Northwoods Wisconsin Rapids Rafters

Stroik's Gem Not Enough as Rafters Drop Season Finale, 4-2

Published on August 11, 2013 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Wisconsin Rapids Rafters News Release


Wisconsin Rapids, WI- Brad Stroik threw seven strong innings, while claiming the single-season innings-pitched record totaling 84.1 innings pitched on the season while surpassing the previous record of 79.1 set by Brad Douthit (USC) in 2011. But Stroik gave up two solo home runs to Jared Foster (LSU) and Gabe Acevedo (Oakton CC) as the Battle Creek Bombers (29-41,15-21) downed the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (31-39,12-23) Sunday afternoon at Witter Field, 4-2.

The seven innings pitched by Stroik was the third time this season the UW-Stevens Point prospect has twirled seven or more frames in an outing and extended his current-streak of quality starts to six.

Foster helped get the Bombers on the board early in first inning, leading off the first inning by taking a first pitch for his third home run of the season and giving Battle Creek the early edge, 1-0.

The lead swelled to 3-0 in the fourth inning after Stroik led the frame off by walking Kade Sevique (Southwest Mississippi) on four-straight pitches before issuing successive singles to Drew Carlile (Kellog CC) and Acevedo to load the bases with nobody out. The Bombers added their second run of the ballgame after Stroik issued his second walk of the game to bring in Sevique from third, making the score, 2-0. After a sacrifice fly by Alex Rapanos (Kalamazoo CC) brought the second run of the inning in to score, Stroik retired the next two batters via the strikeout for his third and fourth of the game. Battle Creek led after the conclusion of the fourth, 3-0.

Playing from behind the entire game, Zack Belanger (Long Beach State) led off the fifth inning with the second of his two hits in the ballgame. After a Derek Peake strikeout (UW-Milwaukee), Cort Brinson (Northwestern State) added his fifth double of the season to deep center field, moving Belanger from first-to-third, with nobody out. Riley Spetz (UW-Steven Point) added a single to the short stop, Alex Tukey (Minnesota), to score Belanger, but Tukey delivered a low throw to first that skipped by the glove of Carlile, allowing Brinson to score the second run of play, advancing Spetz to second. Michael Jurgella (St. Cloud State) grounded out to end the threat in the fifth, making the score, 3-2.

After the two-run fifth inning, Acevedo launched a solo home run to left field to pad the Bomber lead, 4-2.

The Rafters used a duo of bullpen arms to close out the ballgame as Brent Mueller (UW-Stout) and Tyler Willman (Western Illinois) each worked scoreless innings to give the Rafters a chance in the ninth inning.

Peake led off the ninth with a single before Brinson grounded into a fielder's choice for the first out of the inning. After Spetz struckout, Nick Maiers (St. Cloud State) closed out the Rafters season with a softly tapped ground ball to second base.

The Rafters finished the 2013 season with a franchise best 31-39 overall record, surpassing the previous mark of 27-43 in 2012.

The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are members of the 16-team summer collegiate Northwoods League. The Rafters will play a 70 game schedule with 35 home games in 2013. Available quantities of all promotional giveaways will vary from event to event and will be available on a first come, first serve basis.  The best way to guarantee giveaway items is to purchase a 9-Game Package.  The offseason office hours are Monday through Friday from 9am-5pm.  For more information, visit www.raftersbaseball.com.

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Northwoods League Stories from August 11, 2013


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