga, who played for the Rafters in 2011, fired a throw from center just off-line and Dreiling scored to walk it off for the Rafters.

Fuller (3-0) got the win while Pingel (1-1) took the loss, his first. The Rafters (8-9) won their third straight and handed the Woodchucks (8-9) their fifth straight road loss. The Woodchucks travel to La Crosse tomorrow to take on the first place Loggers (12-5).

The Rafters host the second place Battle Creek Bombers (9-8) at home Saturday and Sunday. Saturday is Budweiser post-game fireworks night with a chance to meet life-time Brewer Jim Gantner who, along with throwing out the first pitch, will be signing autographs before and during the beginning of the game. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 pm.

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Northwoods League Stories from June 15, 2012


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