Northwoods Wisconsin Rapids Rafters

Slaid Sets Rafter Home Run Record As Wisconsin Rapids Sting Bombers, 18-8

August 10, 2013 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Wisconsin Rapids Rafters News Release


Wisconsin Rapids, WI- Jackson Slaid (Montevallo) clubbed his second grand slam of the year and the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (31-38,12-22) combined to slug 20 base hits on the evening while collecting 18 runs, both season highs, as the Rafters bludgeoned the Battle Creek Bombers (28-40, 14-21), 18-8, Saturday night at Witter Field in front of an announced audience of 1,669. The home run by Slaid, his 13th of the season, set a franchise record for most home runs in a single campaign.

After plating three runs in the first inning, Riley Spetz (UW-Stevens Point), Brad Stroik (UW-Stevens Point), and George Ragsdale (Virginia), opened the second inning by reaching base, loading the bases for Slaid. On a 2-0 pitch, Slaid launched his second grand slam of the year by blistering a fastball over the centerfield wall off Bombers starter, Kenton Stan Miguel. The home run by Slaid was part of a four-run four-hit inning for Wisconsin Rapids to extend the lead, 7-1.

Battle Creek would never seriously threaten throughout the game as Nick Maiers (St. Cloud State), tossed his strongest outing of the season, going 5 2/3 innings pitched while striking out nine batters throughout the night, including five-straight to end the second inning. Both were season highs for Maiers in his final start.

Wisconsin Rapids helped pushed the game out of arms reach in the fourth inning after Stan Miguel opened the frame by walking Slaid and Robbie Coman (Virginia) before Zack Belanger (Long Beach State) followed with his second base hit of the night to advance Slaid to third and Coman to second. The base knock by Belanger was part of a three-hit night for the freshman, his first of the season, and 10th multi-hit game overall. The first five batters of the inning would all come around to score as the Rafters sent nine men to plate, totaling just three base hits. Cort Brinson (Northwestern State) got in on the action, launching his fourth double of the season to left field to plate a run. Spetz would follow with a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners before Stroik and Ragsdale followed with successive outs.

Saturday night saw a lot of first for the Rafters offense as Stroik, batting for the first time this season, combined to go 1-for-4 with a walk and a run, and Coman helped paced the 20-hit attack with a four-hit four-run day that include two doubles in the fifth and seventh inning before finishing the day with a strikeout in the eighth inning. Coman also collected an RBI on the evening, giving the Virginia prospect 25 on the season while improving his average to an impressive .321.

The Rafters forced Battle Creek starter, Stan Miguel, out of of the game in the fourth inning after Miguel faced 24 batters on the evening. In total, the Rafters would combine to send 53 men to the plate, facing four different pitchers that include position plater, Drew Carlisle (Kellogg CC), seeing his first action on the mound.

Vito Lorenzini (St. Edwards) relieved Maiers in the sixth inning and tossed two shutout frames in the seventh and eighth inning before Tyler Moore (LSU) clubbed a two-run home run in the ninth to bring the final score, 18-8.

The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Rafters while also moving their home record to a respectable 15-19 on the season. The Rafters will look for their first back-to-back wins since June 29-30th when they host the Battle Creek Bombers for the final game of the two-game set Sunday at Witter Field. Stroik will toe the rubber for the Rafters as the senior-to-be has tossed six or more innings in his last four outings, while continuing to lead the league in innings pitched with 77.1.

First pitch is schedule for 5:05 p.m. as the Rafters conclude their 2013 season. Fans can listen to tomorrow's broadcast by tuning into 1320 AM WFHR, or by watching the telecast on the Northwoods League YouTube channel.

The Rafters will return home to conclude their season when they begin a two-game set with the Battle Creek Bombers. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. at Witter Field and fans can listen to tomorrow's broadcast by tuning into 1320 AM WFHR or the leagues YouTube channel.



Northwoods League Stories from August 10, 2013


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